Capture cards and macro

[jmr2004]

Are there any capture cards, past or present, that let you defeat VHS macrovision in the card or in software?

Thanks for any answers.

[thecoalman]

I had no trouble with winfast 2000xp or you should be able to use any Nvidia based card with VIVO using capture driver version 1.08 or prior.

[jmr2004]

Great...thanks.

Probably hard to find?

Rather do something like this then buy a Sima or something.

[thecoalman]

Well the 2000xp quality is not that great compared to capture cards with MV detection. If quality is an issue your probably not going to find a capture card without MV. Nvidia card has pretty good quality but IMO the newer drivers produce a better capture. The 1.08 driver is at least 1 to 2 years old.

The cards are readily available, I don't think that driver version is available on the Nvidia site (gee I wonder why?) but it can be found.... I'm sure there are others available I'd look around a bit.

[TeeeRex]

The Pinnacle DV500 ignores/strips macrovision - you can also use it to passthrough the MVfree signal to another device such as a DVD Recorder etc ....

[jmr2004]

The 2000 xp sounds fine as long as it doesn't have a real noticeable degradation to prerecorded VHS.....hopefully it will take a 7 and leave it a 7? ....if you know what I mean.

Thanks.

I'd like to grab something off Ebay by the weekend....looking for as many brand names on cards I can get.

I'll take a look at that pinnacle as well.

[thecoalman]

You can get the 2000-xp(deluxw edition) for $50 brand new... It's actually quite a good deal, even if the capture is not that great. Remote control, FM tuner, ulead Movie factory and 3-d studio.

[jmr2004]

Hey coal man...thanks.

One final question, do you by chance know if Nero6 will support the card?

I see some on Ebay, I'll grab one.

Looks like it's just a broadcast (not cable) TV tuner on it?

Are the 1.08 drivers or earlier on the manufacturers site?

Thanks kindly.

[jmr2004]

PS---Just found the driver (1.08) on driver guide.com so that's done.

Now just to determine the best card that it and Nero are compatible with.

Looks like I may have a number of choices other than the Winfast?
(viva ATI?...MSI G3 VIVO?.....?)

Would like the best results I can get with a card that's still available that will work with this driver.

[thecoalman]

One final question, do you by chance know if Nero6 will support the card?

Don't know...it comes with it's own capture and editing software.

Looks like it's just a broadcast (not cable) TV tuner on it?

Cable or antenna ready, even comes with a antenna. At least the deluxe editionn does

Are the 1.08 drivers or earlier on the manufacturers site?

The 2000xp will work right out of the box or from the newest drivers available at leadtek. The full name for the one I'm referring too is Leadtek Winfast TV2000 XP Expert deluxe edition. For the price your probably better of just going down to your local computer store and picking one up.

The 1.08 drivers are for a Nvidia based card which is really a video card with capture capabilities. The 1.08 capture driver is not availble on Nvidia's site. The newest cards are around $400 most of which is for the graphics part, the capture or VIVO is a addon, doesn't support TV/Cable either unless you use an external tuner. At least the one I have doesn't

[jmr2004]

One last time so I understand you correctly...

The Winfast TV2000 XP deluxe will work with the latest leadtek drivers and it still ignores macrovision?

I can add it to this list?

So far...

Leadtek A280
Pinnacle DV500
Gainward GF4 TI4200

[thecoalman]

Yep, at leas the tape I tested. I only tried one, I have no need for them. You can also add any Nvidia based card to your list if you have the 1.08 driver.

[Coopervid]

The Haupauge PVR-250 or 350 doesn't care about it and records straight to MPEG2 with hardware encoding. Not recommended with an AMD based computer as it might not work right out of the box. Highly recommended with an Intel based board. Get the newest drivers from the website and add some good editing software like Womble's MPG2VCR and you are all set.

[jmr2004]

Wow....that's cool...I have to check into that.

I wonder....do all (many, some?) of the other devices that go straight to mpeg, (like the new USB devices), ignore the macro as well?

I'd love to do straight audio to USB.

[thecoalman]

I have no experience personally but I see a lot of posts regarding USB devices. USB devices are troublesome for capping movies, either get a PCI card or a external device connected via firewire.

[airwid]

I have no experience personally but I see a lot of posts regarding USB devices. USB devices are troublesome for capping movies, either get a PCI card or a external device connected via firewire.

Good advice. I first bought an ADS Tech USB Instant DVD 2.0 and got instant garbage- it never worked or captured a second of video. The Canopus ADVC-100 uses a firewire connection and worked from the get go. It supposedly has a macrovision defeat (google search for the instructions), but I haven't tried it yet b/c I haven't had to capture a tape with macro. Stick to that type of device or a pci card.

