Get ADVC G3 without other equipment yet?

[Bogiesmokes]

Hello all,

I'm a beginner who's been trying to learn the art of digitizing my VHS tapes for several weeks now. I've read alot of forum threads and posted lists of VCR's, optional pass throughs (ES-10/15), and have been on the lookout for a quality VCR with TBC, or use an ES-15 as a pass through, been looking for an advc100...

While I've yet to pull the trigger on buying any equipment for my future workflow, I randomly discovered today that an acquaintence has a Grass Valley ADVC G3, with the original box and components, willing to sell to me for $100.

I have 30+ VHS tapes I need to digitize at a high quality. I spent/wasted several hours in my local library using their Clear Click 3.0 to transfer several VHS tapes, only to find the transfers were very low quality. Which is when I came across this awesome site and similar threads on Reddit.

While I continue my search for a good/great deal on a quality VCR and/or possibly an ES-15 to bring the overall cost down, would buying this ADVC G3 for $100 be worth it? I'm guessing most people don't start with an advc and build from there...

I've spent hours trying to figure out if this would be a smart buy, and days and weeks trying to comprehend what a mid-budget workflow process will like for me (which VCR, the connections afterwards, etc), all thanks to all the in depth information on this site.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...I feel like I'm going bonkers trying to comprehend what workflow I'll end up with that won't cost a grand. The $100 cost of the ADVC G3 seems very low given my online search, but if that $100 would be better spent elsewhere, please let me know?
Thanks!

[lordsmurf]

Welcome.

What are you expecting this item to do for you? It's not the correct tool for videotape ingest/capture. It's like asking about buying a used sedan, but you want to haul a load of dirt. Or having a family of 4, and asking about a single cab 2-seater pickup.

That $100 is better spend elsewhere.

What is your realistic ideal budget, and then a max budget? Because $1000 is almost a minimum. You can attempt to cut corners, attempt to bargain hunt, but you'll still easily be at the $500 mark.

For many of us, time and sanity (ie "going bonkers") is worth more than money. It's not even a forever cost, just a temporary project cost. Buy it, use it, resell it. Quality gear holds value, junk is yours forever. With quality gear, bought from a reputable source, you'd probably already be capturing.

It's not ideael, but a non-TBC JVC S-VHS, and the ES10/15, to a known-quality capture card (certain ATI, certain Pinnacle -- not Dazzle, not GV-USB, etc), is a minimalist recipe. About $500 there. You may still have problems, as you're relying on a non-TBC frame sync, having no frame TBC in that workflow. But for 30 tapes, perhaps you can squeak by.

[Bogiesmokes]

First, thank you for such a detailed reply. I really appreciate you taking the time...

Honestly your workflow advice is just what I needed, someone to point me in the right direction.

Your anology makes complete sense. My budget is around $500 max, which I realize from my post readings means I'll take a hit here and there. Given that budget, I thought of using an ES-15 as a pass through if I ended up spending a good amount on the VCR. I know the quality of the end result relies mainly on the VCR, and I'm looking at all medium to high end JVC and some online, but if the budget doesn't allow for a VCR with strong TBC capabilities, I figured a DVD pass through with a quality JVC for example would at least be a vast improvement over the a/v transfer using a Magnovox VCR/DVD combo and a clear click 3.0.

Would you agree? And would you say most any JVC S-VHS (without TBC) will give comparable outputs? I've seen some S-39xx and S-59xx here and there.

Really, thank you so much for the detailed response. I like how you said 'you'd already be capturing...'

Don't get me wrong, 'going bonkers' wasn't a negative per say, I've gone down many a rabbit hole that often require going a little bonkers before seeing the light, and each journey has been worth it in the end.