This video shows the importance of Time Base Correctors in a video digitization signal chain. The content is being played off of a 1/2″ Open Reel video tape using an Sony AV-3650 deck. The image on the right is straight off the deck and the image on the left is after the content has passed through a DPS-290 time base corrector. As you can see, while some artifacts are still visible after time base correction, (minor flagging at the top of the frame, and some dropouts), the stability of the image is vastly improved. 

This is why we always use time base correction when transferring analog media at BAVC Media Preservation. Some tapes only work well with specfic time base correctors. Our lab is specifically set up so that the transfer technician can try multiple time base correctors to get the best possible image.