Canopus ADVC300 - why????

[DVWannaB]

I see Canopus has just introduced the new Canopus ADVC-300 product and for us loyal ADVC-100 users and digital video enthusiasts, I ask WHY???!!! Sure at $550 it has some upgrade features like noise reduction and built-in TBC to stabilize old VHS tapes. But what about a brightness, saturation, hue setting?

All these new features are very nice and handy, but it seems that they they did not go far enough with enhancements and there are better lower cost alternatives to achieve this. Like running your old VHS tape through a VCR with a built-in TBC out to your ADVC-100 out to your computer, at about $150 less. I can use Virtualdub or AVIsynth or Vegas or Adobe to clean up noise and much more than the ADVC-300.

I am sure this product coming from one of the better well reknowned companies will find a niche in the marketplace and most likely new video enthusiasts or someone looking for a multiple application device, instead multiple devices and software.

Just my .02c worth

The ADVC300 is the ultimate bi-directional analog to digital video converter unit for the video enthusiast. Featuring high-quality image enhancement technology including digital noise reduction and image stabilization using Line Time Base Correction (LTBC), ADVC300 instantly cleans, stabilizes and preserves old VHS and Hi8 videos in clean DV format. Supporting Windows and Mac OS, ADVC300 is compatible with all widely used video editing applications including Canopus EDIUS, Final Cut Pro®, Avid Xpress® DV and Adobe® Premiere® Pro.

> Convert VHS, S-VHS and Hi8 analog videotapes to DV and back in one
simple step
> Ideal for capturing and exporting analog video from leading video editing and DVD authoring applications for Windows and Mac OS
> ADVC300 can be used as a stand-alone bi-directional analog / digital video converter without needing a computer
> ADVC300 is compatible with all widely used DV and analog cameras and
decks. High-quality component video output is ideal for monitoring video using a broadcast monitor

[Metaluna]

Probably because not everyone is comfortable or knowledgeable enough to use freeware tools or understands how to hand-tweak the many obscure options in some of these filters. In fact there are so many choices available that it's hard for a newbie to even know where to start in selecting the right filter, not to mention the fun of getting frameserving to work with their particular NLE. With this box, you just plug it in, fire up Premiere or Vegas or whatever, and capture. Canopus must see enough of a market for this to justify developing it. Also it sounds like the box can be used for some standalone applications. On the other hand I agree that seems a little too expensive for what you get (it's only a line-based TBC, for example).

[Donny661]

that compenent video out can be very attractive to some people (I believe the 100 only has s-video and composite?) because there are few tv-out capable cards that have component out. Usually you only find s-video.

[FulciLives]

I didn't realize this thing ... i.e., Canopus ADVC-300 ... existed until just today.

I admit the price sounds a bit high but consider this ...

The ADVC-100 plus a stand alone TBC will cost you about the same as the ADVC-300 but with the ADVC-300 you get more than a TBC you also get a 3D Y/C comb filter as well as a 3D noise filter etc.

So the quality of the input should be greatly increased now even if you turn off the 3D noise filter the 3D Y/C comb filter should still make a huge difference.

Me wants one

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Bodysurf]

I see Canopus has just introduced the new Canopus ADVC-300 product and for us loyal ADVC-100 users and digital video enthusiasts, I ask WHY???!!! Sure at $550 it has some upgrade features like noise reduction and built-in TBC to stabilize old VHS tapes. But what about a brightness, saturation, hue setting?

Personally, I'd much rather see a box put out by Canopus that captures in DVCPRO50 and adds component video in/out and Firewire 400 and 800 ports on it.

Capturing in DVCPRO50 would eliminate a lot of the color/hue issues people have with the ADVC-100.

[GreyDeath]

I can use Virtualdub or AVIsynth or Vegas or Adobe to clean up noise and much more than the ADVC-300.[/i]

Can I ask how you're reducing video noise using Vegas? I'd like to but it doesn't seem to be as standard filter like in TMPGEnc. Or are you using some sort of blurring?