DAC-100 or ADVC100

[Michelle]

the DAC can't capture audio only or a true black & white source (which is never likely to come up unless you want to capture security footage) but the ADVC can.

There is a workaround to capture audio with the DAC. I send the audio I want to capture into the DAC along with any video source (like TV). Then I use Scenalyzer to capture only the audio.

[Liquidant]

same here i tried a few black and white films (from TV) and it was fine

the programs or the DAC seem to need a video signel to record anything, but like Michelle says plug it all in and just capture the audio works a treat. or you could just use your sound card after all thats what it's there for.

[Michelle]

In my case, the audio and video equipment is in a different room than the computer. I use an 80 foot FireWire cable. So even though I have a high quality audio card, I end up using the DAC to do most of my audio capturing.

[Ramon]

But doesn't such a long lead (80ft) degrade the picture?

Incidentally Michelle, what other software do you use?

[gshelley61]

But doesn't such a long lead (80ft) degrade the picture?

Firewire. That's a purely digital signal. Quality is not related to or dependent on the medium it is stored with or the method that is used to transfer the data. As long as the 80 ft. cable doesn't interrupt or corrupt the digital stream, there would be no way to lose any quality.

Cables and connections do have an effect on analog video signals, though.

[pluche]

fyi: there is an excellent freeware progam called "Vidi" - look around in version tracker
the program works very well with DAC 100 for recording; you can even pre-program the timing
I used it often with DAC 100 to record from cable TV (using the tuner from a video or a DVD recorder) - then I eliminate the advertising and write back to DVD

[pluche]

Oops - I forgot to tell: I work on a Mac ...

[Michelle]

But doesn't such a long lead (80ft) degrade the picture?

Incidentally Michelle, what other software do you use?

An 80ft cable would be a problem if you used it with something like an external hard drive. But DV capture doesn't use the full FireWire bandwidth so it's fine.

I use Scenalyzer for capture.

[Ramon]

Thanks all - sorry to show my ignorance.

[TheGame7]

How much did such a long firewire cable set you back?

[Michelle]

How much did such a long firewire cable set you back?

I got it on eBay for around $10.

[TheGame7]

Do you need to use a repeater to maintain the rate of transfer?

I will look on eBay - a site I saw sold long cables for 100s of dollars.

I am in the UK though, so I might find it harder...

[ofbarea]

ADS Pyro A/V Link Rev.3 with firmware release 3 is a good alternative. Juts make sure that you got firmware version 3.

For long firewire cable runs you can also use a repeater like this one: http://www.orangemicro.com/repeater.html

[Michelle]

Do you need to use a repeater to maintain the rate of transfer?

I will look on eBay - a site I saw sold long cables for 100s of dollars.

I am in the UK though, so I might find it harder...

You don't need a repeater for video use.

I think this is the cable I got:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=197382&is=REG

They sell it for $90. I got lucky on eBay because the seller had listed it several times and kept dropping the price because no one was interested.

[TheGame7]

So I won't be as lucky as you and get it for as cheap?

Are their few and far between firewire cables of this length on eBay? Or am I searching for the wrong things?

I need the 6 pin to 4 pin version - will the fact that my ADVC-55 takes power from the firewire port rather than have its own supply effect the data in anyway due to the vast length?

[vhelp]

Morning all

It's good to know about this limitation (if your bandwidth use requires it to be
at its max) when your wire length requires more than 15' (feet)


** current price is $39 dollars.

So, this little util device could be an option. Thanks.

My problems (though I could use a longer cable, though maybe not a 100' er)
is that the two ends need to be more "elastic". I mean, especially during the
colder months (I woke up this morning to cold 67 degree sunrise inside my
house, but I know it's much colder than that) And, when I turned on my pc,
and went to make coffee, 5 minutes later, I came back to a frozen pc. I know
that, that doesn't make sense (though I've always seem to have this problem)
but I don't know why my pc will freeze on me when my pc is cool or cold.
Anyways, as I was saying..
And, when the cold hits these wires, they become much more stiffer, and hard
to bend/flex them to insert the gizmo into your devices. Because of this, I
have a few wires that are no use to me, because one of the strands of wires
most likely came detatched or something. Anyways. I just wish they would
make the "end connectors" more elastic, say about 3 inches.

Cheers,
-vhelp

[TheGame7]

Sorry to drag this up again, but still searching for a long firewire lead on the cheap?

Preferabbly from the UK.

Any advice.?

TG7

[TheGame7]

UP

[OverBurn]

I bought my DAC-100 here http://www.shopharmony.com/product.asp?i=DATDAC1000 for $179.00 US
I've had for about 6-8 months and I love it. I've captured up to 3 hours straight without a single dropped frame. It works prefect with any capture software I've tried, no drivers to install. Works with Windows Movie Maker, Nero VisionExpress, Adobe Premiere, MainConcept Encoder, Dr.Divx, and several more I can't think of right now.