advice to as what capture device will give me the best video quality

[CCEncoder]

Guys which device as canopus goes should I get ADVC100 or 110.
For 110 I have a silver and a white option for 100 I have a black option would if you do have any experience with this ones give me advice as which to buy? or perhaps another non canopus option.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&item=140018335887
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&item=170016439206
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&item=170016439153

I also would like to know if these devices drop connection.
if they can remove macrovisions protections from vhs.
if there are any known issues?

I heard great reviews about the EyeTV 200 what do you think?
http://www.epinions.com/content_223591829124

[thecoalman]

The 110 and 100 are practically identical, the biggest difference being the 110 doesn't require an external power supply when connected trhough a 6 pin firewire port. I think there is an additional dip switch on the backk too but overall they are the same unit.

As far as the MV goes they both detect it but it can be disabled on the 100 through the "button hack". I beleive I remeber reading there were some later 100 models where this didn't work but you'd have to reserch that yourself, I'm not positive. You hold the input button down for 10 or 15 seconds.... This to the best of my knowledge doesn't work on the 110 from what I've read. I have a 110 but never tested it myself... no need.

[CCEncoder]

You say you have a 110, would you tell me if the quality provided in this links are same or worse then the ones you would get with yours, I used studio 9.1 with buildin dv codec I recorded some comcast cable tv, the cable is connected to my VCR and its outputs connect to my dazzle holywood bridge and then the firewire transmit it to my audigy2.

http://host527.ipowerweb.com/~gameworl/applications/vid1.avi
http://host527.ipowerweb.com/~gameworl/applications/vid2.avi

[thecoalman]

There's some sample pics here: https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=298270&highlight=advc

Basically if it's a decent source whatever you put into it is what you're going to get out of it. I've seen iy mentioned that they have trouble with video that is very noisy but have no experience with that myself.

[CCEncoder]

There's some sample pics here: https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=298270&highlight=advc

Basically if it's a decent source whatever you put into it is what you're going to get out of it. I've seen iy mentioned that they have trouble with video that is very noisy but have no experience with that myself.

can you record a few seconds of tv and post a link here to the avi?

[thecoalman]

Don't have it hooked, up, don't have a source either.... For cable you can expect it to look as good as the signal.

[Barnabas]

If you don't need to output back to tape, the Canopus ADVC-55 is also a great choice for less money. It too can defeat MV by changing the DIP switches on the back.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canopus-ADVC-55-DV-Converter-ADVC55-No-reserved_W0QQitemZ160018538...QQcmdZViewItem

[CCEncoder]

If you don't need to output back to tape, the Canopus ADVC-55 is also a great choice for less money. It too can defeat MV by changing the DIP switches on the back.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canopus-ADVC-55-DV-Converter-ADVC55-No-reserved_W0QQitemZ160018538...QQcmdZViewItem

it says that it doesn't come with a power supply? in any case, if I want the video back to tape would it matter in terms of quality if I use any other device such as the dazzle or the quality may improve depending on the device?

[jagabo]

Canopus ADVC-55... it says that it doesn't come with a power supply?

It fits in a PCI slot and gets its power from there.

[CCEncoder]

Canopus ADVC-55... it says that it doesn't come with a power supply?

It fits in a PCI slot and gets its power from there.

but it says it is firewire

[Wile_E]

A DV-to-DV is just a file transfer. It wouldn't matter what device you use to put the DV file back to a DV tape. I have an ADVC-300 and I like it. But if your VHS tapes are noisy, you still get noise in your captures. I use Avisynth with Convolution3D temporal smoother to get rid of the noise. Then output that to DVD.

[Wile_E]

Canopus ADVC-55... it says that it doesn't come with a power supply?

It fits in a PCI slot and gets its power from there.

No, it is a firewire device. It gets it's power through the same cable(firewire).

Read here. The adapter kit is required if you use 4-pin firewire cable. Then you need the power adapter too.
http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC55/index.php

[CCEncoder]

Canopus ADVC-55... it says that it doesn't come with a power supply?

