Datavideo TBC-5000 good device for VHS?

[ScarAce1989]

I was wondering if a Datavideo TBC-5000 is a good device as TBC for digitalization of VHS tapes?

[vacantrush]

Per lordsmurf, no - https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vid...html#post17020

"the TBC-5000, the only not suggested model from DataVideo, as it expects studio/broadcast (non-VHS) sources. This was made after all other DataVideo TBCs were discontinued, and has zero relation to the earlier generation of units."

[lordsmurf]

It's somewhat weak, and has some narrow uses. It's what I consider a budget unit, lots of caveats, gotchas. When I have those, I have to somewhat interrogate the would-be buyer, to make sure it'll work for them as needed. It's not at all the same as the DataVideo units like TBC-1000, TBC-3000. Sharing the same "TBC-X000" model name was very misleading.

BTW, there's an ancient TBC-2000 at eBay right now. Avoid that model too!

Most of these units are in awful shape. The TBC-5000 was odd, made to marry the DVKs, for a weird analog+digital studio. The main buyers were colleges and schools, and were abused by hamfisted careless students. Buttons don't work, the units were left on for days at a time, etc. This is why so few survived. Ignore all the "tested" and "working" BS, unless the person operated a studio, not just some recycler or estate seller.

[ScarAce1989]

Thanks for the answers. It’s indeed from a studio and I can buy it for €100,- but it seems it’s not worth it then.

[lordsmurf]

For €100, I'd get it, but don't expect much. It's something, but it's not what you think it is.

If you need a truly solid TBC, for retail tapes, home Hi8/Video8 camcorder tapes, nth gen, etc -- get a better model.