AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

I could not capture video from HI8 tapes without flashing blackouts. [...] within only a few minutes I was capturing the video perfectly. Couldn't be happier with the AVT-8710

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

Solved my problem of not being able to capture old Vodeo 8 tapes, some of them..

I went from not being able to capture at all, to being able to capture some.

Unfortunatly i am still getting ghosting and dropped frames from some old 1989 Video 8 tapes.

I am now looking and asking around if a more expencive/prosumer TBC will improve my results.

I bought this because of reviews, however i might have been expecting too much.... But of a let down, however i went from nothing to something.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

Product is highly recommended by [@] and others for doing VHS archiving. So far I have been shipped 2 defective units. As of this review I'm waiting for delivery of their third attempt.Supposedly this is dollar for dollar the best TBC available but until I see a functioning unit, I'm not convinced. If allowed I will updated this rating if that happens.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

The first one of these I bought would shut down after about 90 minutes of use, probably due to heat-related issues because it would go fine indefinitely if I kept it cool. The second one I bought would fail after FIVE minutes of use, which is just ridiculous. Finally the third one works great. If you have a VHS tape that jitters, or has macro, this removes it and all you get is great picture. A semi-con is that it doesn't just fix the bad part of the picture like more expensive TBCs, it freezes the entire frame, so when things get bad with your picture it will 'freeze' on the last good frame until it finds the next good one (like half a second later, usually), and your recording will have a 'ghost' image quality to it. This is not much of a con, though, and at this price it's a great value. I wish it had an on/off switch, because even the ones that work well will overheat if it is working for too long.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

Like this better than the $500 TBC-1000
We're using this to transfer VHS tape to dvd and keeps the audio and video in sync with one another.
Also love the fact that it out puts color bars at when there is no signal. Way better than the normal static or blue screen through vcr.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

The first one I received wasn't able to detect any composite input. I tried three different devices: a VCR, a digital camera, and a new DVD player. I sent it back. The replacement was little better. It worked for an hour or so, then exhibited similar behavior to the first. The only way to get it to work was to pull the power, wait a few seconds, and power up again, but it was only operational for about 5 minutes, even with strong, stable signals. Then it would just return to color bars for no apparent reason.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

On the plus side, this box is compact and the controls are easy to use. The proc amp is handy when you want to tweak a signal during capture. The 8710 does a good job of stabilizing jumpy video.

On the minus side, the proc amp is not neutral in its default setting: I had to expand the dynamic range (contrast and brightness) a couple of notches and up the color one step to match the same signal captured without the 8710 in the chain. But the killer is its tendency to freeze fields, instead of frames, when the tape signal gets sketchy. You wind up with a frozen ghost image in one field while the other field keeps moving--totally unusable unless you throw out the bad field in post.

In sum, the 8710 works for me when I've got jittery video but no frozen fields. Otherwise I leave it out.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

This TBC/proc amp is doing a great job so far for transferring old 3/4 inch tapes to DV. Very good, very stable. Very pleased!

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

I recently bought a Canopus ADVC-55 video converter to transfer some old VHS tapes to DVD. I was having problems with dropped frames and had read I needed a time base correcter to remedy the problem. After doing some research the AVT-8710 was frequently mentioned as a good TBC, especially for the price.

After ordering one and having used it to help transfer a few tapes I've come to the conclusion it's not all that it is cracked up to be. The AVT-8710 still drops frames, it's just that when it drops frames it outputs the last good frame in its buffer. If there's only one frame dropped in a place where there's little to no motion in the scene then it's really not noticeable. However, if several frames are dropped and there's a lot of motion in the scene an annoying stuttering/flickering effect can be seen. And with some of my tapes the top part of the video will be warped. Also the AVT-8710 will drop frames in areas that the ADVC-55 by itself has no problem handling.

There are a couple of good things about the AVT-8710. Since it does output a constant video signal to the ADVC-55 I no longer have the audio popping/dropouts that occur when the ADVC-55 has to drop frames. Also the AVT-8710 has basic picture adjustments so that the picture can be adjusted prior to capture.

Overall I'm disappointed with the AVT-8710. In all of the great things I've read about this device none of them mentioned the method it used to prevent dropped frames. I'm not an A/V expert so maybe this is the way all TBCs work. But the fact that it's more likely to drop frames than the ADVC-55 by itself prevents me from being able to recommend it to others.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

I operate a small videotape and film conversion business. While anyone can go online and purchase a USB VHS to digital converter for about $90, it is important to me and my customers to provide an affordable outlet that offers a quality videotape transfer not done on a $90 shoestring. I use the AVT-8710 TBC in conjunction with a Sima SCC-2 Color corrector, a SignVideo DR-1000 image enhancer and a professional S-Video player. This combination gives me the capability to fine tune every aspect of analog to digital transfer before it goes to the non-linear editor. The AVT-8710 offers a myriad of controls allowing me to make video corrections in real time. It's small size belies its powerful applications that equal or outdo other more expensive TBC solutions. My only complaint is its lack of an on/off switch, thus earning the 4-star rating. I would highly recommend this product to anyone interested in video enhancement.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

Everything you need when you think Time Base Correction is here: strong and solid video signal with almost any interference.

I'm in the process of digitizing my old VHS tapes and some are getting really old. I could not do it without the TBC, my video board (a Canopus ADVC-110) did not understand the poor signal of some multi-generation or old tapes. So I got this fabulous magic box and everything went smooth. In the operation manual it's recommended you use it with full auto specs. It's true, let it do all the magic and you may even not have to color correct the digitized material on FCP or Avid.

Good part is that there is no video delay (this thing doesn't have audio inputs/outputs). Bad thing is that it works with 7.5 video setup, rather than zero, but this is not a big deal. Another bad thing is when you work with a color system different than NTSC. I'm in Brazil, so I have some old PAL-M tapes. The AVT-8710 doesn't understand very good you're not playing an NTSC signal, so it keeps searching for the right one. It's simple: just turn off auto mode and select the desired system.

The only thing that I don't like (as in many other guizmos like this) is that it doesn't have a power button. So the solution is to have all of them plugged into a AC filter and turno on/off all at the sime time.

As you can see, all the weak points are not that bad, so I strongly recommend this little box. Mine is black, which I tought it's better tha green.

Regrads

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

This is just what the doctor ordered for smoothing out frame drops and other annoyances for capturing your older analog tape footage. It's taken the hassle pretty much out of my life and it's childishly easy to use. Best unit for the price I've found so far.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

I have used this to digitize some old vhs tapes, both commercial and non. The dvds came out very well. In forums this is almost as well recommended as Datavideo products, which cost much more. I have had no problems, using this for a few hours at a time.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

This time base corrector is the best I've used it gets the job done. This unit can't be beat.The AVT-8710 replaces a unit that can cost up to $450.00 Thanks again B&H for all your help and tech. support.

Comments about AV Toolbox AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector:

Using it to correct images taken from an ancient Sony reel-to-reel VTR, 1967 CV-2100.

Unit has ability to compensate for contrast and brightness as well. Very easy to use. Excellent control setup. Compact unit.