Should I use my V Camcorder or Canopus ADVC-100

[swroberts]

I have about 10 - 15 VHS tapes I want to turn into DVD's. Here is what i have doen so far. Using the bit rate calc. program, I set my Ulead VS7 paramters to match and capture in MPEG mode first, then I burn the DVD using MF2. So far so good. Since I wasn't editing, I went right to MPEG on the capture. I did this using my ADVC-100 connected via a fire-wire port, no dropped frames. I have been reading on this forum where people recommend hooking the VCR to the camcorder and using the bypass feature, which I just found out I have. Given my current setup , what would be the advantages of using my Digital camera to capture the VCR tapes?

[The_Doman]

I use my Sony DV/D8TRV-120 for my VHS transfers.

It works perfectly for me and also stabilizes the VHS video signal. It has some form of a (simple) TBC onboard.

You can always try if it gives you better results ofcourse.
Most DV camera's do a very good job transferring VHS stuff.

[MisterBig]

Doman,

I've got the same setup as you (TRV120) and am interesting in converting my VHS collection to DVD. I've been going back and forth between using my TRV120 or buying a Canopus ADVC100. I was wondering if you could let me know the process you are use including software.

Thanks.

MisterBig

[dtmthpng]

MisterBig,
Go with your current equipments; do not need to spend $200.00+ for the new Canopus ADVC100. It would be no better results as compare one way to another.
BTW, I had the Canopus ADVC100 unit myself. The best and consistent device to capture the analog video. My set-up:
. Capturing with Scenalyzer apps to AVI,
. Edit with Vegas 5,
. Authorize with DVD Architect 2,
. Burn with Nero 6 Ultra.

[The_Doman]

Doman,
I was wondering if you could let me know the process you are use including software.

In quick steps this is how I transfer my VHS tapes to DVD:
I use a good VCR, (composite will work fine, the quality of the VCR is the most important!) to play the tapes through my TRV120 to my PC. (works great with macrovision too!)
I use the Scenalyzer-Live to capture in segments which I find easier to handle.
Then I edit or cut out the unwanted parts with virtualdub. (or if needed with a real video editor)
After that I use a avisynth script with some simple noise reduction which also puts a black bar over the sides/bottom to cover all the unwanted video noise.
Then I encode it to full PAL DVD (720x576) resolution with Procoder 1.5 (2pass VBR). I never use 352x576, It's just not good enough.
Depending on the source material I put up to about 2 to 3 hours on a DVD.

That TRV120 really does a wonderful job with the VHS transfers!
Really no need for a ADVC100!

I Hope this helps

[lenti_75]

use the camcorder, no reason to spend more. the quality will be the same. I use a Canon elura 40, and the quality is the same as the orignal tapes.

[MisterBig]

Doman,

Thanks for the advice! I will give it a try and get back to you with my comments. Hopefully you just saved me a bunch of $$$.

[yg1968]

The initial poster already has the advc-100 and a digital camcorder with a passthrough feature. So either one should give him similar results. The best way of knowing for sure is by trying both options.

[BSR]

Where is Vhelp when you need him. He captures both with a digital camcorder and the ADVC-100. He's also done numerous test between the 2.
First I saw he liked the camcorder better, then I saw he liked the Canapus better. Not sure what he settled on. Unless your zooming in and very picky you probably won't see any difference.

I use my passthrough on my DV cam and am very pleased with the results.

Nice thing about ADVC-100 is that you do not tie up your camcorder, and I think I saw somewhere it has some very slight filtering built in to help the quality of the video. Not sure if true though.

[DVWannaB]

I have about 10 - 15 VHS tapes I want to turn into DVD's. Here is what i have doen so far. Using the bit rate calc. program, I set my Ulead VS7 paramters to match and capture in MPEG mode first, then I burn the DVD using MF2. So far so good. Since I wasn't editing, I went right to MPEG on the capture. I did this using my ADVC-100 connected via a fire-wire port, no dropped frames. I have been reading on this forum where people recommend hooking the VCR to the camcorder and using the bypass feature, which I just found out I have. Given my current setup , what would be the advantages of using my Digital camera to capture the VCR tapes?

swroberts,

I am assuming you have a digital cam. If so, I say find a challenging scene or small challenging segments on one or more of your VHS tapes. Try each device to see which gives the best results. Challenging scene = lots of movement/action and/or camera shake or pans and/or crazy zoom in and out, etc.

In my experience, the ADVC-100 is a great little device, but I found that it needed some help with old VHS tapes (like Time Based Correction and Video Stabilzer). A digicam may come in handy here, moreso than the ADVC-100 by itself. Do some small test clips.

[yg1968]

Using the passthrough feature will also sometimes help on old tapes. At least, it's been my experience with one of my tapes. I wouldn't be surprised that the DVC-100 does the same thing. It's not a built-in TBC but it has similar results to one. For example, the passthrough feature of my Sony camcorder corrects for any macrovision effects. I believe that the ADVC-100 does the same thing.