[Capmaster]

I have no experience personally but I see a lot of posts regarding USB devices. USB devices are troublesome for capping movies, either get a PCI card or a external device connected via firewire.

Good advice. I first bought an ADS Tech USB Instant DVD 2.0 and got instant garbage- it never worked or captured a second of video. The Canopus ADVC-100 uses a firewire connection and worked from the get go. It supposedly has a macrovision defeat (google search for the instructions), but I haven't tried it yet b/c I haven't had to capture a tape with macro. Stick to that type of device or a pci card.

That's not the fault of USB devices. ADS turned out some major crap and it's no doubt the fault of that. I personally lost $200 when I bought the first USB Instant DVD on the market. POS all the way, and a lip sync nightmare. I haven't seen anything come out of that company yet that wasn't crap.

I currently have a Snazzi III USB2 which is great. I love it. Don't condemn all USB devices simply because of one unscrupulous company.

That's not to say that buying a Canopus product is a bad thing. They make nice equipment and my next capture box/card will be a Canopus.

[thecoalman]

Capmaster,

I think the keyword here is USB 2. Most of the specs on the USB devices I have seen use 1.1. So i stand corrected don't buy a USB device that uses the 1.1 standard.

[jmr2004]

I see the Snazzi III at only 56 bucks on Ebay.

Does it ignore macro?

How is the resolution compared to a good internal card?

[Capmaster]

Capmaster,

I think the keyword here is USB 2. Most of the specs on the USB devices I have seen use 1.1. So i stand corrected don't buy a USB device that uses the 1.1 standard.

The ADS IDVD was USB1.1, but the interface wasn't the issue. USB1.1 will still allow captures of up to 6.5 Mbps peak. At least the Snazzi does when attached to USB1.1. The problem with the IDVD was the corners ADS cut in saving a few bucks here and there. It was based on the Cirrus CS92210 chip. It was clearly an inadequate product. They even had the gall to market it with the promise that you could "burn DVDs real-time while you capture". An utter and complete lie.

I see the Snazzi III at only 56 bucks on Ebay.

Does it ignore macro?

How is the resolution compared to a good internal card?

It uses the same resolutions as any other MPEG capture card - It'll do MPEG 1 & 2, VCD, SVCD and DVD, both 1/2D1 and full 720 x 480 (576). The quality isn't quite as good as the Dazzle DVCII - the other product that uses the Philips SAA7114 front-end, but it has served my needs. What's nice about the cap app - Movie Mill, is the control over sharpness, brite, contrast, saturation, various bandpass and bandstop filters that can be used, as well as a VHS de-noise filter that is superb. The captures end up better than the VHS source because of the intelligent implementation of this filter.

I don't know if it ignores macrovision, but I suspect it doesn't. I have a Datavideo TBC-1000 that is permanently attached and that takes care of any and all copy protection. If you got a Snazzi III USB2 for $56 (a great price since I paid $300 for mine), you'll have money left over for a macrovision stripper or most of the cost of a decent TBC, which you'll appreciate if you do any serious amount of tape captures

[DereX888]

any time-based correction device is a must for serious VHS>DVD transfers. Unless your VCR already has one built-in.

[Capmaster]

any time-based correction device is a must for serious VHS>DVD transfers. Unless your VCR already has one built-in.

Cunfucious say:
"There are two types of VHS-to-DVD transfer people - Those who use a TBC, and those who will"
So true

[snafu099]

The origingal ADS IDVD capture device had lots of sync issues, they finally discontinued product.

The IDVD2 and higher versions initally had issues with pal and seacam formats which have been corrected with updates to the capwiz program which acts as firmware update when device is iniatized.

Current products with latest software updates and patchs provide EXCELLENT quality with no sync problems.

ADS is also working on a DTD, direct to disc, capwiz feature that does not utilize any hdd space but authors direct to disc.

DvdExpress on occasion is on sale for $49-us after rebate.


I started with the original IDVD and upgraded to the IDVD-2 when it was first released. I am well aware of the early issues, poor tech support and such, but ADS is working to improve both the products and support.. The latest BBB report gives a clean report as compared to poor in the past.

For the good, the bad and the ugly visit the user forum:
http://p211.ezboard.com/fpyro1394frm8

[jmr2004]

I've been trying to buy something off Ebay in an nvidia card that will work with the 1.08 driver for VHS capture

From what I've heard from you (Coalman) it's the way to go....better results than the Winfast.

I'm having a hard time pinpointing the card(s) I'm after because there are so many with "nvidia" in the description that don't have video inputs at all.

Can you help me with some search terms....
nvidia vivo specific model #'s?

I need to BUY SUMTHIN' !

Thanks.