Recommendation please!

[luv2kruz]

I have a NVTV card already in my system. I am running Media Center 2005 and there is a known problem that Media Center will not allow you to use the capture card with other software programs to capture analog signals. It keeps saying that "the device is busy". I am still researching this problem and possible solutions.

Nevertheless, the NVTV card is a basic card from what I undestand. Given the problem above, I will most likely have to add another capture card to do some additonal tasks and I really want to ensure that I get the highest quality image that I can get.

Firstly, I am planning to convert all my analog camcorder videos (hi8) and burn them to DVD. Secondly, I have a BenQ projector and I want to project my TV image onto a screen.

My questions are:

1) What the best video capture card out there right now for the tasks that I want to perform.
2) What determines image quality for the TV. I find the NVTV has blurry images on the small print on the bottom of the screen. It looks like crap at 20", never mind if I was to blow it up to 100" on my projector screen. I do not want to go to HD since I don't want to pay for the service and box from the cable company.

Thanks.

[FulciLives]

I would consider getting the DataVideo DAC-100 or the Canopus ADVC-110 ... they are very similar in fact the old Canopus ADVC-100 is pretty much the same as the DataVideo DAC-100. The ADVC-100 is kinda hard to find these days though except for eBay.

Anyways these are external boxes that have analog A/V inputs and connect to the computer via FIREWIRE aka IEEE 1394 aka i.link

It converts analog A/V to DV AVI format. You get very high quality with both image and sound and unlike some other capture options these devices are known to excel at keeping A/V sync. Also DV AVI is a very easy format to work with if you intend to do a lot of editing.

The other option would be a hardware MPEG capture card. One of the most popular is the 250 model made by Hauppauge. They make a regular version for computers without Windows MCE and then another special version just for those with Windows MCE.

Last but not least another excellent hardware MPEG capture device is the ADS Instant DVD 2.0 which is an external USB 2.0 device. A replacement model (which can do AC-3 audio) is due out any day now.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
You can also consider getting a stand alone DVD recorder. Some even include a built-in HDD ... one of the more popular models right now are those made by Pioneer such as the Pioneer DVR-531H-s which has a built-in 80GB HDD and sells at Walmart for about $300

[edDV]

Another option for digitizing the Hi8 tapes - borrow, rent or buy a Digital8 camcorder. Make sure it is a model that has the 8mm analog playback feature.

The Digital8 camcorder will digitize the Hi8 playback, encode to DV format and transfer the data to your hard drive over IEEE-1394. Once that is done you can edit the DV video and encode to MPeg2 for the DVD.

[FulciLives]

Another option for digitizing the Hi8 tapes - borrow, rent or buy a Digital8 camcorder. Make sure it is a model that has the 8mm analog playback feature.

The Digital8 camcorder will digitize the Hi8 playback, encode to DV format and transfer the data to your hard drive over IEEE-1394. Once that is done you can edit the DV video and encode to MPeg2 for the DVD.

The Sony DCR-TRV480 Digital8 Camcorder has a MSRP of $349.99 and it has the feature that edDV is talking about.

Not a bad idea especially if you don't already have a digital camcorder.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[edDV]

Another option for digitizing the Hi8 tapes - borrow, rent or buy a Digital8 camcorder. Make sure it is a model that has the 8mm analog playback feature.

The Digital8 camcorder will digitize the Hi8 playback, encode to DV format and transfer the data to your hard drive over IEEE-1394. Once that is done you can edit the DV video and encode to MPeg2 for the DVD.

The Sony DCR-TRV480 Digital8 Camcorder has a MSRP of $349.99 and it has the feature that edDV is talking about.

Not a bad idea especially if you don't already have a digital camcorder.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

That model and other past Digital8 models also have the "Analog to Digital Conversion with Pass-Through" feature that allows the camcorder to capture any analog input to DV format*. For instance you can connect it to a cable/satt tuner/dvr box S-Video and audio outputs for capture.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProduc...ycamCamcorders

* one caveat is NTSC inputs (TV, Hi8, VHS, etc.) have 7.5 IRE setup which will capture a bit bright to DV format (level 32 vs 16 digital black level). This can be corrected during editing/encoding. A transcoder like the ADVC-100/110 will capture 7.5 IRE correctly to level 16 thus eliminating the need to correct black levels later.

