Canopus ADVC 100 vs Plextor Convertx which is better?

[portrower8]

How does the Plextor Convertx compare to the ADVC 100? Is one better than the other? Why / Why not?

Thanks!

http://www.plextor.com/english/products/ConvertX.html
http://www.canopus.com/

Canopus so far seems really impressive -- haven't found a bad review anywhere.

[The village idiot]

Apples and oranges.

The ADVC-100 is an analog to DV converter. The plextor is a hardware analog to mpeg encoder. Other than that, I don't know.

[portrower8]

I don't understand the difference. Isn't MPEG (Digital) isn't it DV???

[The village idiot]

Yes and no, mpeg is much more compressed than DV. Mpeg is also harder to edit, but saves the time it would take to encode the DV so you can put it onto a disk. DV isn't short for (any type) digital video, it is an actual format of a specific digital video. Check the glossary section for better definitions.

[D_Knife]

MPEG is "Digital Video" not "DV"

DV is a specific video format with a specific video and audio codec at specific sizes are data rates 720x480 ( 576 PAL) @ 3.5mbps

MPEG 1/2/4 can be a range of sizes and data rates that can range from 352x240 right up to 720x480 and higher in some cases.

DV and MPEG share some similar basic characteristics but as The village idiot said there are two different beasts and rather pointless to compare them together

The ADVC-100 produces a DV stream from anologue inputs (vidcam,TV,VCR) that is constant and consistent and very editable.

Looking at the link the Convertx just converts and dumps the finished files onto your hard disk - this is fine if you don't want to edit anything more than simple trims at the start and end of the clip - otherwise you will need to re-encode the file again.

Short answer - go for the Convertx if you ONLY want to grab single streams of footage.
Go for the ADVC-100 if you would like to option of editing footage.

[markd2000]

I would be very interested to hear more from others on their views of the ConvertX vs. Canopus ADVC 100. I purchased the new ConvertX (PX-M402U), but am returning it today. First, I am working my way up the learning curve when it comes to creating DVD's from my old VHS home movies. My editing needs are fairly simple...just need to shorten some clips, cut out bad segments, and sometimes rearrange or reorganize segments into themes (like birthdays). I have actually found that the software that comes with ConvertX - InterVideo WinDVD2 - does a pretty good job with my editing needs. They offer some quality Title pages (but also allows you to use your own pictures) and provide about 30 or so quality transition choices. The end result is quite impressive. So why am I returning the unit? I have two key issues and have received inconsistent responses from Plextor Tech Support. First, for some reason the MPEG2 files that I create have a "tracking bar" on the bottom that is about 1/4 of an inch. It is like the video is out of synch with the rest of the main video. Tech support calls it a wrap around. Apparently they are aware of it and one person said that a software fix is coming out this week. The next guy was totally unaware of the issue. BTW, when you make the DVD, that bar does not appear on the TV. However if I open up one of the MPEG files and play it on Window Media Player, there it is. The second issue is color match. For some reason, I get some purple/green steaks or blotches that are not on the original VHS. I have installed the latest driver that apparently fixed a similar issue. This is not acceptable. Finally, I noticed in playing back one of the many files that I've created a sound/video synch issue...this appears to be an exception (hopefully), but concerning nevertheless. Maybe I was overloading my computer at the time I captured that segment. If it weren't for the two key issues, it think the ConvertX is a great product...primarily because it is easy to use and allows for my editing needs. I captured my Video is standard quality, so that I could fit about 2 hours on a DVD. I have checked a lot of forums and it looks like the Canopus product, although more expensive, has had some pretty strong support. My biggest concern is that since it captures in DVI, the whole process of editing and transcoding will take a lot longer. But my thinking is that I hope to only do this once and therefore it is critical that the end result is a quality job. Please share with me your more experienced insights or views.

[Manokat]

I noticed that problem and notified the problem and they have a fix for
those purple/green steaks or blotches. Check on http://www.plextor.com/english/support/support_downloads.html#soft
The update fixes the problem.
As for the audio sync, I have never experienced that. Check your USB 2.0 driver.

[SHS]

Manokat just wondering what the audio format option do you being my guest it only PCM only?.
As I under stand it the WIS Technologies GO7007SB chip has motion-adaptive de-interlacing.

