Comparing DAC100 to the ADVC 100

[FL350innh]

Hi Folks!
I've been trying to decide between the Canopus ADVC 100 and the DataVideo DAC 100. About the only thing I see that is diffent besides the price, is Canopus uses the phrase "audio lock". I'd like to get some feed back from ya"ll.

Thanks!

[RWANDREWS]

I don't know anything about DataVision, but I have the CANOPUS ADVC 100. You will not be sorry buying this . Besides locked audio THAT REALLY WORKS, there is a MACROVISION defeat function on the 100 (not the 50). You MUST have a firewire port to use ADVC100, but the pin configuration does NOT matter.

I NEVER drop frames using the ADVC100, installation including hook up took 5 minutes. NO conflicts with my WIN XP w/ SP1, but some people have had problems, probably hardware related.

Capture software is NOT included, but DVD Movie Factory v 1.0 worked fine, but you may have to find something. I have heard there is a way to use Virtual Dub, but I do not know how to.

BTW, I don't work for CANOPUS !

[i_am_dave]

Capture software is NOT included, but DVD Movie Factory v 1.0 worked fine, but you may have to find something. I have heard there is a way to use Virtual Dub, but I do not know how to.

BTW, I don't work for CANOPUS !

If you remember, please share with us! I also have an ADVC-100 and I really like Virtual Dub. I recently spent a very frustrating weekend trying to get it to work with my XP setup.

[VCD GURU]

Go for Canopus!

I heard somwhere that it is better.

Never heard any complaining about the canopus advc prodcts.

I have a Canopus ADVC 50, little bit cheaper than 100.

Locked audio is great and the unit just simply WORKS!!!

Tried alot of crap out there, but canopus finally did it!

They made a video divice that works! )

Yeah and btw, i dont work for canopus either.

Good Luck!

[FL350innh]

Thanks folks,
I'll be using the same software that I always have, AP 6.5 and Ulead VS 7. I've heard about the Macrovision filtering on the Canopus ADVC 100. Is it already there or do you need a hack for it... FWIW, I've been using capture cards for the past 1.5 years and I'm getting pretty sick of all the junk I've had to deal with. Based on what I'm hearing this sounds like a VERY good solution to most of the common issues. On a side note I just tried a Hauppauge card for a work related issue and had a real bad experience, thus my looking to the ADVC's for all my needs. The price on the DAC 100 is $100.00 less the the Canopus and I've heard it is the same unit just boxed by another company.... More thoughts? Once again thanks!

[xxiangg]

I am also looking for an analog to DV converter for a while. It looks
like most annoy problem in video capture is a/v sync problem. DV format
by its nature does not have a/v sync problem. DV is also friendly to
many video editors. That is the reason I would like to go through DV
route.

Based on my knowledge, there are currently 5 devices (external box type)
available under $300. My impression about each one is as follows (Well,
I do not have first hand experience on any one of them. It is just my
impression. It is very likely that I have a wrong impression. I am very
happy if anyone would like to correct my impression or add your comments).

ADVC-100
A/V sync: no problem.
Macrovision: has, but can be disabled.
Captured color: more colorful.
Software: no.

DataVideo DAC100
A/V sync: no problem.
Macrovision: no.
Captured color: closer to the source.
Software: no.

Pinnacle MovieBox DV: (very new device, found one from microcenter.com)
A/V sync: no problem.
Macrovision: yes.
Captured color:
Software: Studio 8.

ADS PYRO A/V link:
A/V sync: very likely no problem.
Macrovision:
Captured color:
Software: Ulead VideoStudio 6.

Dazzle DV Bridge:
Too much has been said about this one. You should be able find them
from this web site.

[maff1965]

Hi FL350innh
I had been deciding for months which capture card to get, then it came to deciding which one of these 2, the ADVC100 or the DAC100, eventually i went for the canopus ADVC100, and i love this peice of kit, only had it for a week but i have been really putting it through its paces, and i have had no audio sync or drop frame problems at all

"I've heard about the Macrovision filtering on the Canopus ADVC 100. Is it already there or do you need a hack for it.."

No you don't need a hack for it, all you need to do is hold the input button down for about 15 seconds or more, and it works, even for Pal, as i thought that only worked for NTSC.

"The price on the DAC 100 is $100.00 less the the Canopus and I've heard it is the same unit just boxed by another company"

sorry i don't know, but they do look very similar

Maff[/list][/url]

[FL350innh]

Thanks Ya'll! I appreciate all the input... I'll let you know what I finnaly get and how it's working out!

