Problem with old Canopus ADVC-100 video capture

[robertazimmerman]

I just unpacked my old ADVC-100 and connected it to my Windows 10 PC that has a built-in Firewire connection. I've used this combo numerous times in the past to digitize old family VHS tapes. However when I tried again today, Scenalyzer (nor any other software) did not recognize or display a video stream. The analog light on the ADVC-100 is lit up and Scenalyzer shows the device as "AV/C Tape Recorder/Player".

If memory serves, I believe that box used to show "Microsoft DV Camera" or similar, but now I don't see that as an option. The dip switches are all in the Off position as I'm using analog inputs exclusively. I've tried using the front and rear firewire connections connected to both firewire jacks on PC without any luck.

I liked the ADVC-100 because it automatically synced audio and video.

Can anyone help me out with this problem?

Roberta

[Alwyn]

Working OK here (PAL setup) with WinDV (the ADVC-100 comes up as a "AV/C Tape Recorder/Player", as you've noted). I too get no video from Scenalyzer.

Here's my Win 10 Device Manager:


[Attachment 92961 - Click to enlarge]

That's using the "Legacy" Windows Firewire driver.

I have extensive info on WinDV and the Firewire driver setup on my website here.

Apologies for the screenshot; I have Win 10 on my other computer and CBA doing a proper screengrab!

[Alwyn]

Hold ya horses... In Scenalyzer, I clicked "Capture" anyway and the video then appeared and was recorded OK.

[robertazimmerman]

Hold ya horses... In Scenalyzer, I clicked "Capture" anyway and the video then appeared and was recorded OK.

Did you load WinDV first or do anything else before Scenalyzer started working?

[Alwyn]

I did try Scenalyzer, and it just showed the Scenalyzer green pattern, so I then ran WinDV, which worked OK.

Then I went back to Scenalyzer, hit "Capture" and the video appeared and recorded OK.

[robertazimmerman]

My Device Manager is also showing the Legacy Windows firewire drive. The analog light is lit on the ADVC-100 and I tried WinDV without any luck. Here's what my screenshot of Scenalyzer looks like:


[Attachment 92963 - Click to enlarge]

[robertazimmerman]

I tried running both software programs in Windows XP compatibility mode. Scenalyzer doesn't show the above error message anymore, but nothing happens when I click Capture. Very frustrating.....

(I connected the VCR to a TV to ensure that the VCR was in fact streaming video)

[Alwyn]

Agree, these problems are tricky. The ADVC might not be outputting DV or the PC might not be processing it, or perhaps even the power supply.

You could try the default Win 10 Firewire driver; follow the procedure at the bottom of that webpage of mine. Do a "restart" of Windows afterwards. The default driver for Win 10 or 11 will look like this: "VIA 1394 OHCI Compliant Host controller". If yours has a Texas Instruments 1394 chipset, it might look a bit different.

Even if you can't get it going, all is not lost; there are cheapish USB analogue capture options which give the same or better quality (with a little more faffing around).

[aramkolt]

My guess is that your unit needs a recapping. I've worked on two ADVC-110's, one ADVC-300, and one ADVC-100 and they all needed recaps to be recognized, and I haven't heard anything from their owners about them stopping working after the recap.

[robertazimmerman]

Even if you can't get it going, all is not lost; there are cheapish USB analogue capture options which give the same or better quality (with a little more faffing around).

Which models do you suggest investigating? I'd obviously prefer one that syncs audio & video.

[Alwyn]

Which models do you suggest investigating? I'd obviously prefer one that syncs audio & video.

My main digitiser is the IOData GV-USB2. I capture with AmarecTV. Depending on the quality of your recordings, you will probably need a stabiliser of some type. Check out my website here for a comprehensive rundown on what's involved. Don't be intimidated; dealing with analogue-captured video is similar to the DV files your ADVC produces.

Other, respected, members here use the GV and AmarecTV so don't be afraid to ask questions if you get stuck.

[robertazimmerman]

Which models do you suggest investigating? I'd obviously prefer one that syncs audio & video.

My main digitiser is the IOData GV-USB2. I capture with AmarecTV. Depending on the quality of your recordings, you will probably need a stabiliser of some type. Check out my website here for a comprehensive rundown on what's involved. Don't be intimidated; dealing with analogue-captured video is similar to the DV files your ADVC produces.

Other, respected, members here use the GV and AmarecTV so don't be afraid to ask questions if you get stuck.

I ordered the IOData GV-USB2 yesterday and received it this morning (it's interesting that the outer packaging is completely in Japanese!) I will be dubbing old VHS videos for my cousin and assume that the qualities of the tapes are less than great. I will check out your site before proceeding.

I don't have a stabilizer, but I do have a Macrovision bypass device. Do you think that would help?

I followed all of the instructions for setting up AmarecTV and the IOData and it looks like the recording process is working! A HUGE THANKS to Alwyn for the instructions on setting up the hardware and software and to Aramkolt for suggesting that my ADVC-100 may need a hardware refresh.

[Alwyn]

I don't have a stabilizer, but I do have a Macrovision bypass device. Do you think that would help?

Not familiar with that gizmo. It's easy to tell though. The classic sign of a wonky video/image is flagging at the top of the frame, where the edge of the video looks like it's flapping in the wind (might only be a small amount). A stabiliser will straighten up the edges. So you could plug that device in, between the VCR and the GV and see if it makes a difference. Check out this page on my site regarding stabilisation. The flagging is shown in the second Youtube video down, titled "ES-15 and EZ-48" (in the top video of the three).

Poor stabilisation may also result in duplicated frames and dropped frames (which will affect audio sync).

[VWestlife]

A "MacroScrubber" / "Copyguard Buster"-type device is not a time base corrector and will not help improve capture from unstable video sources like analog videotape.

And despite what you may have read, the GV-USB2 does not have a TBC... nor does the ADVC-100.

[robertazimmerman]

[QUOTE=robertazimmerman;2800160][QUOTE=Alwyn;2800159]

Other, respected, members here use the GV and AmarecTV so don't be afraid to ask questions if you get stuck.

I guess I spoke too soon...... The video seems to have captured correctly, but there's no audio in the AVI file. The audio cables are connected properly to the IOData GV-USB2 and the AmarecTV software seems to be configured properly to capture audio. Do I need to configure anything in the IOData?

(Update) Silly me! I hadn't made a selection in the Audio Capture Device section in AmarecTV. All good now.