Canopus AVC100

[budz]

Is the CANOPUS AVC100 a good dv converter? I want to convert some VHS tapes to DVD. I understand cheaper capture cards have problems with video/audio sync problems. I read somewhere that the CANOPUS is a good device. I would appreciate any comments on this product. Ecost.com has it for $252.95. Thanks in advance.

[SLICK RICK]

Read, Read, Read.........

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=183502&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highligh...dvc100&start=0

SLICK RICK

[hiptune]

Is the CANOPUS AVC100 a good dv converter? I want to convert some VHS tapes to DVD. I understand cheaper capture cards have problems with video/audio sync problems. I read somewhere that the CANOPUS is a good device. I would appreciate any comments on this product. Ecost.com has it for $252.95. Thanks in advance.

No don't bother with reading that silly thread, go over to the "capture" section of the forum, and read the glowing comments there.

Yes this is a good choice is my short answer. Go get it now!!!

Jeff

[lordsmurf]

Read, Read, Read.........

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=183502&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highligh...dvc100&start=0

SLICK RICK

[budz]

Thanks for all the replies to my posting. I actually read through that CANOPUS posting. I'm a newbie to video capturing. I just got my Plextor 708A burner a few weeks ago. There are a few questions I have about getting this CANOPUS AVC100. First of all do I need to get a PCI sound card in order to use CANOPUS? I use the built in sound on my SHUTTLE AV49N motherboard. I will have to get a Firewire pci card. Is there anything else I would need to run CANOPUS? What kind of software would I need?

[hiptune]

Thanks for all the replies to my posting. I actually read through that CANOPUS posting. I'm a newbie to video capturing. I just got my Plextor 708A burner a few weeks ago. There are a few questions I have about getting this CANOPUS AVC100. First of all do I need to get a PCI sound card in order to use CANOPUS? I use the built in sound on my SHUTTLE AV49N motherboard. I will have to get a Firewire pci card. Is there anything else I would need to run CANOPUS? What kind of software would I need?

You still need to read the capture section on capture, ADVC - 100 in particualr, just as I already told you to. Tools section also.

But no, you need no sound card to use this, the firewire will take care of sound and picture.

Now go read up on this device.

[SLICK RICK]

No don't bother with reading that silly thread, go over to the "capture" section of the forum, and read the glowing comments there.

What exactly do you find silly about that thread?

SLICK RICK

[hiptune]

No don't bother with reading that silly thread, go over to the "capture" section of the forum, and read the glowing comments there.

What exactly do you find silly about that thread?

SLICK RICK

This comment: <snip> these past few weeks I've seen far too many posts and had far too many e-mails asking about the quality of the ADVC and comparing it to an ATI AIW and others.

I find that comment loaded! Yes, it is a loaded comment. I read the comments almost every day, and do not see all these posts asking about the quality of this device. And I find it silly that someone would feel the need to start a topic on this subject when there already are many many of them on the same topic. Why Lordsmirf feels the need is silly, the info is already here and over there in both devices, capture, and tools. The testamonials are all here for the reading. So it's silly and space consuming. And this site is so full of information, I find it silly to clutter up the signal to noise ratio just a little more.

Jeff

[budz]

You still need to read the capture section on capture, ADVC - 100 in particualr, just as I already told you to. Tools section also.

I've read that capture section on ADVC-100. There were comments from people who have purchased it. Not many post what software programs they use. As for the tools section I did not see ADVC-100 on there. I must be blind if it's there lol! There isn't a guide listing in tools how to use this device or what software is needed. Remember I'm a newbie to capturing. I would appreciate any help I can get before I make my decision on purchasing this CANOPUS. After reading all the great things about it I would like more information before I make the purchase. Thanks in advance!

[hiptune]

I just typed out a very detailed reply and it went bye bye before I hit send.
Anywaym Pinnacle Studio 8 is a great editing porgram for a newbie. And it will capture from the ADVC 100 with no problem.

You need a new computer set up to do video edit/cap/burn with large hard drives, and fast processer. Then this is what I use, and I get great results. I learned by reading up here. Start with Intel Motherboard, Pent 4, 2 large hard drives.

