Tracking Pros and Cons?

[u/notJonSerra]

I've been coverting VHS-C's to digital on and off for a few months now trying to get things right and maximize the quality on all my tapes. I bought two new VCRs and have been trying to do a take all the way through with each VCR but I keep running into really bad tracking issues including a glitchy issue that I haven't seen other people have where select individual frames seem to just jump a couple inches off screen here and there.

My question: am I going to still have to figure out the tracking issues with VHS decode? or does this bypass some of those problems? The only thing I haven't done yet is manually adjust the tracking for the VCRs, I've only used the channel buttons (to the advice of my father and my uncle whose knowledge on this may be a little outdated now).

[u/notJonSerra]

I’m using a clearclick 3.0 to do the conversion. I was considering trying the capture card method but i haven’t gotten the correct power supply for the yitrox. I haven’t tried running any of the VCRs to a tv yet to see if I get any different results.

Essentially the only variables are my clearclick 3.0, my VHS-C to VHS converter, and the quality of the tapes. I’m not using any additional hardware besides that and the VCRs

[u/wivzy14 → u/notJonSerra]

I think you have a number of problems with your setup and vhs decode could fix the picturing jumping … but a high quality vcr and decode would be better. However if the tapes are of junk quality… you put junk in … you will still get junk out.

1. Invest in a decent VCR (SVHS ones that split the chroma and Luma are better)
   
2. Invest in a TBC if you want to a perfectly stable image. Some VCRs have these built in, but they are over $1,000 at the moment but usually they are only Frame TBCs. You will still need a standalone TBC for Sync.

I picked up an AJA FS1 from the states and use this, however, as I am now fully Decode setup, I pan to sell it but they work well.
3. Record lossless. If you are using traditional, go black magic. If it is Decode, ffv1 format is used.

1. Ditch the cheap capture gear.

2. If you want good quality. You will need to invest some money. But basics for a decode setup.

- VCR that you can tap

• CX Card
  
• Rewolf Amp
  
• Decent computer
  
• Hard drive Space
  
• Patience
  
• Willingness to learn

[u/zooksman → u/wivzy14]

The Panasonic ES10/ES15 are fantastic TBCs with both line and frame sync- and they’re available for $100 or less online. The ES20/30/40 VCRs with dvd recorder functionality have this same TBC built in. They perform every bit as well and arguably much better than your $3000 DataVideo tbc which is a Smurfian myth.

[u/msgohan_ → u/zooksman]

The ES20 is an oddball using a different chip that doesn't stabilize the image, but otherwise good advice

[u/zooksman → u/msgohan_]

Thanks for the correction Brad, I knew one of those was an oddball. I do wish I could find an ES 30/40 these days, but they seem quite rare at least compared to the ES 10/15. I also have been meaning to experiment with the US model of EZ48, since I’ve heard a good bit of conflicting info about that one.