TBC-Enhancer by Electronic Design?

[KhAoS182]

Hello everyone.

What do you think about this TBC? I read that is a full frame TBC. I have the opportunity to buy one for a very good price and I'm a little hesitant, I see good and bad reviews and nothing is clear to me.

This is my workflow:

JVC HR-S3900U > Panasonic DMR-ES15 > ATI TV Wonder HD 600 USB > Windows XP > VirtualDub 1.9.11 > .avi (HuffYUV)

https://img.ricardostatic.ch/t_1800x...093555262/0/1/

https://img.ricardostatic.ch/t_1800x...093555262/0/3/

Cheers.

[Bogilein]

Buy it if the price is good. (not more as 400,- Euro)

You should only use the s-video input and output. The composite in and outputs not so good.

No extreme color corrections.

PAL only, no NTSC.
Removes macrovision.
Don't use the sharp and smooth function.
Has been the standard for consumers in german-speaking countries since 1994.
It does what it should do as a TBC in conjunction with a line TBC vcr.

[KhAoS182]

They sell it to me at a ridiculous price. I have read the manual and it mentions that it supports NTSC input and output?

Thanks a lot for this information.

[Bogilein]

I just looked through the manual again and I can't find any information that the device can handle NTSC. I have not tested the TBC Enhancer with NTSC cassettes. Since 99% of my tapes are PAL.

Can you tell me what firmware version number the TBC enhancer has? You have to press the Freeze & T-Code button at the same time. Then the display shows a V....... number.

[KhAoS182]

This system offers stereo sound as well as NTSC signal input and output and with monitors often a RGB input.

This is what the manual says, I have interpreted it to mean that it supports NTSC.

I will recieve the TBC next week. Why do you need the firmware version? Can it be updated?

[Bogilein]

Can you tell me the page of the manual where you have read this.
I have read only the grman part and can't find any infomation about NTSC.

The firmware version would be interesting for me to know.
Since earlier versions behave differently than later ones. The last version I know so far is V17.

Yes, the firmware could be updated. Unfortunately, the company no longer exists since 2003.

[KhAoS182]

Yes! Here: http://kefalvideo.narod.ru/manual/tbc.pdf

You know how to update it and where I can find the update?

When I have the TBC here, how can I check if it works in NTSC?

[Bogilein]

The word NTSC appears only 3 times in the document and this is only general information about the video sockets.
These units have been sold in german speaking countries, france, uk, australia. No NTSC countries.

I have only one vcr which could play real NTSC and this one is composite only. But maybe I find time to try it.

[KhAoS182]

If you could try it and tell me how it works I would be very grateful.

I still have to get material from the USA and it will take several weeks.

[RobustReviews]

Not seen one of those, but it looks a well-featured little unit.

The fact it actually describes its exact function in detailed terms probably means its halfway decent.

The person who wrote the docs' was having a bad day, it's perfect apart from a few mixups with Hz and MHz.

[mbassiouny]

I am interested to know how this turns out.

I had my eyes on this device for a while and I am curious to see how good it might be.

The only thing I remember about this device is :
http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vide...esign-tbc.html

[KhAoS182]

They have different use. Panasonic DMR-ES10/15 is Line and the TBC-Enhancer is Frame.

[mbassiouny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KhAoS182

They have different use. Panasonic DMR-ES10/15 is Line and the TBC-Enhancer is Frame.

I know. Don't mind the title, I meant the "uncertainty" about the device and what to expect (the content). The title does not really represent the content of that thread

[KhAoS182]

I saw that is frame TBC on internet.

[fairplay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogilein

Since earlier versions behave differently than later ones. The last version I know so far is V17.

...while i have been reading on this forum every now and then already, this is my first post (hope not to step on anyones toes*) as i took delivery of an electronic-design TBC-Enhancer today - which says it is version V16...

...before i bought the thing i also checked to see if i could find the V17 firmware for download somewhere, as this thread states that the machines could be updated - however i guess that to update would essentially mean switching out some chips?...

...if so: i'd be grateful for pointers as to where i might find an V17-chip(set)...

...if there is a way to update the firmware in a different way i'd be grateful for hints, links and practical help in that regard also...

...TIA...

[*using this old thread instead of making a new one hoping to get the former posters attention]

[radiokom]

Just bought one in ebay for EUR 260 (without warranty of course). I was curious how good it is (if it works). After first connection I was disappointed, but then I found a problem is probably in sockets. They was too tight (connector goes in only with force in all s-video sockets) and they wear in result. So I replaced them with new (they are standard) and now it works as it should, at least with default settings, and TBC is only what we need from it I believe. Firmvare is 04 (I wonder what is changed between 04 and 17?). But for me it looks as very good PAL TBC. JVC menu test works, the same picture as with Cypress. So I found another one in Kleinanzeigen.de and got it for EUR 300. Not received it yet. Will report back my experience.

[Bogilein]

I would not perform a firmware update if at all possible, as there are different versions of the device. The first devices (end of 1994) had a YUV output. This was removed in mid-1995. According to the manufacturer's website, there were then devices with YUV output again (but I have not seen any online from this period). The devices from 1997-2000 that I have seen all did not have a YUV output. There are two versions of the TBC, 9.1 and 10 (I can't remember the exact version number right now).
The H-phase button is useful e.g., if the recording window of your capture card is not centered, as is the case with AIW cards, for example. The same applies to the correction of the color shift in the X and Y directions in real time. If you are still editing, this is also possible using Avisynth or Virtual Dub, but it is very useful when recording directly to DVD, for example.

The date of manufacture/year of sale can be found on the white sticker on the back.

A colorbar test picture can be enabled when you press the PIC1+2 and the PIC1/2 button at the same time. To go back to normal function just switch the TBC off and on again.

The T-code button can be used to disable copy protection, time code, VPS, and teletext.
The three memory locations and the default memory location may lose their settings, and a data error will appear on the display. The slots can be saved again with the current settings by pressing the Default or Mem 1 or Mem 2 or Mem 3 button for 2 seconds. The default settings are 100.

The device was part of the basic equipment for dubbing services in German-speaking countries and was also used by broadcasters, from what I have read.

The device is PAL only. No NTSC and no PAL-60.

On the various German-language sales platforms, you can find about 10 devices changing hands throughout the year. The selling price varies between 70 and 400 euros. A fair price would be around 250 to 300 euros. Don't let yourself be driven crazy by the inflated prices that are sometimes asked. I've been tracking the prices for these devices for around 23 years now and think I have a good overview of what they are worth.


The inside of the device looks like this:

https://www.mikrocontroller.net/topic/523231

[radiokom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogilein

The date of manufacture/year of sale can be found on the white sticker on the back

Thanks! On white sticker is 4994-1233-3. Perhaps it is December 1994 (if 49 is week)?