why would I need Canopus Raptor RT2?

[erickpan]

Why would I need a Canopus Raptor RT2 if I already have a firewire port built into my PC?
Is there anything special about this dedicated firewire card that my regular firewire port cant do? Or is this just for people who have no existing firewire port or need an additional firewire port? (the other one could be used for other firewire devices...like a harddrive)

I just bought the ADVC100 for my analog digital conversions..., and saw this and was wondering if I should get it....and then I thought.... WHY? (its $500!!! for another firewire port! what's the deal with it?)

Will this firewire card accelerate anything? or is this just a regular firewire card with output ports and lots of bundled software. Or will it accelerate rendering, playback,...etc?

Also, is there anything different that the RT2 and the old raptor? Coz' ive seen it being sold in Ebay for around $70+...that's cheap! Why? when the RT2 cost $500?! what's the catch here?

Thanks....

[franco]

I've got a similar issue having bought the ADVC 100 with the EZDV SE. I need to sell the EZDV as it only takes DV which is PAL and I need to capture in NTSC as well.

I wanted to make sure I was not making a mistake replacing the EZDV with a firewire and posted a message on the Canopus forums. I asked of the advantages compared to a firewire. All the "advantages" they pointed out were to do with the software that comes with the EZDV SE and not the actual card itself.

The thread finished with another guy in the same boat as me asking why he should use the EZDV and what advantage it gives but nobody seems to know or at least aren't keen on answering.

[erickpan]

Oh well...I guess we're on our own.

Im slowly suspecting the raptor is basically a firewire card with output ports...because like you mentioned, all its advantages is in the software. If this is true...then, the OLDER raptor cards should yield the same results! Im seeing them in Ebay for around $70...BUT noone is bidding on them.....hmmmm....I really need more info on this card.
Is it necessary? Will this $500+ investment be worth it in time and effort? I need to know.

I'll check out the canopus forums as well.

Thanks

[TheSeven7hSon]

With the DVRaptorRT you're able to see (on your monitor) results in real time. You can see transitions and filters without rendering. These effects might come along in the included DVRaptorRT software as a plug in for Premiere but it's the card's power that makes this possible.

Premiere 6.5 is now able to give you real time with some transitions. To see them you don't hit the Space bar but the Enter key. I think it shows you what it renders at the same time. I only played around with it for a little while but I believe it makes a new preview file every time you see a different section of video.

I used a D-Link firewire card and its included software by Ulead. It was a cheap $25 DFW-500 or something. When I transfered video from a DV camera, at times, it just crapped out, computer crashed.

Seven