G'day,

I also capture analog video via a Canopus converter. Although there are a couple of minor problems related to an inaccurate report of dropped frames, the capture appears to be both accurate and with minimal set-up.

The Canopus connects to your firewire card.

Another option for you to consider is buying a DV camera, which will then convert for you. You may want to weigh up the costs of the two options.

Regards,
Doug

When you capture from the Canopus ADVC-100, does it stretch your video out to make it 720x480? When I currently capture from VHS through my DC10+ at 640x480 it looks fine but I'm wondering if it looks messed up with the ADVC-100. I'm very close to buying the Canopus since I'm tired of dealing with Pinnacle's buggy drivers and software. Thanks.

i also have the canopus ADVC-100, i cannot recommend it enough. It is far better than the Dazzle Hollywood Bridge, the only other product in a similar vein and price. the canpous is a lot more stable on older video tape transfers, and guarantees to lock the audio to the video sync.

Get it, you will NOT be disappointed.

Darren.

The poster didnt mention if they have a DVcam. Do you? If so, and if it has analog output, sometimes it may be used as a converter device without purchasing an extra peice of hardware. Most sony D8 cams do, as mine does, which was a huge selling point.

I do have a MiniDV camera (an XL-1) but sadly, it has no analogue input.
Based on the advice here, it looks like the Canopus device is the way to go.

"I do have a MiniDV camera (an XL-1) ...it has no analogue input."

It doesn't have both an RCA and s-video input? Is this a PAL version maybe?

It is the NTSC version. Based on what I've read, the XL-1 (unfortunately) does not have analogue video input. The XL-1S *does* though (see following quote from the XL-1 Watchdog's explanation of the new features of the XL-1S):

"Analog Video Input -- through both the S-video and RCA composite video jacks, a feature which was missing on the XL1 due to the political climate of the recording industry back in 1997 when that camera was designed."

However, if someone knows how to make my XL-1 accept analogue video input, I'd be very grateful :)

Last year I was using Hollywood DV Bridge. It does a nice job at capturing BUT ....if you're capturing from VHS tape especially older VHS tape which may have a slight drop out or slight glitch on the tape then go with the canopus. I've been using the canopus ADVC-100 since December with great results & no problems

dbuckster

I am a relatively new user of the ADVC-100, and am currently running VF. I have noted apparently erroneous dropped frame reports during capture from an old Sony TRV-52 camcorder. (In one case, VF reported 1,478,724 dropped frames in a 15 minute capture: something that is obviously not possible.) When using the same setup to capture from a cheap VCR, I get error free captures.

I have noted that the movies produced from the "flawed" captures appear to be fine, with no observable glitches.

What's going on? Should I even worry about the dropped frame reports?

Kcarroll
kcarroll@hoseshopltd.com

I went to the Canopus website and discovered that:

ADVC-100 Known Issues
The ADVC currently has compatibility issues with Texas Instruments firewire cards. We are now working on a fix for this and will release it as soon as possible.

Has it been fixed???


But there's also another solution, though I don't know if it's USB or USB2.0 unit (BIG difference between those two): the ADS Tech "USB Instant DVD" device.
http://www.adstech.com/products/USB_Instant_DVD/intro/USBInstantDVD.asp?pid=USBAV-700

I know some people here in this forum also use a device made by Sony with great satisfaction, but I don't remember the #model of this unit...