I have two of those JVC S-VHS decks and they work like a charm.
> On Feb 4, 2016, at 3:37 PM, Dave Tetzlaff <[email protected]> wrote: > > Check thrift stores that let you return electronics (usually just for store > credit) if it doesn't work: Salvation Army and Goodwill usually do. Thrift > stores are where all VHS decks go to die – and the stores just want to move > them, so they price the good ones the same as the crappy ones. For > digitizing, I think you'd want one with: > • s-video output > • separate heads for SP and EP > • some kind of built-in frame-store buffer on the video out > > The later JVC S-VHS models fit the bill. They weren't super-reliable, but now > you're basically dealing with a disposable item that should cost less than a > pizza -- $5-$15. > > If one works well when you get it, it should serve for a god while if you > take care of it. > > VCRs either run at the correct speed or don't play-back a clean picture at > all. > > If the transport mechanisms are bad, the problems are generally obvious: they > either don't load/eject the tape, don't Play or FF or REW, or do obvious > damage (e.g. creases) to the tape. Run a junk tape through the various > functions: and if they all work, and there are no suspicious noises, you're > probably good mechanically. > > The electronics generally either work or don't. They don't degrade. At some > point, a capacitor dies or something, and the machine just gives up the > ghost. If you have a working unit of any substantive age, there's no saying > how long the circuits will last, so keep the investment low and don't worry > about it. > > The part of a VHS VCR that will cause the picture to degrade with use is wear > on the heads. But all you can do about that is check the image at home. > > Aside from JVC, Mitsubishi made some good S-VHS decks, though they didn't > have frame-stores... > _______________________________________________ > FrameWorks mailing list > [email protected] > https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks _______________________________________________ FrameWorks mailing list [email protected] https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
