Dazzle Digital Video Creator

[JJ1958]

I recently picked up a Dazzle Digital Video Creator (DM-4100 v.5) for 5 bucks at a thrift store. Has all hardware, cables, and manuals, but no software. Dazzle seems to have come out with several "new and improved" versions of this thing since it was made, so I have no idea if the software is still available from them. (And it is a moot point, since they seem to not want to deal with you at all unless you are the registered -- i.e., original -- owner of the device.)

I know that this isn't a very state of the art unit, but for just fooling around it would suit my needs well. And, I DID blow a whole 500 pennies on it, so I'd like to get some use out of it. Anyone know of a source for this unit's software? Is there any generic/shareware type MPEG video capture software that will function with this device?

Post here or you can e-mail me at stanislavjehosaphat@hotmail.com

Thanks.

[vhelp]

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Well, if you are refering to the pic below, then all I can say is, back a couple
of years, when I first got it, it was the greatest thing I ever owned for VCD
projects.

I've had my ups and downs w/ this guy. About the only person who got the
best out of this fun device was sracer, back in the good'ol days here :P

It came w/ a some pretty decent softare ie, MovieStar 6.2 (if memory serves
me) was suppose to be the best in quality, but there were some doubts that
they (dazzle) did some mods on the (either) the device or the software drivers
that causes the quality to drop a little. But, I have (or had) my own theores
even then, that it was a combination of mobo/chipset and the device that was
being captured from and (PAL vs. NTSC) that yielded the good or bad resulted MPEG (VCD's)

I think you can do a Google search for the D/L'able MovieStar app around,
as I've D/L'ed one once before. I think there is a v6.2 still floating around,
that you can D/L. Just do a Google search :P

It's still worth producing some great work w/ it. Just turn up the bitrate, or
use it as a transcoder.
Note, maximum resolution for this device is 352x240, and there is absolutely
no hacking this device for anything higehr in resolutions, since it is a
hardware one at that.

Good luck,
-vhelp

[gcutler]

Latest version is Movestar v5.3.

But Pinnacle bought Dazzle, so the product is pretty much no longer supported since Pinnacle wants all but newest Dazzle products to upgrade to Pinnacle HW and SW.


http://scmmicro.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/scmmicro.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

is a place to get downloads of manuals and patches and such. But you would have to go somewhere else to get full SW packages...

[JJ1958]

Well, if you are refering to the pic below....


Actually, it's this one....



The green box is the DM-4100 (I think the one pictured in that post above is a previous model, like a 4050).

Did a lot of googling and haven't found a downloadable version of MovieStar. I was kind of hoping someone might have an older version on CD that they don't need anymore. I'm not looking to do Hollywood productions -- just want to make some small reference MPEGs of video clips to have on file and to share with others when needed to illustrate something.

Not sure what I'm getting into -- in my searching, I found a LOT of comments from people absolutely trashing both the device and the software, which is said to be very buggy. (Maybe that's why this thing ended up on the shelves at Goodwill for 5 bucks, heh...)

[vhelp]

first, my mistake on the box. Yes, you are correct, because I still have my
DVC box

Trashing...

Yeah, you'll get that, aslways, when it comes to this device. But, back in
the days, it was a great little toy (though it had some issues then)

Quality, is and always will be subjective. Back then, quality had it's own peek
level. What we knew then (or saw) in quality, in comparison to todays, is
totally different. Things have changes (alot) and so have peoples "eye" to
detail etc. of today.

Those that talk "trashy" of this device are those that movied onward in the
things of video - quality. At 352 x 240, it's pretty poor for much hard-core
stuff, but if you are using for quick/dirty demoing of things, I can't see how
it would really matter, specially if these peoples are not quality buffs. Heck,
at work, our videos are 352x240 and you can see the blocks (if you look for
them) but for most of the users that are viewing the video (usully company
memo's of speach on improvements or special topics of interests) quality is
not really required. We are not talking Cinema, when all we need is a stupid
video clip telling us.. "our profits are up.. yada, yada.." who needs widescreen,
and/or 720x480 and/or DTS 5.1 and/or 2:35.1 etc etc for something as louzy
as "profit sharing" or "company accomplishments" hehe..
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So, your DVC demo clips should probably do the trick for your needs :P

Well, keep looking on Google. I did a search on my HD to find that same
file I downloaded (cause I usually keep everything) but I can't seem to find
it. Probably re-named it to something easyer to spot/find go figure..
now I can't find it hehe..

-vhelp

[mazinz]

i still have the software that came with mine. However, their were a few upgrades for it (mine came with 3.52 movie star software. I noticed on dazzle.com it went up to 4. something for this version of the dvc, and i know i must have dled those upgrades backed up on some data cd i made
long ago). If you still cant find it send me a private message

[gcutler]

Check out ebay for old copies of the SW, and I believe some places may even have it on the shelf or the discount bin. I heard someone say that some Dazzle hardware was still on the shelf at Best Buy (even though it is no longer supported by Pinnacle) You could probably find the SW for purchase with a little bit of effort.