TBC Questions

[jriker1]

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I am looking to buy a Time Based Corrector, specifically the TV One 1T-TBC. Had some questions about it:

1. Has anyone used this unit specifically and have any opinions on it?
2. The back of the unit supposably supports composite and S-video connectors, however the CV connectors, as labeled in the picture below, do not look like any composite connections I have seen.



3. For $90 more, should I be considering the 1T-TBC-GL which has Gen-Lock?

4. If yes to 3, can someone please describe how Gen-Lock works? Read a lot about it however still not sure when it would really be needed and if it's just as simple as plugging a second VCR into the GenLock ports, picking any VHS tape, and running it in parallel to the primary tape.

GenLock Version shot:



Also note, if it makes any difference on the Gen-Lock questions, that I will only be using the S-Video connections to dub to my Canopus ADVC110 DV device on the computer.

Thanks.

JR

[GrassValley_KH]

I'm going to assume CV stands for 'composite video' - in which case, the BNC terminal is normal. You'll need an adapter to plug in an RCA cable (if one isn't already supplied).

Genlock is not used if you're coming from a regular consumer VCR - it's used for sync on higher-end analog decks.

[jriker1]

Thanks for the reply. Good to know on the Gen-Lock. One other thing. I have seen some TBC's that have RCA L/R Audio inputs and outputs. What are those for? Also what is the chance that since the video is going into the TBC and the audio is going straight to the ADVC110 that the video/audio will get out of sync?

Thanks.

JR

[GrassValley_KH]

Quite possible, given the video has an extra layer of processing. Perhaps Anton can weigh in on this one.

In any event, you can disable the locked audio support on the ADVC if required to do manual syncing within your NLE software.

[jriker1]

Quite possible, given the video has an extra layer of processing. Perhaps Anton can weigh in on this one.

In any event, you can disable the locked audio support on the ADVC if required to do manual syncing within your NLE software.

Thanks. So you eliminate one evil by using the necessary TBC and could have another. I'd be interested in the chance of this and how to resolve it. I'm using Sony Vegas 8 as I can't get Edius working in Vista.

JR

[antonsvideo]

TBC don't create audio delay, nothing to worry about

only frame synchronizers and standards converters delay 40ms = 1 frame

[kbosward]

the CV connectors ... do not look like any composite connections I have seen.

These are BNC connectors, used on pro and semi-pro equipment. You will need an adapter like you see here.

Ken.

[jriker1]

Thank you everyone for your help. Glad to hear this won't cause any issues with the audio getting out of sync. I will assume the TBC I'm looking at (listed in my OP) is good quality if it uses what would be considered connectors for higher end equipment. Or TV One was trying to be cool. Who knows. To me it's just some old school connectors I used to see on some of my high end Mitsubishi monitors many years ago (4 separate BNC cables) for the video signal.

Thank you again for all your input.

JR

[antonsvideo]

the BNC connector is the standard connector for composite world wide, the connector locks and the cable can't be pulled out

the cheaper RCA connectors used by home equipment is non standard

not sure about the quality of the TBC in question, I have several TBC, one from Snell & Wilcox was $20,000 and one from For-A was $6700

[number88]

I have a datavideo tbc 3000. No audio sync problems. I wouldn't mind one with component inputs/outputs though. I guess they would be several thousand $$? I guess there's no such thing as a tbc with hdmi in and out because timebase correction only applies to analog?

[jriker1]

OK, So I got the TVOne unit. I now have a full three hours of video coming into the PC. So new issue. The top of the video has a tearing effect in it and there are very very thin horizontal wavy black lines going thru it. Something you hardly see on the TV from a distance and even less so if I run it thru NeatVideo cleanup. If I went with a DataVideo TBC-1000 unit instead, do you think it would work any differently or are they are about the same at the $400-500 cost point? What I am getting now is acceptable, however obviously worse than what one would see directly to the TV from the VCR. I am thinking of trying the TBC-1000 however it will be a big hastle since I now own the TVOne unit so would be a lot of back and forth and returns. Thoughts on this?

Thanks.

JR

[GrassValley_BH]

The "tearing" (or "warping") at the top is normal - this is switching from the VCR head itself. It's not visible unless you show full-raster, and back in the VHS days, only broadcasters could see the full raster...

[jriker1]

So I will assume then that any unit is going to have this effect. Would it then be your opinion that if I had the choice between the TVone TBC and the DataVideo TBC-1000, to stick with the TBCOne unit? That unit is $80 cheaper and has controls which I believe they call "procamp capabilities" for adjusting color, brightness, contrast, etc on the device itself.

JR

[GrassValley_BH]

Yes, I'd stick with what you have.

[jriker1]

Yes, I'd stick with what you have.

I'm not sure yet if my curiosity will get the better of me. Although I haven't been able to show the wavy black lines in the worst case video in the forum I have since I returned it due to missing parts and damage external box, I can't help but wonder, tearing aside, if the other one will have those black wavy lines also. It will cost me one round trip of shipping as why pay an extra $80 for something that has less features (unless you consider the TBC-1000 has 4 device distrbution), if it does the same thing. I'll always be wondering if I don't try it, however may just tell the video place to ship me the replacement of what I already have if I can get the wavy lines out of my head.

So the question comes back again and again in my mind, does all TBCs have the same algorithms for converting the analog signal to digital, or do they vary by device?

JR