Canopus or TBC?

[anonjon]

Howdy,
I am having terrible amounts of frames drop while playing both Hi8 & Video8 tapes on my Digital8 camcorder. I can't fix this problem after the capture, so I need some help: would a Canopus product with locked audio support help me more or as much as a full frame TBC? I'd like to get a Canopus unit anyhow( either a 100, 110, or a 300 tops ), since right now I'm doing a camcorder passthrough( not so bad, but I'd prefer something plugged into the wall ), but would this audio locking really help me out? I suppose I've heard that Canopus people still drop frames, but does their audio go out of sync? Is this feature at all related to my problem or is my only hope a TBC? I thank you for your assistance in advance.

[Rawit]

Although the Canopus can handle some bad quality video very well, it doesn't work miracles. I don't think the Canopus unit will be sufficient to capture without drop frames, unless the analog output of your camera gives better results then the firewire camera passthrough.
A TBC might be a solution, but is expensive.
Another option is to try the tapes in an old Hi8 camera, and check if the analog output is better then. If so, you can try to capture that with a (cheap) capture card.
If you have to transfer just a couple of tapes, consider taking the tapes to a "To DVD service". It will be done professionally, and will cost less then a Canopus ADVC or TBC.

[Ron B]

Is it possible the dropped frames are caused by your computer comfiguration(not enought CPU or RAM. slow hard drive, quality settings) and not a problem with the camera?

[JohnnyMalaria]

The locked-audio "feature" of Canopus DV converters is really nothing more than a sales hook.

Locked vs unlocked DV audio doesn't amount to anything of importance. The "locked" just means that there are very specific and exact amounts of audio data that must be stored with each video frame. Unlocked allows the amounts per frame to vary slightly but the average must still be correct.

There's a misconception that unlocked means out-of-synch. It ain't so! If it were, then there would be floods of complaints that playing a tape in a consumer DV camcorder results in out-of-synch audio....

All unlocked audio does is permit the manufacturers of the electronics to use cheaper circuits that do not require the clock signals for the audio to be derived from the video clock signals. Locked audio does force that requirement and leads to more expensive circuits.

Anyway - I agree with Rawit's and Ron B's comments.

[Cole]

FWIW I use a Canopus ADVC50 and I have to use this in tandem with a TBC because some tapes' problems are specificially picked up by the Canopus causing dropped frames and in some cases picture freezes. Admitedly these are with VHS tapes and I don't know if this will apply to Hi8 and Video8 tapes, but I just wanted to illustrate that a canopus, on its own, is not the complete solution.

[anonjon]

I thank you all for your comments: actually, after posting, I did a lot more searching and I believe I've decided to hold off on getting a Canopus at least for now.

Now, first, my system ought to be able to handle the capturing process. Core 2 Duo 6600, 2GB RAM, 74GB Raptor running OS & programs, 500GB SATA capture drive, & 320GB render drive.

Second, I have about 20-25 tapes which I am doing as a service. I may sound like an amateur( and very well may be one at this point ), but I'm seeking to work out a process whereby I may transfer video for a fee. Thankfully, on this first go around, I'm doing some very good friend's videos. So I'd prefer to learn to do it myself and get the requisite hardware for the task.

Third, I'll probably try to get ahold of a Hi8 deck / camcorder since this D8 cam is so faulty. I hope I can either return, sell, or figure out how to use this thing and make it worth my money. Hopefully it shoots and captures D8 footage better than it does Hi8.

Thanks, everybody.

By the way, would the AVT TBC everybody seems to use be good for this sort of task?