USB Instant DVD

[erik1185]

how is this for capturing?

[Varmit]

Piece of crap..buy a firewire device such as the canopus 100.

[Tommyknocker]

I disagree on the quality of of ADS IDVD, as I have captured many hours with and am happy with it. However, if you have the choice between the two, go with Canopus, as they do have firewire technology and the ADS IDVD does not.

[DVWannaB]

WHich version? There is a 1.0 and a 2.0 (which uses USB 2 technology). Both are connected using USB.

I have tried both. They are both adequate. Although, I am in the process of "re-evaluating" the 2.0 model, after not being happy with it.

USB 1 model captures at a high of 5Mbps constant bit rate. Video at the highest level (DVD) look very good, but with a slight level of pixelation. SVCD is good and VCD is not good. USB 1.0 is not very configurable. It only has those 3 settings. Audio is automatic for VCD and SVCD 224Mbps/44.1. While DVD you can select from 192/224/384 Mbps/48. You can split your audio and video captures separately. This is advisable, as multiplexed captures seems to be a challenge (Although there may be updates to fix this annoying problem).

USB 2.0 captures in constant and variable bit rate, with a high of about 15Mbps ( ) maybe higher VCD is very average at standard rate (1150 Mbps), but looks real good at 1800 Mbps, CBR (no VBR). SVCD is also good in CBR and VBR. Audio rate is locked at 224 Mbps for both settings. DVD at 6Mbps or higher look just as good as the original. VBR and CBR are available. Audio cannot be changed, as you are locked in with 384Mbps. This is silly, as the USB 1.0 allows your own desired setting, while the USB 2.0 does not. The USB 2.0 would crash repeatedly, when I would capture a short clip, then stop, then start a new capture about 3 or 4 times. Obviously a bug in the capwiz software. Bundled sotware with 2.0 seems a little better than 1.0, but VideoSudio just makes me nuts and the new 7.0 version did not work at all. Seems there is some conflict with VS 7 and Instant DVD 2.0. When I uninstalled IDVD 2.0, Ulead started to work go figure.

A good first plunge into making your own movies. just be aware of the limitations you will be experiencing. I would say, give it a try, ask questions here and if you are not happy with it, send it back. I do it all the time

[schokid02]

Depends on what type of video editing you want to do. If you just want to digitize your analog stuff and all the editing you need is trimming, then the USB IDVD is the way to go. It converts straight to mpeg2 (DVD) format, which saves HD space If you want to do major editing, then you have to go with DV format, which the Canopus provides and is the best option for using. DV format is much larger (4GB for 20 minutes).

Has anyone used the USB IDVD to backup commercial VHS tapes to DVD??

[Tommyknocker]

Yes, I did The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Fellowship of the Ring. Once I got my DVD-R, I did recopy The Count.
Take a peek, from Fellowship, captured from a VHS: