New Canopus ADVC-100 user seeks tips & advice

[ChachiFace]

I just recently purchased the ADVC-100 and it's great. Does any experienced users have any tips or advice? I've just been using it according to the manual but I heard somewhere in this forum that it's best to use the "video extension cable" that came with the device and the "audio out" connections in the "back" of the unit. How do you use these audio out connections as your audio in? Also, how do you know you're using the latest codec for Canopus? Is there anything else I need to know? How do you defeat macrovision? etc...

I've been using it to capture old / new VHS and capture straight from cable box and it works great for both sources...not a single dropped frame or out of sync audio, yet.

[dilligaf]

Ive had one of these for a while & connect the vhs player to the audio/s video in & output to the PC via the firewire as per the book.

The feature that adds 'stabilisation' is invoked by holding down the input select button for approx 15 sec, after which the video should be 'stable'

I think the codec is in firmware, maybe a flash could upgrade this, Im happy with the performance as is so have not investigated this.

The only thing I have added to this setup is a cheap Time Base Corrector to the ADVC's input to stop the video freezes I was getting with older tapes.

dilligaf

[ChachiFace]

dilligaf, so do you find that the s-video input captures cleaner than using the 'video in' cable that came with the advc-100?

[redwudz]

I don't use S-video, but I use the rear connectors just to keep cables from hanging out the front of the box. To use the rear audio in, you need a 1/8" stereo plug to a dual RCA jack adapter. Radio Shack or others carry it. I use the included Canopus adapter for video in that goes into the S-video jack on the rear. This is for composite video, no S-video. I read somewhere that works better than the front jack, but I see no difference, just looks better. Haven't tried any Macrovision sources, so I don't know how well that works. I have been playing with the Mainconcept encoder and direct conversion to MPEG2. It works well, but needs a little fine tuning on quality.
EDIT: On codecs in the ADVC, I think they are hardware, but I may be wrong. The only codecs generally invoved are the ones for playback and for use in editing, etc. I use the Panasonic codec. The Doom9 forum has some good info on DV codecs and other DV subjects:http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?s=4f02b0c726c84162673b9659a730bb18&forumid=59

[budz]

I tried doing the macrovision thing on my advc-100 and it didn't work. I use the supplied video cable that came with the advc-100 because I heard it supposedly was better. I haven't done any vhs to dvd conversions until I order a data video TBC. Been mainly using the advc-100 doing captures from digital cable box.

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[FulciLives]

NTSC DV AVI is 4:1:1

PAL DV AVI doesn't have this problem.

So if you do NTSC DV AVI you might want to try the 4:1:1 filters.

There is a VirtualDub version and an AviSynth version.

Here are the links:

411Helper by Xesdeeni
VirtualDub 4:1:1 filter
http://www.geocities.com/xesdeeni2001/

ReInterpolate411 by TRBarry
AviSynth 4:1:1 filter
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/trbarry/downloads.htm

Basically DVD is 4:2:0 and most capture formats otherthan NTSC DV do 4:2:2 and it turns out that 4:2:2 to 4:2:0 is an OK thing but 4:1:1 to 4:2:0 can be ugly without the use of filters.

So if you use NTSC DV AVI then this is something you will want to look into.

The only other thing I can think of ... some users of the Canopus ADVC-100 seem to favor ScenalyzerLive as their capture program. Apparently some people have trouble with other programs whereas ScenalyzerLive seems to be problem free for all who use it.

Last but not least remember to set your inputs correctly. PAL is 0.0 IRE BLACK. Japnese NTSC is 0.0 IRE BLACK whereas all other forms of NTSC should be 7.5 IRE BLACK.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[gratner]

I use the Canopus ADVC-100 with no problems whatsoever.

I think the captures are excellent and have not found a need to use of any additional filters.... at least with my tastes.

WinDV is the software I use and it's perfect for capturing... small footprint and simple.

I encode with TMPEGEnc.

The only thing I've debated on getting is a TBC but so far I've avoided that as I've gotten conflicting information as to whether this would help me with the few tapes that have given me issues.

[budz]

The only thing I've debated on getting is a TBC but so far I've avoided that as I've gotten conflicting information as to whether this would help me with the few tapes that have given me issues.

I can relate to that because I haven't purchased a DATA VIDEO TBC yet from B@H PHOTO. I'll be doing a friends wedding vhs tape to see if I have problems in doing the conversion to dvd.

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on the slow PENT 933 pc again

[FulciLives]

I don't have a TBC either but I've tested some devices that aren't meant to be used as a TBC but have a TBC built-in and have used them to "pass-thru" the video I'm capturing.

Result?

TBC makes the picture look a bit better to alot better depending on the source.

Unforunately the one device I use de-interlaces the video which results in a very stable (due to the TBC) image but a very "ugly" image with stair-stepping artifacts. Almost like one field is thrown out and the other is resized to account for it.

The other is an old Panny DMR-E20 (stnad alone DVD reocrder) and the TBC here is really nice 'cept of course mine is a "bum" unit that causes this wierd color distortion across the very top of the image. It's almost in the overscan area but does creep into the image enough that it can be seen some of the time on a TV screen. I got this unit for free from a friend so what can you do? hehhe

I love what either one does in terms of making the image more stable looking ESPECIALLY with the SLP VHS tapes I've tested.

Now I'm just holding out for when I can save money for a DataVideo TBC-1000 just never can seem to save enough for it ... just when I think I have enough something "bad" happens like a flat tire etc. and I need that money for my "mini" disaster.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[budz]

Now I'm just holding out for when I can save money for a DataVideo TBC-1000 just never can seem to save enough for it ... just when I think I have enough something "bad" happens like a flat tire etc. and I need that money for my "mini" disaster.

I hear yah! I just shelled out $900 bucks to get a new compressor for my car air conditioner. I can't live without ac in my car especially when it's hot and humid during the summer.

Someday I'll eventually get that DATA VIDEO TBC.

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on the slow PENT 933 pc again