Canopus ADVC-100 vs Canopus ADVC-1394

[hihosteverino]

Hi all, Great forum btw,
I have many Hi8 Tapes that I need to get to DVD. I also currently have a Mini DV Camcorder. I have read great things about the Canopus ADVC-100 but was wondering if I can kill 2 birds with one stone by purchasing the Canopus ADVC-1394?
Does is not do both DV & Analog? And is the card as good as the Canopus ADVC-100?

Thanks,
Steve

[Kool_Aid]

The ADVC-1394 is a PCI card that includes the same hardware as in the ADVC-100 (which is an external box) plus a firewire port.

[trevinop]

The ADVC-1394 is an internal card that sits in a PCI slot and the ADVC-100 is a complete stand-alone, external device. The reason I favor the ADVC-100 over the ADVC1394 is that I have a mix of movies that are PAL and NTSC. If I want to switch between capturing the two modes I flip a dip switch on the ADVC-100. If I wanted to switch between PAL and NTSC for capturing with the ADVC-1394, I would need to open my computer case and flip the dip switch that is located on the card itself. By no meas a great product but it is inconvenient for me. If you have only NTSC format to capture then I would recommend the ADVC-1394.

[pb]

The ADVC 100 has analogue in AND out, ADVC1394 only has analogue IN. DV in/out on both.

[Kool_Aid]

The ADVC-1394 has an option that will allow you to change the settings via the included software....... ADVC-194 Controller.......... so there is no need to open the case to move dip switches.

[burdo]

I bought the 1394 but I have no working computer at the moment. So I am anxiously awaiting my new mb/cpu combo due on friday. I actually bought it so I could try and start a small time home movie converting business. I've dabbled in dvd authoring for dvd backup (legal of course). Thought I'd try my hand at making a lil extra money. Hope the 1394 wasnt a bad choice...

[onetrueday]

I purchased a advc1394 and I'm not thrilled. I've had problems running it with winxp sp1, so I'm returning it. I think a miniDV camcorder does a better job. I even did a capture with my advc1394 AND my canon minidv.

the quality was very close, but I think that on the dvd the canon looked better.

anyways, if you're interested, I'll sell it to you. I paid 169 from newegg. To NO benefit of myself, I'll sell it to you at cost. I'd be returning it to newegg, but I'd be just as happy to sell it to someone else.

If you're interested, email me right away at zooner@aol.com. I have to fill out the return form within a couple of days. I'll provide plenty of pictures and have quite a few references that i'll provide upon request.

tom

[i_am_dave]

I've had my ADVC-100 for almost a year now. Love it. One reason I purchased it is that I can move it between computers easily.
Never had any problems, and capture quality is much better than my miniDV, never had any dropped frames, and it seems to stabilize and handle crappy source material better.

[Kool_Aid]

I've had problems running it with winxp sp1

Did you get the SP-1 patch from the Canopus web site?

The Canopus line of products is by far the best available (for this price range).

I got my ADVC-1394 several years ago, when they were close to $400, and don't regret it for one minute.

The quality of DV/AVI captures using the Canopus codec are perfect.

Encode them with the Canopus Procoder set at Master Quality 2 pass- VBR..........it don't get much better than that.

Not with software based encoding anyway.

[wdanis]

For those who own either the Canopus ADVC-100 vs Canopus ADVC-1394, can you use these devices to record video directly from a TV source, or does the TV signal need to be routed through a peripheral device (i.e., a VCR)? I've tried a number of combination TV-tuner/capture cards, which I intended to use to convert analog video tapes and also record directly from TV (and to watch TV on my PC) but I haven't been completely satisfied with any. I hear great things about Canopus but it sounds like these devices are not eqipped w/a TV tuner, which leaves me wondering how one would capture directly from TV (or watch it) without a separate TV tuner card and or external tuner. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

[Kool_Aid]

I use the S-Video out and the R/L Audio, from my Satellite reciever, for capturing TV programs.

The results are fantastic.

[wdanis]

Thanks, Kool Aid. So if I understand correctly you are able to watch (full screen?) and record TV on your PC w/the Canopus? How do you change channels? Is there software on your PC that does this or do you have to do it w/your Sattelite dish?

[birdygal]

I have the 1394 and a Sony analog to digital passthrough
The Sony camera pass through quality is so much better than the 1394 that I use the card for a firewire port only now.