fenarinarsa Oct 4, 2023

Using a TBC for video capture

A Timebase Corrector (TBC) fixes video sync on every scan line of an analog video. Even for good tapes it gives far better video captures.

Most VHS VCRs didn't have a TBC, that's one of the reasons each generation of copy was far worst that the previous one. Broadcast VCRs and S-VHS VCRs usually came with a TBC.

https://peertube.fenarinarsa.com/w/m9kk6ExLwQyJLumBurEQ36

VHS capture - No TBC vs TBC (good quality VHS)

PeerTube
Show threadJessie Nabein (Old Account)Oct 5, 2023
@fenarinarsa one thing to note is that Domesday Duplicator/RF capture bypasses the need for a hardware TBC, as you don't need to worry about stabilizing the output composite/S-Video signal; TBC functionality is instead handled by software 🤯 .
https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator
https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode
#DomesdayDuplicator #vhs #digitization #preservation
GitHub - simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator: High-speed LaserDisc RF sampler

High-speed LaserDisc RF sampler. Contribute to simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Show threadfenarinarsa 
@jasonnab Yup, but it's a very long process, and quite overkill in most cases imo.
Also it doesn't support SECAM? Anyway. It's good it exists for preservation of very rare tapes I guess.
Oct 5, 2023 at 3:13pmWeb
Show threadJessie Nabein (Old Account)Oct 5, 2023

@fenarinarsa Ah SECAM. I wonder if it's simply a software implementation limitation. I don't think it's an issue for the RF capture, but the decoding indeed is an issue I suppose it sounds like.

It is really just so much more convenient than standard capture for me at least, but yes it's fantastic for preservation overall.

Show threadfenarinarsa Oct 5, 2023
@jasonnab Well I have 220 tapes to capture and convert in 2 months, I'm not sure it would be a lot better with the device. At least I checked the comparison online, I don't see that much a difference, or not a difference that would matter the hassle of buying the device anyway.
But again, it's only for this specific project.