Analog to digital conversion hardware

[Dubmstr]

I am shopping for some hardware so I can convert VHS to digital. Any suggestions for this type of hardware? One more question is Adobe premeire elements a good choice for a beginner? Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

[harley2ride]

If all you want to do is capture avi with a decent editing software, then adobe premiere elements should be just fine. Elements is just a toned down adobe premiere pro, kind of like taking a v8, and removing a few cylinders. If you are looking for a package deal, you can get the ADS Pyro AV/Link with Premiere Elements for around $160.00.

[Dubmstr]

Thanks for the reply Harley.... Here is my senario...I work at a major casino here in Las Vegas. I have been recording video exclusively on vhs. We are now getting rid of vcr's and going to DVR. So I now have both analog and digital formats that I have to combine to make a dub of a given event or incident. I found that the Canopus AVDC-110 will convert analog into AVI. This is good because the DVR's will backup into AVI files.I understand the ADS Pyro gives me MPEG-2......So I am looking for software and hardware that is easy to use and is compatable. Please provide some input.

[edDV]

The Canopus ADVC-110 and the ADS Pyro convert analog to DV format. I haven't used the Pyro
http://www.adstech.com/products/API-555/intro/api555_intro.asp?pid=API-555
but I can recommend the ADVC-110 for it's capture quality and proper handing conversion of NTSC video into DV/DVD and back to NTSC (for monitoring or dub).

[harley2ride]

For what you are doing, either the Canopus ADVC 110, or the ADS Pyro AV/Link will work fine. The AV/Link, comes with Adobe Premiere Elements, which would be nice, because you can easily capture stills from your video, and import them into Adobe Photoshop to enhance and enlarge them.

[Dubmstr]

Thanks ED and Harley.... any expierience with the reverse conversion from digital to analog? I am exploring all directions on this subject. I do have a decent budget to work with buying this equipment ..... again thanks for the input. I'll probably have some more questions if you don't mind.

[FulciLives]

1.) Buy a high quality S-VHS VCR as even VHS tapes can benefit from being played back on a S-VHS VCR. JVC makes some nice models.

2.) Canopus ADVC-110 as your capture device.

3.) Something as simple as the freeware WinDV can be used for the capture. The Canopus ADVC-110 does all the hard work inside and just sends a digital stream to the computer. No fancy program is needed to "capture" this as it really is just a data transfer at that point.

4.) Simple editing can be done using a combination of AviSynth and VirtualDubMod. Here is a guide ---> CLICK HERE
For more advanced editing where you want to re-arrange clips or add text captions or do "special effects" like slow mo or transitions like wipes or fades etc. then you are better off getting an "advanced" editing program such as Adobe Premiere Elements.

5.) You need a good MPEG-2 DVD spec encoder. I suggest CCE Basic.

6.) You also need an audio program such as GOLDWAVE

7.) If you want to use AC-3 audio you need an AC-3 encoder. A good freeware solution is ffmpeggui or you can buy the AC-3 "plug-in" for TMPGEnc DVD Author ... the "plug-in" can be used by itself for encoding AC-3 audio.

8.) You need a DVD authoring program. A nice basic easy-to-use but not free solution would be TMGPEnc DVD Author or the slightly new upgraded version called TSUNAMI MPEG DVD Author PRO ... the PRO version I think comes with a built-in AC-3 encoder where as TMPGEnc DVD Author needs the "plug-in" which is an extra cost.

Last but not least you may want to buy a TBC device. Here is a good link about such devices ---> CLICK HERE

Good Luck

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Wile_E]

The Canopus ADVC-100/110/300 are consumer/prosumer level products. They work great, but I would laugh at any "pro studio" or business that would be using one of these. Casinos have money right and probably a big budget to boot for security? So buy something high-end.

Look at Canopus high-end PCI cards and some rack-mount equipment from other companies. Like ADVC-1000, etc...

[Dubmstr]

We will have only a small amount of VCRs for a little while. So we are looking to convert analog for only a short term....not a permanent fix. In less then a year we will have total DV so analog conversion will be in the past. Thanks for the info......I'll be back with more hardware and software questions