1. ADVC 100
2. Pinnacle Studio 8
3. Canopus Procoder
4. DVD Lab
5. Nero 6.

These are what I read would work and deliver high quality, and I bought this stuff and have had no dropped frames, and no out of sync sound. NO jitter movements, no pixelation.

Keep in mind, if you set this gear up on a system that is ols and has lots of other software already on it, you will likely have issues and hang ups.

Start from scratch if you want to be free of bugs.

Jeff

[rhegedus]

I've had one for over a year now. It has worked as expected with no hardware or set-up difficulties and produces excellent results for VHS to DVD conversion. I'm currently using it to capture direct from broadcast and the quality is just like the original source.

Highly recommended.

[SLICK RICK]

budz,

If you really want a easy program to use with the ADVC 100, then give Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2 a try. It will allow you to capture from the ADVC and convert it to MPEG-2. Then you will also be able to create a menu, create chapters and burn to dvd all with this one program.

SLICK RICK

[rhegedus]

give Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2 a try.

Why spoil such a good thing with such a piece of crap?

[budz]

Thank you Hiptune and Slick Rick and everyone else who replied to my posting. I appreciate the help. I have a PENT 4 2.4 ghz chip pc. If you click on my computer details you'll see what I have. I'll be adding the CANOPUS ADVC-100 to my birthday and christmas wish list. Not bad to combine both occassions for one gift. LOL! Thanks again for the help!

[SLICK RICK]

SLICK RICK wrote:
give Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2 a try.


Why spoil such a good thing with such a piece of crap?

Here's why:

Remember I'm a newbie to capturing.

I recommended it to him because he said he was a newbie to capturing, and it would be very easy for him to use as he gets started.

SLICK RICK

[lordsmurf]

Why Lordsmirf feels the need is silly... testamonials are all here for the reading.

Mere testimonials are useless. What was needed, like I said in that thread, was more than the typical "yay, Canopus, yay" comments, and that thread has finally done it.

[hiptune]

Why Lordsmirf feels the need is silly... testamonials are all here for the reading.

I find testimonials to be useless shit. What was needed, like I said in that thread, was more than the typical "yay, Canopus, yay" comments, and that thread has finally done it.

Long before your rant, I became aware of the lack of Dropped Frames and consistantly In Sync Sound of this wonderful device or whatever you want to call it! All in the group forums and tools section. But so glad you are now aware of all it does indeed offer.

Jeff

[lacywest]

Hey Budz

I use the Canopus ADVC 50 ... Ebay/PayPal purchase.

I tried using my credit card with the other Internet retailers to get the Canopus ADVC 100 but my bank wasn't accepting the transaction.

I checked the selection on EBay and found a ADVC 50 ... "Buy Now" and price was reasonable.

I got the Firewire card at Staples.

Anyways ... I use InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2 for video capture.

No audio/video problems. Check my details ... my ATI AIW 7500 works too with it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scenalyzer Live v20021115 ... works great with ADVC 50 ... you should check it out. DV Type 1 or DV Type 2 choices.

If you choose DV Type 2 ... VirtualDub can edit it with audio included.

[rhegedus]

I recommended it to him because he said he was a newbie to capturing, and it would be very easy for him to use as he gets started.

Point taken.

But, I was going along the lines of using some free stuff that have no known major problems to capture, encode and author first to get the hang of it, then going along the more serious route later. And as his PC is still on W98 a move to XP is sure to some, allowing the use of Movie Maker.

What would a newbie make of the synch problems that you can get with UMF?

[sam01]

Have made a market survey before purchased the AVDC-100. Have it for almost a year. Am working with a cheap 1394 card. Used many capture softwares based on the tools menu. The product handles all of them very well. Tried multitasking software like Ulead Studio etc. and didn't like them. I usually capture with scenalyzer , encode to MPEG with TMPGEnc Plus or MainConcept, author with TMPGEnc DVD Author and burn with Nero 6. I never had a problem. Tried several authoring software : Sonic My DVD wasn't bad and so was Ulead Movie Factory. Go and try. It is fun. The only problem is financial, how much capturing will you do to justify the price of the AVDC-100 ? You will need to answer this by yourself. Something to remember, use only good and certified media, you may do everything right just to find out that the nely burned DVD is not playing properly on you home DVD stand alone player. Also, there is no guarantee it will play on all players. Good luck.