[harley2ride]

Also take a look at the ADS PYRO AV/Link. It is similar to the CANOPUS ADVC 100, only a lot less money. You can read reviews about it at http://www.videoguys.com/Shootout2005.html. You can get the ADS Pyro with Adobe Premiere Elements for around $160.00

[FulciLives]

Also take a look at the ADS PYRO AV/Link. It is similar to the CANOPUS ADVC 100, only a lot less money. You can read reviews about it at http://www.videoguys.com/Shootout2005.html. You can get the ADS Pyro with Adobe Premiere Elements for around $160.00

I've heard a lot of people having trouble with the ADS Pyro A/V Link.

A safer yet inexpensive option is the DataVideo DAC-100 which goes for about the same price ... about $170 USD.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[harley2ride]

Also take a look at the ADS PYRO AV/Link. It is similar to the CANOPUS ADVC 100, only a lot less money. You can read reviews about it at http://www.videoguys.com/Shootout2005.html. You can get the ADS Pyro with Adobe Premiere Elements for around $160.00

I've heard a lot of people having trouble with the ADS Pyro A/V Link.

Possibly with the old REV 2 units which were sold over a year ago. But not the newer ones. I notice on www.videoguys.com, that they put this unit right there with the canopus, and it is one of the cheapest nle semi-professional solutions out there. I've been using mine for almost 2yrs without a single problem.

A safer yet inexpensive option is the DataVideo DAC-100 which goes for about the same price ... about $170 USD.

Just from looking at the DAC 100 web site, it also seems to be a viable solution. Curious though that on thier web site it doesn't show TBC for the DAC 100. Only for the DAC 30.
- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[FulciLives]

The DataVideo DAC-100 and the Canopus ADVC-100 are almost identical ... in fact it really is the same thing ... same design ... same look (color aside) etc.

Ironically the cheaper DataVideo DAC-100 is reported to have better "more true" colors than the Canopus ADVC-100 which tends to oversaturate colors ... especially red. This difference suggests a different DV codec is being used internally but otherwise they are the same machine and work the same way.

Neither have a built-in TBC although the Canopus ADVC-300 (which is similiar) does include a Line based TBC.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[harley2ride]

The DataVideo DAC-100 and the Canopus ADVC-100 are almost identical ... in fact it really is the same thing ... same design ... same look (color aside) etc.

Ironically the cheaper DataVideo DAC-100 is reported to have better "more true" colors than the Canopus ADVC-100 which tends to oversaturate colors ... especially red. This difference suggests a different DV codec is being used internally but otherwise they are the same machine and work the same way.

Neither have a built-in TBC although the Canopus ADVC-300 (which is similiar) does include a Line based TBC.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

Thanks.. If memory serves, I seem to remember seeing your posts in many of the older posts about the ADS PYRO units, going back to rev a, rev b, etc..., so I do take heed of your input. I've done a lot of searching, and can't find anywhere where there have been side by side comparisons of the ADS PYRO AV/LINK, the Plextor external unit, the Canopus, and/or the DAC. It would be interesting to see the pros and cons of each. I bought mine back when Circuit City was closing them out (nearly 2 yrs ago), and got my AV/Link for around $90.00. It was too good to pass up. I have converted dozens of old VHS tapes, home movies, and DV movies and I'm extremely happy with the results. So far, everything I've done is captured as DV-AVI, edited, and authored/encoded with ADOBE or Vegas. Even the first ones I did with the Ulead Studio 7se, came out very good. Just didn't have the editing abilities I wanted with the Ulead.

[FulciLives]

I'm glad you have had a "good" ADS PYRO A/V LINK but the whole point of going the DV AVI capture route is to eliminate A/V sync issues while getting very high quality video and audio.

So the fact that at least some people had A/V sync issues with the ADS PYRO A/V LINK put me off of it.

Not that I have ever owned one mind you but I do remember that old thread and people bitching and moaning and you never hear that stuff with the DataVideo DAC-100 or the Canopus ADVC-100/110/300

- John "FulciLives" Coleman