It fits in a PCI slot and gets its power from there.

No, it is a firewire device. It gets it's power through the same cable(firewire).

Read here. The adapter kit is required if you use 4-pin firewire cable. Then you need the power adapter too.
http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC55/index.php

what is it for? I will still need to use firewire to input the video into the pc right? explain.

[Barnabas]

The ADVC-55 doesn't need a power supply, as it's powered from your computer via the firewire plug, unless you are using a laptop.

Not sure how the tape outputs work, but think they are just analog outputs. For me, I want to convert tapes, clean then up, etc, so no reason to go back to tape again.

[CCEncoder]

The ADVC-55 doesn't need a power supply, as it's powered from your computer via the firewire plug, unless you are using a laptop.

Not sure how the tape outputs work, but think they are just analog outputs. For me, I want to convert tapes, clean then up, etc, so no reason to go back to tape again.

wait ok, and how is the quality any video samples as the ones I did with my dazle hollywood bridge? note I prefer videos instead of pictures because I want to see some blocks.

[jagabo]

Canopus ADVC-55... it says that it doesn't come with a power supply?

It fits in a PCI slot and gets its power from there.

No, it is a firewire device. It gets it's power through the same cable(firewire).

Read here. The adapter kit is required if you use 4-pin firewire cable. Then you need the power adapter too.
http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC55/index.php

Sorry I was thinking of the ADVC50 which came in a PCI version (although it only used the PCI slot for power).

[CCEncoder]

Canopus ADVC-55... it says that it doesn't come with a power supply?

It fits in a PCI slot and gets its power from there.

No, it is a firewire device. It gets it's power through the same cable(firewire).

Read here. The adapter kit is required if you use 4-pin firewire cable. Then you need the power adapter too.
http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC55/index.php

Sorry I was thinking of the ADVC50 which came in a PCI version (although it only used the PCI slot for power).

what is this differ from the advcd100 and would someone please post some video examples as I did.

[FulciLives]

I looked at the two video files provided ... the Japanese anime and the TV commercial ... I mostly concenrated on the TV commercial since it was "live action" and not a "cartoon". I feel a "cartoon" is a poor choice of testing materials.

The clip seems fine (plays back horrible on the website ... plays back A-OK once downloaded) other than it has an excess of "video noise".

Normally I would use AviSynth and either Convolution3D or RemoveGrain ... both of which are "video noise" filters ... but instead I tried TMPGEnc Plus along with the built-in "video noise" filter it uses. All settings on MAX like bitrate etc.

The final MPEG-2 video looks slightly cleaner but still very noisy. I'm sure Convolution3D or RemoveGrain would do better but still that source is VERY noisy!

My guess is the weak link in the chain is using a VCR as a tuner. You would be better off to get a 2nd cable box from the cable company (I think the basic non DVR box is like $5.95 a month extra) and use the box to get a composite or S-Video output (actually I think the basic box only has composite output but that should be fine).

Then again you have the dazzle holywood bridge and I've never heard good things about it ... mostly you read really bad stuff when it comes to dazzle video capture hardware.

So it is hard to say exactly what the problem is for sure.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CCEncoder]

I'm not using the box I'm using the turner buildin the wall, but is ok, I can use some recorded video from my vhs cam, that would be direct input would it?? I'll use s-video this time and use your expertise to clean it and let me know the results will that be ok? video will be trip to the airport.

[thecoalman]

If you don't need to output back to tape, the Canopus ADVC-55 is also a great choice for less money

Let me clear something up here, the ADVC can ouput back to analog tape such as VHS.

computer>firewire>advc 110>rca or s-video>VHS Deck

----------------------------------

Unless you need to ouput to analog tape the 55 will suffice. To output back to a digital tape on a camcorder you don't need either.

Computer>firewire>camcoder (this is an exact duplicate of whatever is on your computer, quality issues are irrelevant)

[FulciLives]

I did not know that the ADVC-55 was an external model now ala the ADVC-110. In fact as far as I can tell it is basically the same as the ADVC-110 but without the analog outputs. I always thought of the ADVC-55 as internal since the previous ADVC-50 was internal. Funny how things change when you are not paying attention.