[RWANDREWS]

As far as using Virtual Dub to capture with the ADCV100- Forget about it ! Virtual Dub does NOT support any Firewire port captures and never has. However.....

The following site has info on using Virtual Dub after capture & conversion, if you are so inclined.

www22.brinkster.com/mikemelancholic/guide/guide_main.html

[FL350innh]

I told you folks I'd let you know what I'd find.... Well here it is... I GOT THE DAC100! I tried the Canopus ADVC 100 a friend let me borrow and it worked flawlessly. BUT since I had less $$$$ on hand I ordered the DAC 100 for $179.00 + $7.00 shipping. I've been using it for two days now and have captured DVD, VHS and L-disc. All in Abobe Premiere 6.5. WORKS PERFECT! This thing rocks! No macrovision issues, no dropped frames, no audio sync problems. Just awsome perfect captures! The support I have recieved from Datatek video has been way above my expectations. I emailed them with a list of basic questions before I ordered the DAC100, They replied within an hour! Just to see how good the support was I called. I got a rep on the line by the thrid ring! I asked a few more questions and my decision was made... So, I ordered the DAC100, got it, hooked it up, powered it on, booted the computer, opened AP 6.5 and captured! I then tried it on my other two machines and it worked just as well! BOTTOM line is this: For $186.00 delivered to my door working perfectly without a dog and pony show to make it work, Makes me wonder why I pulled my hair out with all the other cap cards!

[jmsams]

Been using the DAC 100 for about a month and have used different software for the capture. It has worked flawlessly. I was advised by 2 vendors that it does not work well with MACs but there are no problems with Windows. It seems you can't go wrong with either.

[Michelle]

FL350innh,

Where did you get your DataVideo unit? That seems like a really good price.

[The village idiot]

FL350innh,

Where did you get your DataVideo unit? That seems like a really good price.

Only about 6 months ago it was around $200-$250, so that is a really good price! Maybe it is time to ditch my Bridge

without a dog and pony show

I miss the dog, but not the pony He made a very big mess

[Marco33]

The Canopus 100

Capture software is NOT included.

So, the Canopus doesn't realy capture to AVI or MPEG2. It converts the info so it can be read easily by a capture program. So, you don't get dropped frames.

Does it work with Ulead?

[gavmiester]

in a word......yes

[NightWing]

When everyond did the test for audio sync how long was the clip? Some of the boxes I read about go nuts on sync between 15 to 45 minutes.

Been looking at both of them for a possible upgrade since we are into repeates for tv shows and want to backup some of these old Beta/VHS/LD around here before they go bad.

[i_am_dave]

When everyond did the test for audio sync how long was the clip? Some of the boxes I read about go nuts on sync between 15 to 45 minutes.

I did a 4 hour capture last night using Ulead VideoStudio and my ADVC-100. No dropped frames, perfect sync throughout the whole thing.

[FL350innh]

FL350innh,

Where did you get your DataVideo unit? That seems like a really good price.

Hi Guys! I got the unit from a guy who has a store on Ebay, They are out of Mass. The person who I spoke with is named Yakov, very nice and great service too. I'll put the link to his Ebay store (Video CompUSA).
http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=30237171&ssPageName=L2

Only about 6 months ago it was around $200-$250, so that is a really good price! Maybe it is time to ditch my Bridge

without a dog and pony show

I miss the dog, but not the pony He made a very big mess

This is who I got it from, Ebay store (Video CompUSA).
http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=30237171&ssPageName=L2

Yep, know what you mean... My life is enough of a circus without any more animals... Now all I neede to figure out is how to get rid of this damm video monkey :P :P

[FL350innh]

When everyond did the test for audio sync how long was the clip? Some of the boxes I read about go nuts on sync between 15 to 45 minutes.

Been looking at both of them for a possible upgrade since we are into repeates for tv shows and want to backup some of these old Beta/VHS/LD around here before they go bad.

Using Adobe P 6.5 and the DAC100, I've captured a lot of 2hr VHS, L-disc and DVD... Perfect, no frames dropped, no synch issues.... I'm buying 2 more HD's (250Gig) next since I'm capturing so much! In a word this thing is working exactly as advertised..... Perfect. Like I said before the Canopus ADVC 100 worked just as well, but it was $100.00 more... FYI, so there is no misunderstanding I'll give my system specs. I have 2 machines identical except OS. One is XP Sp1 and the other is Win2k SP3. Here is the hardware..
ASUS MoBo, P4B533 (533 FSB)
P4, 2.53 (533 bus)
Nvidia GEforce MX4400 64mb
1 Gig PC2700 ram
Western Digital 120Gb, 7200 rpm, 8mb cache HD
10/100 nic
generic IEEE 1394 card with VIA chipset ($14.00)
2, Pioneer AO3 DVD-R burners (Firewire connected)

[Metaluna]

When everyond did the test for audio sync how long was the clip? Some of the boxes I read about go nuts on sync between 15 to 45 minutes.

