ADVC-100 vs 110 did anything substantial change

[Raja Abusharr]

Have been reading with enthusiasm review of capture devices and Canopus ADVC-100 (no longer available new) is tops. The ADVC-300 that is more than twice the price has lesser marks in reviews. Canopus now offers the ADVC-110 (looks more like the older ADVC-50) while the still available ADVC-300 looks more like the older ADVC-100. Has anyone experience with the newer model?

Raja Abusharr

[thecoalman]

The major difference between the 100 and the 110 is the 110 doesn't require power if you have it connected to a 6 pin firewire port.

[Raja Abusharr]

Its cheaper. I just wondered if I will get the wonderful device that so many people brag about if I purchase the 110 new. I am afraid to purchase a used one on ebay particularly if there has been voltage problems like some of the posts indicate.

THe other contenders in the $150-$250 price are (1) Pinnacle PCI Studio and (2) AceDVio card. All three seem to do the same thing but I was mostly concerned about audio/video syncing as my current system (mobo firewire input from miniDV) is dropping frames like crazy even though eveyrthing else is up to par with the system (as described in FAQ)

[edDV]

...but I was mostly concerned about audio/video syncing as my current system (mobo firewire input from miniDV) is dropping frames like crazy even though eveyrthing else is up to par with the system (as described in FAQ)

Dropping video frames? Your DV camcorder to IEEE-1394 should be solid. If not, the AVDC will do the same thing since at the computer DV input point, the two look the same to the computer.

Or are you saying there is a problem only with audio when capturing analog with the camcorder?

If the audio is in sync at the ADVC input it will keep the audio in sync with video. It won't correct a problem coming in over analog.

[Raja Abusharr]

When I hooked up the Sony DCR-pc120 to the computer, using both WMM as well as other capture software, the frames were being dropped so that the saved file appeared to be in fast motion. I then added a second internal 7200 drive and had some resolution but the output was still choppy. I am assuming that a dedicated input into the computer in the form of the canopus or other device would alleviate the problem. I cannot see anything else in my setup that would be the bottleneck. The system is very lean and runs fast.

[budz]

There should be no audio/video sync problems when using the advc device. I own a advc 100 and have had no problems when hooking it up via firewire to my pc. You may want to try SCENALYZER LIVE to do your capturing instead of WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER.

[Raja Abusharr]

Can someone perhaps advise me if the following hardware items will all do essentially the same thing (give or take some features)
1. Matrox RT.X2 ($1700-2000)
2. Canopus AceDVio board ($250)
3. Canopus ADVC-110 ($240)

[edDV]

When I hooked up the Sony DCR-pc120 to the computer, using both WMM as well as other capture software, the frames were being dropped so that the saved file appeared to be in fast motion. I then added a second internal 7200 drive and had some resolution but the output was still choppy. I am assuming that a dedicated input into the computer in the form of the canopus or other device would alleviate the problem. I cannot see anything else in my setup that would be the bottleneck. The system is very lean and runs fast.

This is not normal. The DV camcoder and ADVC use the same DV output standard so I would not expect any improvement for dropped frames. The problem is likely with your computer.

Try WinDV for capture. It cuts out all the middle levels of software and runs IEEE-1394 capture from DirectShow. If you still have problems, the problem is with the computer or the camcorder. Next try a different camcorder if possible. Or try your camcorder on a different computer.

You shouldn't be having dropped frames with that equipment.

[Raja Abusharr]

Is it possible that the miniDV tapes are low quality? I am using a Sony brand labeled "premium" but recently found out that there are three or four levels "higher" up than this particular brand. The captions for them refer to "decreased dropped frames" particularly in the ones that have IC chips in the cassettes.

I will try WinDV and your other ideas are good too. Thanks.

[edDV]

Is it possible that the miniDV tapes are low quality? I am using a Sony brand labeled "premium" but recently found out that there are three or four levels "higher" up than this particular brand. The captions for them refer to "decreased dropped frames" particularly in the ones that have IC chips in the cassettes.

I will try WinDV and your other ideas are good too. Thanks.

Unlikely. Will it capture live video? It is all the same at the 1394 port.