[rhegedus]

Mere testimonials are useless. What was needed, like I said in that thread, was more than the typical "yay, Canopus, yay" comments, and that thread has finally done it.

You mean by inviting AIW users to submit their testimonials? Canopus owners don't need to read any more comments - they already have one.

[witchboard]

If you click on my computer details you'll see what I have.

You may need to look at updating your OS as well. I know that there are file size problems with Pre-NT OS. There may be a option to split the capture file while you capture it, but if not, I'd figure I'd throw up a flag on this before you ran into it later on.

[budz]

Thanks witchboard. Actually I've already purchased WINDOWS 2000 PRO w/ Service pack 3. I ordered it before the Canopus ADVC-100. I had to really think about how practical it would be for me to spend $331.00 for the Canopus and a firewire pci card. In the end I did order it. I have vhs tapes that have family stuff on them so I'd like to keep them and convert it so I can burn them on DVD.

I'm a newbie at capturing so pardon me if some of the questions are DUH.
From the Canopus the a/v inputs do I hook it up to the vhs a/v output to capture from the vhs? I'm assuming since I don't have a pci soundcard I would need to use a Y adapter for the audio. When capturing a VHS movie how big are the files? Because I have (2) 60gb Hard drives and would that be sufficient? Any suggestions on what firewire pci card is good to use? I would appreciate any response to the questions I have posted. Thanks!

[rcb]

Budz -

VCR to advc hookup - can be easily done with a 3 wire component cable with 3 rca jacks both ends, just as if you were going to connect your vcr to a tv. This hookup will also take care of your audio connection concerns as the advc combines a/v before sending a signal via firewire to your computer. The advc manual will explain this in detail.
As to caturing software, there are several. I prefer ScenalyzerLive as it give me some very convenient controls for timed capture, scene change detection, choice on which type of DV you will end up with in your HD as an .avi file. It's a shareware app, but you can d/l a trial ver to see if you like it.
expect a capture rate of around 13 gig/hr which means about 4+ hrs capacity on an empty 60 gig drive.

Good luck - with the advc100, you've got the heart of a good stable setup and with a bit of further experimenting, will have a nice setup.

[vhelp]

Although I continue to stand by Analog capture cards (in term of output
quality ie, color) ...

When it comes to the ADVC, (because of my experience with it) I stand by
my own statements that it's the best gizmo going out their w/ reasonable
$$$.$$ and slowly droping in price (finally) But, I got mine (a year ago)
for multiple reasons. It's a great device, and in my NTSC experience, I
am happy with it, though I hear (and seen) some PAL snips that seemed to
have a slight better detail and/or color quality, for reasons that escape
my understanding.. below are some of my statments and reasons and PROS for
getting this gizmo:

* MV'less
* stop the drop'ness
* audio sycn (not that I had any)
* noise (most Analog capture card exhibit this, pending mobo/chipset)
* no reasource hog. I can switch between many apps and not worry about
...my system crashing out on me, speciall when I may have Internet con
...nection and precious placement w/in my relm.
* great stability (above)
* quick setup. I use DVIO, even under w98's FAT32/4igg/18min limits.
* great quality
* less disk space
* and more.

Just remember, that DV is lossy. That means that your source is going through
a conversion (though a good one at that) But, on the other hand, so it is, for
those that go the Analog capture card route, and choose MJPEG ala 18/19s
setting etc. I even have my doubts that Huffy is lossless, but I wont
argue on that codec. Based on my understand and limited knowledge, about the
best you'll get from an Analog card is uncompressed mode, that is, RGB.

I tend to stay away from ADVC bashing, even when they are demeaning in tone
I just ignore them as much as possible, and I don't hold a grudge against the
person or persons that provide such junk or nonsense and I treat them and
such nonsense as separate (isolated) issues. Just because you don't like
Grapes don't mean I'm gonna dislike ya for it

I've said elseware, and in so many words, that there are two choices one can make.

A - Get an analog if you are skillful w/ sound techniques, and so on and so forth.
B - Get an advc if you (same as above) but want no isues w/ your source files.

Well, I've ben messing w/ my finally arrived WS Star Wars SE VHS and am happily
busying myself w/ it - having lots of fun experimenting :P

Good luck to you all in any event,
-vhelp