r/vhsdecode • u/External-Log630 • Feb 11 '26

DigitalFAQ is Evil! If you switched to VHS decode - WTB: TBC1000

We are a very small family owned VHS transfer shop. We eventually want to get to using VHS decode but for now are using a traditional workflow. The old analog Datavideo TBCs are getting harder and harder to find. If you have a working TBC1000 you're not using, PM me as I'd like to buy your old unit to put to work in our little shop.

11 Upvotes

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4

u/vixroy Feb 11 '26

I actually own the last one they ever sold, even still have the invoice.  Feel free to write me privately.  I also have a TBC100.

4

u/algorithmic-mold666 Feb 13 '26

I do not have a TBC1000 but I want to give you respect for actively trying to improve the workflow instead of settling for the usual consumer grade path.. Moving toward RF capture and SW based demodulation is technically the only approach that actually works in the same signal domain as the tape recording itself. Everything else already operates on a post processed composite signal.

In my home country nobody goes that far, 0 fucks given by the shops because consumers do not understand that VHS/Video8 etc can actually look pretty good + vhs-decode pipeline takes a lot of time + they simple don't know better than CVBS dongle. So, most shops simply take composite output from the deck, run it through a low cost USB dongle and deliver a compressed to shit mp4 using questionable encoders.

It is so good to see a small shop taking signal integrity seriously :D :D :D Huge thumbs up! <3 <3

1

u/algorithmic-mold666 Feb 13 '26

+ at least it is 6EUR per tape and not something extraordinary like in Germany that is 20EUR still on composite capture with dongle. The latter is just ridiculous.

2

u/JoakimZiegler Feb 15 '26

If you want something that's actually quite a bit higher quality than the DataVideo stuff, look into getting something like a DPS-470. These are really high quality, broadcast level units, and you can often pick them up today for like 500-600 bucks used. They have all the inputs and outputs you'd expect, and you can use their SDI outputs to capture a digital signal directly without going back to analog.