Analog-to-Digital video converter for Mac (which one?)

[rockinsage]

Hello, I'm looking for a Firewire or USB2 analog-->digital video converter for my Mac (MDD). Preferably something that has hardware mpeg-1 & mpeg-2 compression, because I'd rather compress on-the-fly than do it later in software (unless there's a good reason to first convert to DV and then compress later in software?). I've done some research and am hoping to get some real-world feedback, because I'm really not sure which way to go. My main use for the converter will be to digitize Hi-8 tapes, and some old VHS I have lying around.

Is there a benefit for Firewire over USB2? I have a USB2 PCI card installed, which I think is now supported natively in Mac OS X (no third party drivers necessary).

Here's what I've been looking at:

1 - Plextor ConvertX (USB2, does hardware mpeg1 -2 -4, also has TV tuner)
2 - Canopus ADVC50 (PCI, only imports to DV)
3 - Canopus ADVC55 (Firewire, only imports to DV, no locked audio/video)
4 - Canopus ADVC110 (Firewire, only imports to DV)
5 - Miglia EvolutionTV (USB2, does hardware mpeg2 -4 and DivX, also has TV tuner)
6 - Miglia Director's Cut 2 (Firewire, only imports to DV)
7 - Miglia AlchemyTV DVR (PCI, imports using any Quicktime-supported codec, also has TV tuner)
8 - Formac Studio TVR (Firewire, only imports to DV, also has TV tuner)

Are there any others worth looking at? Thanks for any and all feedback.

[terryj]

Is there a benefit for Firewire over USB2? I have a USB2 PCI card installed, which I think is now supported natively in Mac OS X (no third party drivers necessary).

For the Mac, yes. All of Apple's apps are FW Compliant
( imovie HD, FCP/FCE) so if you are gonna capture on a mac
using native mac software, best stick to FW. If you plan on
using a 3rd party app like Cap-TV(sp) then you might be able to get
away with it . PJ and Frobozz know more about the USB solutions,
then I do so they should be chiming in shortly....

As for you other question...if the source needs NO editing, then
hardware compression would be the way to go. But, if you have to
edit the audio stream ( clean it up, boost it, reduce noise)
or edit the video stream ( remove commercials, color correct),
then its best ( and easiest) to do it in software, and the less you
have to demux, re-ratio, re-encode before you even get to edit,
IMHO, so much the better.

Here's what I've been looking at:

2 - Canopus ADVC50 (PCI, only imports to DV)
3 - Canopus ADVC55 (Firewire, only imports to DV, no locked audio/video)
4 - Canopus ADVC110 (Firewire, only imports to DV)

Are there any others worth looking at? Thanks for any and all feedback.

I can only comment on the Canopus line. Have you not looked at the
Canopus ADVC-100? I know the -110 replaced it, but it also features
locked audio, and probably could be had for less that the -110.
All Canopus products work natively with iMovie and FCP/FCE,
so out of the box you can have it set up in no time.
The advantages of the -100 and the -110 are that you can
also send back out via FW to a camera or tape deck,
and the box works great on long captures, not losing sync.

I would avoid the PCI-50/55
unless you think you will never need the export capability,
then if so go for the -55.
Also, if cash is no object, seriously look
at the ADVC-300 which includes locked audio/import/export,
and de-macrovision capability.

hope this helps.

[sirN]

Definately go firewire. I have the ADS Pyro A/V link, but am not real happy with it. I've heard many good things about Canopus. Another thing to consider is LOT'S OF RAM and a nice fast hard drive.

[decay]

i got a datavideo DAC-100 for $150, slightly used, off ebay.

so far the only capture i tried was from a VHS tape, 2nd generation live band recording, with a few glitches in the source material. the DAC-100 didn't like them. i believe a VCR with TBC (time base correction) would probably help the DAC-100 do its job better.

having said that, i'm trying a different route with this tape, going directly to my Panasonic DMR-E30 standalone recorder using the "SP" (2 hour) setting. i've done the capture; next step is to rip the DVD to DV & see if i can work with it in iDVD or iMovie.

dk

[mhar4]

There's also the ADS Instant USB DVD for Mac, which is USB 1.1 and the Elgato EyeTv 200, which is Firewire. Both do hardware MPEG2 encoding very well. I have the ADS unit and find it excellent.