qustion to those who have a CANOPUS ADVC-100

[Heavensent]

im looking for a way to convert my old VHS tapes
into SVCD.
i just wanted to know if the ADVC-100 + a firewire card is a good thing to use for that purpose.

i have tried doing it by capturing to avi (Huffyuv) using my PCTVpro.
but im not very happy with what i end up with, its ok for tv shows
but not much more than that.

what do you think whould be the best way to go ?
the only other option i can think of is getting a realtime mpeg2 capture card, but i understand the good ones cost a lot, and that in svcd bitrates - the picture is just not as good.

thanks in advance guys

[monoxide77]

i do it with my ADVC-100 and am very happy with the results.

[Varmit]

I use it a lot as well. I capture it my vhs tapes into a DV Avi using the canopus 100. I use tmpgenc to convert it to either SVCD or DVD depending upon the length and how compatible I want it to be. Canopus rocks.

[Heavensent]

thanks for the info guys

[Varmit]

Oh.. i forgot to mention capturing applications. The canopus 100 doesn't come with ANY capture application. Depending on what I am going to do I use either of the following three:

AMCap - Captures with a preview window.. very barebones but efficient http://noeld.com/dlvconf.htm#AMCap

Pinnacle Studio - Full featured editing application. I use this when I want to remove commercials etc.. or move scenes around. Never use its MPEG output cause it blows..
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage_n.asp?Product_ID=470&Langue_ID=7

MS Windows Movie Maker Ver 2.0 - Included in Windows XP! Downloadable upgrade to Ver 2.0 for free. I use this to capture anything that I plan to convert to MPEG without editing such as movies from AMC, TMC, HBO or pay-per-view events. I also use it to capture VHS tapes that I don't plan to edit. It does have some built in editing capabilities but I never have used them since I have Pinnacle Studio 8 even though I should look at it I guess. I assume its simple editing but I do know it has transitions and stuff. Anyway.. its either in your Windows XP program list or it may be stuck in the prgram list in the start/accessories/entertainment tab. Anyway..its free and seems to work pretty good for me.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/moviemaker/default.asp

Also, you will find that there are multiple types of AVI files and not all editing/conversion programs like both equally. Sometimes you have to use a file converter and canopus provides one for free. If I need to convert the file to one or the other format I usually use it and write the avi as a canopus reference avi .
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=Canopus%20DV%20File%20Converter#comments

Hope that helps.. would love to hear what others use as this is just what I've come to use by trial and error.

[Heavensent]

i am using adobe premier and got used to it, so i think i
will just stick with it.
its a grate software, a bit hard to figure out but its worth it.
and using premier i can export to cce or tmpeg if i want to.

pinnacle studio 8 is grate when it comes to eaze of use, but
about the mpeg encoder - i think you are right it just sucks !

thanks again for the info varmit