[broadway]

the only thing that I am little upset about the M402U is that the software that comes with it (Creator2) does not allow me to capture interlaced MPEG2, only frame-based or deinterlaced material which is no problem for me as I use progressive scan DVD player and TV.

can you tell explain more about this? wanting interlaced MPEG2?

also, do you know whether it removes Macrovision?
I want to back up some commercial VHS tapes

thanks

[FulciLives]

Any video capture device that cannot capture interlaced material is a joke ... I don't care HOW good the deinterlacing is!

What a worthless product!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Manokat]

SHS wrote:
__________________________________________________ _________
Manokat just wondering what the audio format option do you being my guest it only PCM only?.
As I under stand it the WIS Technologies GO7007SB chip has motion-adaptive de-interlacing.
__________________________________________________ ___________

M402U can cap PCM, MPEG or AC3 (stereo).

Broadway wrote:
__________________________________________________ ________
can you tell explain more about this? wanting interlaced MPEG2?
also, do you know whether it removes Macrovision?
I want to back up some commercial VHS tapes
__________________________________________________ ___________

It means that you do not have control of it. There is no setting where you can change to cap interlace or deinterlace. But the capped video is a deinterlaced (frame-based) VBR video stream. As well you can not cap video or audio only, it only supports program (video and audio) stream capture. This is software limitation btw, I am sure if other software that can do deinterlaced capture supports this M402, you can cap deinterlaced material. Who knows UV8 will support M402 in the future.

I have not tested VHS macrovision yet so i do not know whether or not it can filter out macrovision.

[SHS]

Manokat do think you can sent up a few clip from this device and maybe DivX clip to, to ftp.shspvr.com/incoming/ folder and yes I share for other to check out as well I have some from first device.
Are you sure it can cap MPEG1 Layer 2 and AC3 becuase the spec sheet show nothing on it Audio format other then PCM so may guest is it convert it after capturing.
Broadway I belive he ask you dose it pick up the MacroVision Detection Signel a reg Home DVD Player will also show this as well not just VCR so try that and dose up then may guest it is the MacroVision Detection is turn off on SAA7113.
Try dig though the Registry also or try load GraphEdit
It to bad there no PCI ver of this device

[Manokat]

SHS wrote:
__________________________________________________ __________
Manokat do think you can sent up a few clip from this device and maybe DivX clip to, to ftp.shspvr.com/incoming/ folder and yes I share for other to check out as well I have some from first device.
Are you sure it can cap MPEG1 Layer 2 and AC3 becuase the spec sheet show nothing on it Audio format other then PCM so may guest is it convert it after capturing.
__________________________________________________ __________

I will upload MPEG2 (DVD high and standard quality) and Divx (Home theater and Portable) clips.

Yes M402 can cap three types pcm, mp2 or ac3. All three types for MPEG2 capture and only mp2 for divx, again divx capture with mp2 audio only. Would be nice if it captured divx with ac3 audio. But again this is just software limitation, IMO. All capping is done on the fly (video and audio).

[jcdenton]

A bit off topic, but have any of the PX-M402U owners on this thread had luck editing the clips with VirtualDub? (not capturing, but editing). For some reason clips captured with the ConvertX are giving me all kinds of problems in VirtualDub, but not any other clips.

[Manokat]

I am not really a big Divx fan as I have not gotten myself a set top player for it yet, still waiting for the right one.

However I've been doing MPEG2 editing with UV7 (smart rendering). With the original driver the MPEG2 that I captured with M402 via Creator2 used to have a problem with UV7 scene detection. They fixed that in driver version 1004. Now there is 1005 in which they fixed some divx issue.

Will try to edit some Divxs in UV7 and VirtualDub later this evening.
As well, hopefully will upload some clips on SHS server.
Or better yet "jcdenton" would you be willing to upload some?

Just a quick observation, it seems that there is a compression problem.

[jcdenton]

"Will try to edit some Divxs in UV7 and VirtualDub later this evening.
As well, hopefully will upload some clips on SHS server.
Or better yet "jcdenton" would you be willing to upload some?"

Good idea. I'll upload a sample clip which is giving me problems later this evening. Perhaps you can try and see if you are also unable to edit it in VirtualDub.

[SHS]

can't you just cap 1min Manokat

[Manokat]

SHS wrote:
___________________________
can't you just cap 1min Manokat
___________________________

Had little problem uploading the clips to your server.

Will try to put on your site again.

Thanks

[jcdenton]

"Perhaps you are using a modded. version of VirtualDub, try the from http://virtualdub.org/ instead."

Yes, I am using VirtualDubMod. When I try to use Virtual Dub or even Virtual Dub MPEG-2, it gives me an error message "No audio decompressor could be found to decompress the source audio format." I guess you didn't encounter that problem?

"Can you upload that divx file to SHS or my server? See if i get the same."

I was going to do that last night but forgot. I'll do it this evening. Thanks.

[SHS]

Have try SmratFTP jcdenton but you may need enable PASV mode if you on local lan and try to upload

[jcdenton]

OK, here is a sample clip that is giving me problems. It might be OK for a few seconds but eventually the image gets corrupted and I can't do anything (with VirtualDubMod).

http://www.jcdenton40.com/AV03072004_021539.avi

[Perro Grande]

I looked at this clip.

While it played fine in Media PLayer, I was able to replicate the garbled screen in vdub.

Selecting "Ask for extended..." by checking the box on the FILE-OPEN dialog pops up some secondary options. By selecting re-derive keyframe flags, the garbled video went away.

[jcdenton]

Thanks Perro Grande; unfortunately, I just tried doing that and it is still having the problem. What version of Virtualdub are you using?

[FulciLives]

I looked at this clip.

While it played fine in Media PLayer, I was able to replicate the garbled screen in vdub.

Selecting "Ask for extended..." by checking the box on the FILE-OPEN dialog pops up some secondary options. By selecting re-derive keyframe flags, the garbled video went away.

Same thing here.

Plays back fine in BSPlayer but I also got that garbled stuff in VirtualDubMod (using version 1.5.10.1 which I think is the very latest). The garbled frames were mostly only near the start of the file.

I did what Perro Grande suggested.

When you selected FILE and then OPEN there is a check box that says, "Ask for extended options after this dialog"

So make sure you click that box then open your file.

Now a new dialog screen pops up. I simply checked off the option called, "Re-derive keyframe flags" and left everything else as it was. Click OK and it takes a lil bit to load (longer than normal) and then ... again as Perro Grande said ... it seems to play back fine.

I'm only typing this up to make the process more clear and to confirm that it also worked for me.

BTW how was this clip originally created?

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[FulciLives]

Well hold on a second ...

I was playing around with it some more and the trick seems to make it seek fine both forwards and backward etc. but if you try to play it and you stop it at some point the screen goes all green and then it gets all screwy again.

So I don't know what to tell you now!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[SHS]

It Playback very good on Xcard

[FulciLives]

It Playback very good on Xcard

I still have a Hollywood Plus card ... not to get off the subject thread here but how well does the Xcard handle DivX decoding to TV?

My understanding is as long as you don't use any of the so-called "extra" or "pro" features like psychovisuals or GMC or Q-Pel etc. that the Xcard should have no trouble with DivX.

I know it got a bad rap for DivX playback at first but I haven't read much about it lately.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jcdenton]

FulciLives: Yes, that is exactly the same thing that is happening on my system. The clip was captured with the ConvertX PX-M402U with the DivX 5.1.1 home theater profile. I was actually planning on doing a clean OS reinstall this weekend so maybe the problem will go away then.

Thanks for the help everyone, it's good to know it's not just my system having problems with the playback.

[FulciLives]

FulciLives: Yes, that is exactly the same thing that is happening on my system. The clip was captured with the ConvertX PX-M402U with the DivX 5.1.1 home theater profile. I was actually planning on doing a clean OS reinstall this weekend so maybe the problem will go away then.

Thanks for the help everyone, it's good to know it's not just my system having problems with the playback.

Well if it does it on mine and on your system do you really think a clean OS reinstall is the answer?

Doesn't sound like it to me.

Of course if it plays back A-OK which it seems to do ... I mean outside of VirtualDub ... then maybe it is not a big deal, you know?

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jcdenton]

Well, watching the footage is one thing, but I also do a lot of editing afterwards with VirtualDub (to make highlight videos and save off specific plays). So if I can't use VirtualDub to edit the clips, the ConvertX has extremely limited value to me.

Hopefully there's a solution although so far Plextor support hasn't been too helpful (they said they've never even HEARD of VirtualDub). If it comes down to it I'll just do a clean reinstall since I was planning on doing it soon anyway.

Thanks again for the help.