Analog to Digital - Use Camera or Converter

[MovieStar]

I am needing some input on a choice I need to make. I am needing to capture some VHS tapes, edit them, and put them back out to VHS, but I need some input on the Analog/Digital conversion device.

Should I get a Digital Camcorder, plug RCA cables from a VCR into the Digital Camcorder, plug Firewire from the Digital Camcorder into the PC to capture and export analog video?
Or should I get a conversion device, such as the Canopus ADVC-100. It is an external box that has RCA connections for the VCR and Firewire connection for the PC. It will convert Analog to Digital.

I realize that if I get a Digital Camcorder that I will have the added benefit of all the new videos being in digital format.

Is the Canopus ADVC-100 as good as a Digital Camcorder or is a Digital Camcorder as good as a Canopus ADVC-100? Which one is better? Is there a audio sync issue with Digital Camcorders when converting analog to digital? Does the audio drift? What are the limitations that I should be concerned about?

I expect frequent instances where I will be taking existing VHS tapes and be importing them.

[Nolonemo]

Don't know about the Canopus, I use a Sony TRV-18 to do analog pass-through. Works fine for me. Haven't noticed any audio drift problems, no dropped frames.

[jfebus]

Hi,

I use a Sony TRV-320 and works perfectly converting my VHS to AVI.

Regards,

Jose

[Craig Tucker]

If you can make use of a new camcorder, then get the camcorder with passthrough. If not go for the canopus. A camcorder is going to be more expensive, I guess you just need to be able to justify the extra expense. If you are never going to use the camcorder then its not worth getting.

[MovieStar]

Thanks for the input.

[MCD]

Many Sony users here. I also use a Sony trv-25 for "passthrough" to digital and I think it works great. Audio sync is right on the money everytime. Picture quality is stunning. My star wars movies look 100 times better on dvd then vhs imo. If you plan on doing any kind of homemade movies yourself, the cam is the way to go. Just make sure it has the passthrough option, which many do.