Newbie in a new section, Advice please...

[joker2]

Ok, Heres the Score Joker2 wants to capture VHS & Camcorder (both analog I believe) I have just had a bad experience with the DAZZLE FUSION and have decided not to make the same mistake twice.

I have read that the canopus ADVC-100 is quite good but dont know whether I need to buy a seperate Firewire card or not - and if so which one???

As you can see I am going to be a pain in this forum like so many before...

Your help and advice is both greatly anticipated and greatly apreciated.

[Zeke968]

I've had good success using the Aver DVD Easy Maker package and the price was right, about $40. This card is analog capture only so for firewire you'll need a seperate card.

The primary reason I bought it was to archive old super vhs home videos onto dvds. MPEG2 capture quality has been excellent and I haven't had any problems with audio sync.

[Bob W]

I also use the AVer DVD capture card and NeoDVD which comes with the card. Easy to use, never drops a frame, and video/audio is excellent IMO.

[flaninacupboard]

the ADVC is indeed great quality. i was unhappy with at bt878 clone i was using (a common capture card chipset) and the ADVC is a huge improvement. you lose some flexibility because you can only use DV, but capturing becomes much less computer intesive, as you're just copying a file across firewire. i'm using my ADVC on a C3-800, clocked about the same as a celeron 500 in real usage, and have encountered no problems at all. yes, you will need a seperate firewire card. there were some murmurings about them not being happy working with texas instruments firewire chipsets, but i'm using one no problem. cost me about £8. any old firewire card will do.

[Allan55]

there were some murmurings about them not being happy working with texas instruments firewire chipsets

There are (at least) two TI chips for firewire. The part that ends in xxxx20 is fine; the other one (xxx10, I think) has caused some problems in the past.

There are also reported problems with SoundBlaster and Via chips; probably with only certain MBs and connected devices. It is still a can of worms IMHO.

I have 3 generic firewire cards with the TI xxx20 chips and have no problems whatever using my Dazzle Hollywood Bridge.

Allan

[joker2]

ok, so the advc 100 seems to be the best, I have read that the advc 50 could also suit my needs though.
Because this advc is a direct pci interface do I still need the firewire or is it on board.
Sorry to be so thick about this but the specs on canopus's site dont seem to mention it.
Thanks you guys for your help so far.

[sctele]

hey, i know this thread is probably dead, but i thought i'd put in some of my own input. I also have an analog camcorder. I went out and bought the ati tv wonder ve, a tv tuner card (for $40). all i had to do was input the cables in the back, start up ati's tv tuner program, and started capturing. All for only $40 bucks!