Canopus ADVC-100

[LanceSteel]

I'm thinking about getting this capture device. With this can I capture streams as AVI files? I've done a lot of capturing with tv capture cards so I know about the basics but I get a bit confused when people start talking about DV. Is capturing from a TV capture card and saving it as an AVI file considered DV (or is it a totally different format?)

What types of software can you use to capture with this device? Can you use virtualdub or do you have to use the software that comes with the drive (does it it come any software?)

Thanks for any answers and/or comments.

[Kim Porter]

I have used this device, the software you will need to capture and edit with VirtualDub is sceanlyzer live http://www.scenalyzer.com/, or any other capture program that will capture TYPE 2 DV-AVI FILES because Type 1 will not open in VirtualDub.
EDIT: From the FAQ section at Scenalyzer...
Q: I have problems opening the files captured by ScLive in my editing-application, what should I do?
A: Check or uncheck the option "write type2 DV-avi files" and capture the files again. If the application still can't read the files, check the option "write type2 DV-avi files" and make sure a video for windows (vfw) DV codec is installed on your system. There is a free trial version of a fine DV codec available at www.mainconcept.com.

Also it captures in scene's, this is adjustable like if the software detects a major change, like a home movie with short "takes" of 5 mins each, or a bad fault on the tape, this is much better than capturing 1 hr of dvd size avi and in VirtualDub having to cut it up then join it all back up, instead just capture all those "takes" and put them together then make your AVI/convert to what you want.

Kim.
Edit no software comes with it and you have to buy a Firewire card if your MB has no support, but if you have software already your set!

[Bondiablo]

The box comes with no software and you'll need a firewire card if you don't already have a firewire port on your system. VirtualDub is the only software I've seen so far that you can't use to capture with the Canopus. You might want to look for a firewire card that comes with some software. I got an NEC card that came with Ulead VideoStudio 5 or $16.

[Deisel Weisel]

The ADVC-100 does now come with Vegas Video 3 LE, which is both capture (inc colour correction) and edit software. I know VV3 full version is highly rated and very easy to use. Not sure what compromises LE has.

[LanceSteel]

Thanks for all the great input. So it sounds like I won't be able to use my very favorite editing software (Virtualdub) if I get this capture device. No matter. What about Pinnacle Studio? It seems fairly cheap and a lot of people give it very high praise. Is anyone using this combination?

Thanks again!

[dommajella]

I use EditStudio 3 from puremotion.com with the advc 100 - a very good combination. You can download a trial version from their web site.

[Greg12]

You can't capture from ANY firewire device with Virtual Dub because Virtual DUb uses VFW drivers and firewire only uses WDM drivers.


So it's not just that device.


If you capture type 2 avi, you can still edit in virtual dub, youll just have to capture with something else.

I recomind Pinnacle.

[DolbyDork]

I also have the ADVC-100. I got it because I needed something external to connect to my notebook and wasn't comfortable with USB. I really like this box. It is small, and has so many ways to port video (composite and S-vid), audio, and 1394 in and out.

I like capturing in DV so I can do all of my editing and then convert to DivX, MPEG2, VCD, or whatever I want when it is just right.

I use an 80GB external drive on the same 1394 bus as my raw capture destination. When I got it, I started a long capture to see if it would drop frames. I hooked it up to the S-video and audio out on my Dishnetwork PVR, started a cap, and let it fill the drive. I was able to get almost 6 hours in full DV-AVI NTSC 720x480 format, not one dropped frame, and best of all…the audio was in sync from start to end!

I have used it to archive movies off of my PVR as well as converting VHS to VCD and DVD.

I have tried all kinds of different capture programs and believe it or not, the one I prefer is the Microsoft’s Windows Movie Maker. Starts quick, low overhead, stops when you ask it, free with XP…it just works. I have never had a single problem with it.

Once I have the raw AVI, I usually use Virtualdub if I want to encode to Divx and TMPGEnc to encode for DVD+R/W.

Hope this helps.

DD

[Deisel Weisel]

I have to correct what I said.

I read that the ADVC-1394 was to be supplied with Vegas Video 3 LE (and it is) but I mistakenly believed that applied to the rest of the ADVC range, but it doesn't. Neither the ADVC-100 or the ADVC-50 come supplied with software.

[nimco]

Hi guys, sorry for interruption.
I am still not sure about the ADVC-100, is it really no encoding in hardware. And requires a lot of horsepower form CPU to convert a raw videostream to DV format on the PC side?
DolbyDork, a question for you, how fast is your PC, what is your opinion or from experience wil it work on Intel PIII 600MHz machine with no dropped frames?

Thanks

[DolbyDork]

Hi nimco,

No interruption here, that's what the forum is for. 8)

The ADVC-100 has its own DV codec chip and does the encoding before sending the DV stream to your 1394 port. For all your computer knows, its just a digital camcorder.

I couldn't say how it would do with your machine as there are more factors than just your CPU. Another big factor is the hard drive that would be the destination for the capture.

What I would do is try a capture from a digital camcorder. Borrow one if you don't have one. If you can get a good capture from that, chances are you won't have any problems with the ADVC-100.

You can view my setup at: http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=41313

My CPU dances around at ~20% during captures with M$ Movie Maker. I have actually had TMPEnc encoding one capture to MPEG2 while capturing another from the ADVC-100 at the same time - and no dropped frames! I wouldn't advise this, but it wasn't important stuff.

There are some reviews at: http://www.canopus.com/US/products/advc-100/pt_advc-100.asp

Hope this helps.

DolbyDork

[solarfox]

nimco -- before I upgraded my video-editor system to the 1GHz Athlon I'm currently using, I was successfully capturing DV-type-1 video via firewire from a Sony Digital-8 camcorder on an AMD K6-2/380MHz with 256Mb RAM and ATA66 hard drives, so I see no intrinsic reason why a Pentium-III 600MHz shouldn't be able to do the same. (Barring any really hideous system-configuration problems, of course.)

[nimco]

What is the best software for ADVC-100 if I want capture VHS videos, edit them and convert to DVD, 1/2 DVD or MPG2 for SVCD?

Is the ADVC-1394 great as ADVC-100 or it is more tricky to install and etc.?

Thanks for all your inputs.

[Bondiablo]

It actually requires fairly little CPU power to capture with this device and the box itself does contain a Canopus DV codec so files are compressed to DV avi, about 12 GB per hour.

You can't use Virtualdub for capturing but you CAN use it for editing, at least if you use Scenalyzer Live for the catpures. On the Capture tab just change file type to Type 2 DV. Not sure if this works with any other programs.

[yg1968]

DVIO can also capture type 1 or type 2 DV avi.

[vhelp]

yg1968,
but not from the advc-100. dvio only works with DV cams.

-vhelp

[Bondiablo]

The ADVC-100 is seen as a DV cam so yes DVIO does work, didn't think of that one cause i never use it. Premiere also saves as Type 2 so that would work as well.