Been looking at both of them for a possible upgrade since we are into repeates for tv shows and want to backup some of these old Beta/VHS/LD around here before they go bad.

I've routinely been capturing 2-3 hour clips on my ADVC-100 from VHS for the past month or so. Never saw a sync problem even at the end of the capture.

I did have some serious frame drop problems when I first got the box though. I finally traced it to the crappy onboard Ethernet on my motherboard (based on a Broadcom 4401 10/100 controller chip). Not only was this device screwing up the 1394 interface, but it would cause skipping/static on my Audigy 2, and frame drops on my Bt8x8 capture card as well. My guess is that either the drivers or the chip itself is hogging the PCI bus excessively. Anyway, I disabled the evil thing and plugged a 3Com network card in, and now all works perfectly, even with my TI-based firewire card, which supposedly can have some compatibility problems with the Canopus.

Edit: Oops, my mistake, I thought you were asking about the Canopus, not the DAC100. Never mind.

[NightWing]

Actualy info on both is nice for sync. Tnks all!

PS: If the 3com card still give you trouble try a card based on realtek chip set. Have installed hundered and not one problem from them. Cheep and reliable.

[xxiangg]

Could someone with experience of both ADVC100 and DAC100 comment on
the results of both devices? I believe drop frames and A/V sync are
not problems for either of them. How is the quality of the result?
I heard that DAC100 produces more accurate color. But ADVC100 result
is more vivid. Is it true that color accuracy is not important, it
is more important that which color result you like better?

Thanks in advance.

[Marco33]

Taken from the Capture Card Features & user comments section.


Bob Yoda reported May 03 2003 that:
Compatibility: Win95? Win98 Win2K? WinXP? NT4? MAC? Linux? - Rated: 8 of 10.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I bought this card after having sold a Canopus ADVC 100, so this is primarily a comparison between the two cards. I had sold the Canopus, thinking that I was through with my video transfers, but then had a need for such a device and decided to try out the Datavideo because it was $100 cheaper.

Both cards do an excellent job converting analog video to digital, but there are some differences. The Datavideo seems to have more realistic colors compared to the Canopus. The Canopus colors were vivid, but in some cases overly saturated IMHO.

The Datavideo does have some "wigglies" on the first scan line, but although visible on the PC, not visible on a monitor or TV because of overscan settings.

Both cards captured for hours without a single dropped frame.

I found that the Canopus worked fine with Studio 8 and AVI_IO. The Datavideo works fine with Studio 8 and MyDVD, but not with AVI_IO. Don't know why, but that's the story.

Overall, I think I prefer the Datavideo because of the more natural colors, but both are fine and do an excellent job.



Help us keep the list clean, Report this post (questions/spam/crap).

[jmsams]

I got the DAC at 4videoequipment.com They only use paypal Also have it on videoguys.com for the same price.

[nanz1]

How would do you hook the DAC 100 up to your computer?

[FL350innh]

It connects via an IEEE 1394 fire wire card.

[Michelle]

Both of these units connect with Firewire.

[nanz1]

Thanks fo the quick reply!

[techgeek]

I got the DAC at 4videoequipment.com They only use paypal Also have it on videoguys.com for the same price.

I know this thread has been quiet for couple months but here I am in late September researching the ADVC 100 and the DAC-100.

I noticed that the review on the DAC-100 at 4videoequipment.com gives one negative for the DAC-100 compared to the Canopus ADVC 100; the issue is supposedly with old tapes. Here is the comment:

"One thing to note that if you have tapes around 5 to 10 years old, i suggest not using this product because it has issues with older tapes. The Canopus ADVC-100 is much better for older tapes. The problems noted were dropped frames, blurry images, and out of sync voices. The ADVC-100 does not have those issues."

Has anyone seen issues with the DAC-100 on older tapes? I have some 8mm camcorder tapes going back to over 10 years.

Thanks,
techgeek

[Marco33]

I have the DAC.

Yes, the DAC has problems even with tapes that are IMO good shape.