Using the Canopus ADVC300

[Endemoniada]

Hi guys,

We have the Canopus ADVC300 at work that I can take home and use for myself, there is no documentation, I also looked on the site and don't see any for that model.

I want to transfer VHS tapes to AVIs. Do I just use WinDV and leave it at that ?

How about some tips to get better quality, does anyone have any ?

Thank you.

[Dragonsf]

There should be a downloadable manual at the Canopus website (Irecently did download the doc here: http://www.canopus.com/support/downloads/products.php?productid=76&fileid=86 ).
But using the ADVC300 is straightforward. I always set the DIP switch to PC in order to set everything from PC. You have of course to insatll the ADC300 application.
Just connect your source to the ADVC, set the correct format (PAL/NTSC) and connect the ADVC to your PC and switch on.
On the PC fire up the ADVC application (with preview), make your settings (if neccessary) and close the application. Start WinDV and capture.

[Endemoniada]

Hi Dragon,

Thanks for the help. What application do I need ? I hope I can download it from the Canopus site because I can't find any CDs at work.

One more quick question, will the AVIs be interlaced ?

I was first converting from VHS to mini-DV tapes (through the camcorder) and then I would just go from the camcorder to the computer via firewire to make an AVI, then when I encoded to WMV I ran it through AVISynth to deinterlace. Do I pretty much do the same thing with the AVIs I make straight out of the Canopus ?

Thanks again.

[Dragonsf]

The app is not downloadble (send me a PM with your email).
And yes, the AVI will be interlaced.This is the same procedure as going thru DV-Cam.

[edDV]

About a year ago I searched the Canopus site for the same ADVC-300 items and couldn't find them.

All it took was a call to Canopus customer service and I got both by email.

[gasman2]

Endemonaida: Why did you switch from the camcorder pass-through to the ADVC 300? What were the differences between the 2 as far as the quality of the material? I am trying to justify why I need to spend the $$$ for the Canopus.

Thanks

[edDV]

Endemonaida: Why did you switch from the camcorder pass-through to the ADVC 300? What were the differences between the 2 as far as the quality of the material? I am trying to justify why I need to spend the $$$ for the Canopus.

Thanks

The big ADVC advantage is proper scaling of black to digital level 16 instead of washed out 32 (for NTSC inputs). The only other ADVC-300 advantages are hardware proc amp functions (brightness, contrast, saturation and hue) and a line TBC that doesn't seem to do much. The 300 model also has a componet Y, Pb, Pr output via the D connector.