Canopus ADVC-100

[jwfc]

Hi. So I'm obviously a newbie when it comes to video editing and that's why I'm here . I've been searching this website and read through the VHS to DVD guide on tomshardware.com to do exactly that, convert vhs to dvd. My parents have some old videos on vhs that I'd like to convert for them to a DVD and maybe enhance the old quality of them using some program like VirtualDub. I also want to buy something that does a good enough job and can do a little more assuming I get more involved in video editing one day. I saw the Adaptec VideOh! PCI card taht got decent reviews and I saw this Canopus device.

With this Canopus device, do I still need a capture card like the Adaptec VideOh! PCI card?

Or can I use the Canopus device by itself and burn the VHS tapes to DVD?

Also, I have read some reviews on the Canopus device and some people say they have problems with it overheating and such. Isn't there just a power cord you plug in the wall for it?

And if anyone has any other advice to shed on THIS noob, I'd be more than glad to hear it 8) . Thanks!

[TBoneit]

ADVC-100 or it's newer model will allow you to bypass macrovision and thus capture into the computer any VHS tape you have whether they are homemade or store bought commercial.

However you will need a firewire card and capture software to use it.

It will only capture and then you will need to edit and convert to DVD Spec MPEG2 and author before burning. Even on a 3Ghz P4 like mine that takes time.

So I sprung for a Good JVC S-VHS VCR (Needed whichever way you go), A TBC to stabilize the signal, And a Pioneer 531H DBD Recorder with a hard drive in it. The VCR and the Recorder both have adjustments to improve the video. Editing is easy, burning is easy.

My ADVC-100 sits collecting dust except for use on very bad tapes.

Good Luck

[edDV]

What format are the tapes and which camcorders can you borrow?

Many MiniDV or Digital8 camcorders can transfer analog to DV format.

The ADVC-100 is a great product for a variety of uses but it may be cheaper to use a camcorder or a capture card.

PS: I see you said VHS but are they commercial tapes? Home recorded VHS? or VHS camcorder tapes?

[FulciLives]

My understanding is that only SOME versions of the Canopus ADVC-100 can be made to ignore copy protection (like Macrovision).

I have also heard that ALL versions of the Canopus ADVC-110 recognise copy protection (like Macrovision) and cannot be made to ignore it.

The DataVideo DAC-100 is a "clone" of the Canopus ADVC-100 and it is made out-of-the box to ignore copy protection (like Macrovision) so if that is an important issue for you ... either buy the DataVideo DAC-100 or get one of the Canopus units and a Full Frame TBC device. A Full Frame TBC will disable ALL forms of copy protection.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jwfc]

No I can't really borrow a camcorder since none of my friends have one. I was looking at the reviews for the two items I mentioned in my first post and the capture card looked like a good solution in some ways until some people harped on using only the one bundled software and not being able to maximize the DVD rate of some sort. Again, I'm a noob so sorry if my explanations are not great :P .

But yeah, I do not have a camcorder. I do have a VCR and DVD player like most people. The tapes to be converted are VHS tapes. We used to have a Sony old school camcorder that my Mom used for some family events and stuff but now the camcorder pretty much died. I think it turns on, but it doesn't record anymore last time I tried using it. She converted the old 8mm tapes to VHS tapes before the camcorder died, and now I'm trying to convert them to DVDs. If I can work around macrovision as you call it, even though I don't really know what it is, that sounds like somethign that would be useful, but not really a necessity since it's more of home filmed non copy protected tapes .

[edDV]

If you are capturing home recorded VHS tapes, your needs are very generic. Many gudes exist here.

Basic approachs:

1. Uncompressed capture to a generic PCI "tuner". Edit and encode, then process in a DVD Authoring program.

2a. Use a hardware encoding PCI capture card (e.g. Hauppage PVR series) that will output DVD ready MPeg2. Finish in a DVD authoring program.

2b. A variation would use the ATI All-in-Woinder or Theater 550 based tuner.

3. External USB2 or firewire MPeg2 or DV capturing devices. Finish in a DVD authoring program.

4. Digital camcorder "pass throuough" capture to DV. Finish in a DVD authoring program.

I recommend #2a. If you are short on money but have lots of time, try #1. Do your research.

[jwfc]

Cool. Thanks for the advice.

The other question I now have is regarding Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5. I read about the product here on this site, but I still had questions regarding it.

Does Premiere capture video for you, synch your audio and video, and output to DVD/mpeg2?

If that is the case, don't you just need a card to feed through your VHS video clips and edit it in Premiere? Or is that a bad idea. Just wondering if it was a plausible and feasible solution .

[edDV]

Cool. Thanks for the advice.

The other question I now have is regarding Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5. I read about the product here on this site, but I still had questions regarding it.

Does Premiere capture video for you, synch your audio and video, and output to DVD/mpeg2?

If that is the case, don't you just need a card to feed through your VHS video clips and edit it in Premiere? Or is that a bad idea. Just wondering if it was a plausible and feasible solution .

Premiere Pro like other medium level editing programs (e.g. Vegas, Media Studio Pro, Avid Xpress, Liquid ...) have several ways to capture but rely on either XP DirectShow or custom hardware drivers for capture.

They will use Directshow to capture DV video over IEEE-1394 or uncompressed over a Windows recognized PCI tuner/capture card. External devices like the Canopus ADVC series or DataVideo can convert analog to DV format as can many MiniDV or Digital8 camcorders.

Unlike consumer level programs, Premiere and Vegas lack focus for software MPeg encoding during capture. Software MPeg encoding is considered "low rent consumer" in pro circles. The idea is to capture to a high quality format, edit and process in high quality, then slow encode to DVD MPeg2 when you are done.

These programs are also designed to work in a truely pro uncompressed 4:2:2 external server environment using special hardware SDI (SMPTE 259M) and high definition hardware interface cards (e.g. BlackMagic).

Premiere Pro v2.0 adds a limited DVD authoring feature for the first time. v1.5 allowed a simple autoplay (no menu) timeline preview DVD only. Otherwise you buy Encore for DVD authoring.

Vegas can output DVD MPeg2 but requires DVD Architect to finish the DVD authoring steps.

You can use third party DVD authoring software with either program.

[jwfc]

Do you think it is necessary to have two HDD drives? Or will one 7200 rpm 200Gig HDD suffice?

[edDV]

Two recommended for DV or uncompressed. Keep capture file and tmp files on second drive.

It doesn't matter as much for a hardware encoding MPeg capture card.