Hi Sir Lordsmurf,

I looked at the buying guide. Just to let you know I have the jvc hr -s 7100u video deck
Do you think this would do a good enough job or would one of the higher models listed be a noticeably better. I don't know if that model has a built in TBC or any other stabilizing controls that a better machine might have.

and what about those combo player recorders.I do have a good Toshiba standalone DVD recorder )and a panasonic, so I would just be getting that unit for the S vhs player.

The masters tapes are Fuji Svhs Pro, so that is good.

And what about the very talked about panasonic ag 1980. Do you think I should get one of those or a JVC. I have read getting both is the best, but I'd rather not.
Thanks for your input.

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JVC HR-S7100U VCR good for capturing VHS video tapes?
 

Although I've not used this exact model, I do have quite a bit of knowledge on decks of this era. And I know others who have used these, and I do respect their information.

What you have here is a really old S-VHS VCR, from the late 1980s. It pre-dated most of the features and functions that made JVC S-VHS VCRs the darlings of the video capture professional and video hobbyists in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Will it be better than a consumer VHS VCR? Probably.
Will it be as good as (or better than) one of the suggested S-VHS VCRs? Probably not.

The list of suggested VCRs can be found at: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/show...uide-1567.html

Combo unit do two separate functions, often poorly. These decks were never really engineered for the two functions to meet. In other words, a DVD recorder + VCR was really made to record TV to a tape or a DVD, not to record a tape to a DVD.

A few high end JVC professional decks incorporated SR-V10/V101 S-VHS VCRs with LSI Logic chipsetted DVD recording. A few added in JVC DV playback (and recording?).
One of those scarce models can still be bought from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B000HI3HGE

Yes, those are good S-VHS tapes. I've used quite a few of those myself.
TDK is another excellent tape.
Maxell was not. Not for S-VHS, at least. (Some of the high grade consumer VHS tapes were brilliant, however!)

While I can understand and appreciate the sentiment to not want to spend more money (or time locating) the better VCR, it would be suggested. Not necessarily the AG-1980P, but any of the higher end S-VHS VCRs. Given the tapes your using, I'd look at one of the JVC decks, either a 7600-7900 series unit, 9600-99111 or SR-V10/V101 model unit.

The quality will be worth it. :cool:

Thanks for your other advice. I have this unit. Do you know the specs. Is it worth havning fixed. I works for a while but sometimes shuts down. Don't know why. I probably can get away with using it even if I don't have it fixed. Would a higher model be much better. This the unit that I have JVC HR-S7100U

Given this extra info, I would suggest spending funds on a new and better unit, and not repairing an older and inferior deck. That would be the wisest use of your available video budget.