Capture card options - What does it all mean???

[saber001]

Hi.

Just after a little advise please.
I have been reading this forum and it seems that canopus is the best choise for converting Video 8 to DV/DVD

My question is which Canopus product is best for me and what is the difference between the major ones.
ie 50, 55, 100 and 110. They all seem to have similar specs.

Is anyone better suited for catpuring video 8 then another one.

thanks for your help.

[RabidDog]

a very good uk Catfood IS called Choice .. perfect for catpurring.. (nothing to wiv your question tho)

[redwudz]

It's all on their website.

50=a internal card and front bay adapter

55=an external unit, powered by computer, limited IO options

100=older version, standalone with a power supply

110=a stand alone unit, powered by the computer, more options

They all do exactly the same thing, convert analog to digital DV video. The standalones can be used with about any computer. The PCI cards are for internal install.

Which one you want as RabidDog strangely put, is your choice. For that big of investment, you should spend more time at the Canopus website.

Personally, I would go for the 110 as I own a ADVC-100 and it has worked perfectly on many different computers, Mac and MS with never a problem.

[saber001]

Thanks

I have already spent quite a lot of time at canopus. That is why i am here.

I suppose i just wanted to know if there was any big difference between there perfomance. Given that there is such a big differnt in the price of them all. But if it is as you say, one is internal and one is external and one has more io ports then i am happy with that. I just can't believe the diference in price.

I may as well just by the chepest interal one if it is going to do the same job as the external one at twice the price.

[FulciLives]

I would go with the Canopus ADVC-100 or the ADVC-110

Another option is the DataVideo DAC-100 which is essentially a "clone" of the Canopus ADVC-100 and the DataVideo unit can still be bought brand new whereas the ADVC-100 is getting trickier to find brand new.

My suggestion is based on the fact that these are all external boxes that hook up via FIREWIRE (aka i.link also aka IEEE 1394) and people seem to have less trouble with these external boxes than the internal cards ala the ADVC-55 for instance.

Best bang for your money is the DataVideo DAC-100

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Also look into using ScenalyzerLive as it is reported to be the best program for DV capture (which is really just a data transfer). It is not freeware and while there are freeware programs for DV capture/transfer sometimes ... note sometimes ... people have trouble with those programs (usually A/V sync issues). Somehow ScenalyzerLive seems to work when other programs fail. So you may not need it but keep it in the back of your mind if other DV capture/transfer programs fail you.

[saber001]

Thanks great.

I will check out the DAC-100.

Looks like i will go for an exteral box.

Thanks for the advise.

Travis

[anitract]

Another route is a Digital camcorder with a built in DV pass-through...meaning you can feed your signal through it to attain DV. If you needed/wanted a new cam., then this is def. a route to consider.

[harley2ride]

I agree with the Dac100, but I would also check out the ADS Pyro AV/Link. Both are good products and will produce professional results.