However I could find nothing on the Canopus website about the ADVC-55 in relation to the following question:

Does the ADVC-55 have the 0.0 IRE / 7.5 IRE option as does the ADVC-100/110 models?

That is of vital importance to anyone that needs to capture NTSC as all NTSC is 7.5 IRE except for Japanese NTSC which is 0.0 IRE. The ability of the ADVC-100/110 models to pick 0.0 IRE or 7.5 IRE is a major thing! I would hope the ADVC-55 also has that option.

I also noticed that doing a price search on PRICEGRABBER.COM that I found only a $15.00 price difference between the ADVC-110 and the ADVC-55 although this was including S&H charges so where you live might affect that difference some I suppose.

But my point is this ... with such a low real world price difference between the two I would personally get the ADVC-110 if it were my purchase. Yes it is $15.00 more or so but it seems to be more "proven" than the ADVC-55 and the output ability might come in handy. For instance I know edDV says he uses it all the time so that when using VEGAS he can adjust picture properties (such as contrast, brightness, color saturation etc.) using the TV as a guide which will give much better results than using a computer monitor since video looks so different on a computer monitor vs. a television. Also if (and this is a big IF as I don't know yet) the ADVC-55 does not have selectable IRE input then the $15.00 extra for the ADVC-110 is definately worth it!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[FulciLives]

TALK ABOUT FAST !!!

I regestered at the Canopus website and sent an e-mail to customer support asking if they would send me a PDF of the ADVC-55 manual. They sent it to me via e-mail as an attachment. It only took a few minutes or so!

According to the manual the ADVC-55 does offer 0.0 IRE or 7.5 IRE options. This is good.

I did not see anything about AUDIO LOCK and if I recall the ADVC-100/110 both have an audio lock dip switch. Then again I think I read that most people don't set it to on as it seems to work fine as is.

Maybe I need to request the manual for the ADVC-110 now LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[vhelp]

you try'n ta say..
So.. are you finally gonna get one, or do we have to keep playing the
"convensing game" -- BTW, if U R (still) scratching your head on this,
you are *VERY* late in the game, in terms of deciding for yourself on
this formats quality attributes and things and applicable uses, etc.

BTW, the button-think, is 15 seconds or longer. I always use 18 secs,
just to be sure.

FWIW..

I've had mine for many years now (no regrets) since Sept, 2001 (I think)
and it still amazes me -- every time I connect another capture device
and put this one (advc) down while I test the other capture device -- how
soo appreciative the quality that this device offers -- every time I
reconnect it and start capturing from it -- it just still amazes me!!
(I'm so happy)

I only have one negative report of this device. And that "negative" is
this.. when you capture Commercial VHS (movies) the quality is not as
good (expectationally speaking) as when you, record to VHS tapes on your
own, your sources. There is a (theory) obviously diferent process for
(properties or what-have-you) for Commercial VHS sources. But, everything
else, VHS'wise, is *always* perfect, in terms of quality expectations, etc.

Regarding Canopus's forum..
My experiences on their forum was always a positive one, not to mention,
a fast response. Back then (around 2001, I think) there was a MOD member,
who was fast and knowledgable. I think his name was Craig. But he was always
a very fast and knowledgable person.
He had answered what I called a difficult question, in like, two seconds. He
new what the problem was, gave me the answer, and made me *very* happy, and
to this day, a loyal and faithful end user.
And, *that* answer not only solved (and save) my problem, but also was the last
and final deciding "straw" that gave me the final decision to make. That decision
was, "do I want to keep it, or not" (because of the problem I was having with the
unit) That was the question, then

And, I close with my usual sense of humor..

The ADVC-100 *is* the Holy Grail of capture devices, bar none

-vhelp 4084

[CCEncoder]

So what can I do to overcome the quality issue with commercial VHS? I want it all, is there a hack to it?.... so is the ADVC-100 still the best capture recorder for the price? and also which revision of either 100-110 I should get if you can advice me one.