Have Analogue digital capture devices come down in cost?

[franco]

I have owned a Canopus ADVC100 for a few years now, but it has been lying around for most of that time. To be honest I was never sure if I needed something that expensive in the first place to capture from VHS, but that is what I ended up buying. I am at the point now where I am thinking of selling it, but am not sure what kind of price I would be paying in future if I did need an analogue digital convertor at some point.

So, what are the cheapest units out there now (I don't care if it is external or a PCI card) that will capture analogue and convert to an AVI file for editing on your PC, and is there any compromise in quality compared to Canopus products?

[DereX888]

I cannot tell you the value of your used card, but IMHO its age doesn't matter since the DVD-Video format itself haven't changed... to me it always will be one of the best

I have younger bro entering the video hobby who possibly may be interested in your Canopus, so if you want to sell it LMK (although Im not sure will he had any chances to capture analog video nowadays LOL)

[edDV]

They hold their value very well based on Ebay used sales.

[franco]

I know they hold their value as I was looking at them on ebay. However, I am just not sure if I want to sell it yet. I originally had some business ideas when I joined this site back in 2002, but was far too slow to get off the mark.

Now, I might only need a card for my own use, but will still like to edit the footage in AVI format. The prices I have seen on this site are all above the $200 mark for anything simlar, though I am not sure of the price in the UK. I'll have to get googling then, it seems.

[powrwrap]

Now, I might only need a card for my own use, but will still like to edit the footage in AVI format. The prices I have seen on this site are all above the $200 mark for anything simlar, though I am not sure of the price in the UK. I'll have to get googling then, it seems.

Speaking as someone that has been researching this for months, you're probably best served by keeping the Canopus unit. There aren't many capture cards that will allow you to save in AVI format. Simply go to the Capture Card List on this site and input analog video in and DV converter in the search parameters and see for yourself.

I have lots of analog 8 mm tapes and I've researched hardware that converts analog to digital with DV-AVI or AVI out and my choices were narrowed to capture cards (Leadtek Winfast 2000XP) converter boxes like your Canopus (also ADS Pyro A/V Link and DataVideo DAC-100) or a digital8 video camcorder with pass-through function.

Ultimately I eliminated the Leadtek card because it outputs raw AVI (not DV-AVI) and uses lots of computer resources and there were reported issues with dropped frames and video/audio synch problems; eliminated the converter boxes because of the cost, reports of dropped frames and video/audio synch problems, and the resulting tangle of cables needed for hook-up, which left me with the digital camcorder idea. I've borrowed a digital camcorder and converted about 20 minutes of analog tapes and found it to be easy to use, reliable, and convenient--I merely play my analog tapes in the digital camcorder and it converts to DV-AVI on the fly. I understand that Sony has a simple time base correction feature built into the camcorder to handle audio/video synch problems. So that is my ideal solution.

My advice would be to keep the Canopus unit. If you are curious about the internal PC card idea, perhaps buy one from a store with a return policy you can live with and try it out. I bet you find you like the Canopus unit the best.

[franco]

Thanks for that Powrwrap. In that case I wonder what I am doing with a canopus unit instead of selling it and getting a digital camcorder?

I am not sure if the camcorder would do what I want. I tend to go from VCR through the canopus unit to my PC. I wonder if I could go from my VCR through the digital camcorder to my PC.

I am not sure how much a digital camcorder with such a function would be, but obviously once people catch onto it then they might go for that instead of the canopus unit.

The internal card idea was to sell and buy the same kind of thing at a cheaper price. I'll check that on ebay now.

[Mr. Dweezel]

I have owned a Canopus ADVC100 for a few years now ...... I am thinking of selling it

I have two of those great little boxes!

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet is the fact that the earlier models
can disable mushyvision, which is useful for backing up your VHS tapes.
Otherwise you'll probably need a TBC VCR, etc.

You'll get a good price on eBay but you'll be full of regret once its gone.

[zoobie]

Canopus, Datavideo, ADS...you can see what they've sold for on eBay by first searching then clicking completed auctions on the left hand menu.

With my Datavideo DAC-100, mushyvision is automatically disabled.

[franco]

I don't remember selecting anything for "mushyvision", but it is a while since I used it.

I won't regret it if I could get something that does the same job for cheaper. Maybe even a camcorder.

[zoobie]

The ADS Pyro is $50 used on eBay

[DereX888]

I don't remember selecting anything for "mushyvision", but it is a while since I used it.

I won't regret it if I could get something that does the same job for cheaper. Maybe even a camcorder.

Well, I don't know about that.
BTW - my bro don't want it, so scratch my offer.
He bought $160 samsung camcorder (with pass-thru) brand new on sale.
Granted, its a 2 or 3 years old model, but will do.
If you were expecting to swap your ADS for a camcorder I doubt that... unless someone really need it...

[franco]

I don't have an ADS, Derex. Thanks anyway.

Zoobie, I'd check that out if I wasn't so taken with the camcorder idea. I'll remember where to look though if I want one.

[dcsos]

I have a DAZZLE HOLLYWOOD
shoulda been called SHINBONE ALLEY
as it occassionally hiccups (when you go out, of course) during the capture it seeems and you havta do it over!
Otherwise the DV output signal is just as good as the CANOPUS

[DereX888]

I don't have an ADS, Derex. Thanks anyway.

hahaha
of course i meant ADV, I apologize for even suggesting you might have ADS

[powrwrap]

Thanks for that Powrwrap. In that case I wonder what I am doing with a canopus unit instead of selling it and getting a digital camcorder?

I am not sure if the camcorder would do what I want. I tend to go from VCR through the canopus unit to my PC. I wonder if I could go from my VCR through the digital camcorder to my PC.

I am not sure how much a digital camcorder with such a function would be, but obviously once people catch onto it then they might go for that instead of the canopus unit.

The internal card idea was to sell and buy the same kind of thing at a cheaper price. I'll check that on ebay now.

Only certain digital camcorders have the pass through function. The ones that do will take analog output from a VCR and convert it to digital DV-AVI format.

I used a Sony DCR-TRV740. This is a higher end model, it has 690,000 effective pixels vs. the usual 290,000 pixels of the lower priced Sony models. I just bought a Sony DCR-TRV240 on Wednesday from a seller on e-bay. It cost me $200. This is a pretty good price--they go from around $200 to $250. A TRV740 would go for over $350.

Other models that I know have this function are the TRV340, TRV350, TRV520. You can check by going to

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?PRODTYPE=37&NAVDISP=di

selecting the model number, clicking on Manuals/Specs/Warranty and looking at the Operating Instructions. Go to the index at the back of the manual and look for "Signal Convert Function". If it has Signal Convert Function it will be able to convert VHS to digital via the camcorder. Since one manual can cover several model numbers be careful and check the actual page in the manual. I almost bought a TRV250 because the index said it had Signal Convert Function but when I looked at the actual page, it showed a little camera icon with the 350 model NOT the 250 model.

I'm glad I got it, it greatly simplifies the conversion from analog 8 mm to digital 8, plus I've now got a digital camcorder. Good luck!

[powrwrap]

The ADS Pyro is $50 used on eBay

I bet that's not where it ended up at. I actually bid on a couple of ADS Pyro A/V and got out bid at $105.