ADS Pyro AV Link not working with VHS or DV source

[dugost]

I just got the ADS Pyro AV Link (API-557) because I want to covert old home movies and such from VHS to DV so I can edit old clips and also archive to data DVDs. I am connecting my Sony SLV-999HF VCR to the Pyro using RCA cables and then going from the Pyro to my Dual 500MHx G4 under Mac OS 10.4.8 using FireWire.

In iMovie the signal comes through but the quality is horrible. Stuttering audio and flickering video. After recording a minite of video there are dropped frames and the audio/video quality is generally pretty terrible. It's basically unusable. I've done some searching on different forums for help but haven't found anything to solve this problem.

I tried using Vidi instead of iMovie to preview and capture but I get the same problem with quality. Vidi won't even let me capture! I've tried using recorded VHS footage and also a pre-recorded commercial VHS tape. I get the same results with each.

I've just invested money into this converter box and it's really disappointing. They claim there wouldn't be any dropped frames and that it would work flawlessly with iMovie.

I also read that this could be due to the fact that the analogue signal coming through the RCA into the Pyro isn't clean and therefore results into bad audio and dropped frames.

As a test, I plugged my DV cam into the front of the Pyro using the supplied 4-pin to 4-pin DV cable then the Firewire cable from the Pyro to my Mac. Believe it or not, trying to capture DV is actually WORSE then trying to capture VHS! I couldn't even preview video in iMovie and Vidi was unreliable for preview and wouldn't let me capture at all.

I tried capturing after rebooting my Mac and having no other applications running. I don't know if this makes a difference but I have a second Firewire PCI card installed in my Mac because the factory installed FW ports are fried. The card works flawlessly capturing video directly from my DV cam (no Pyro pass-through) and other devices though so I can't see how it would cause an issue.

Does anyone know how I can get this box to work with my Mac? Is there such a thing as a signal booster or stabilizer that might work with the Pyro so that I can get cleaner VHS signal into iMovie to reduce or eliminate dropped frames and improve the audio?

But since it won't even work with DV, should I just try to return this box and get something else? I've read about the Canopus but I don't know which model to buy and I can't find a dealer in Canada. Perhaps eBay?

If anyone has any insight into these problems and can make suggestions and recommendations I would greatly appreciate it.

[zoobie]

Try another cap ap
WinDV
DVIO

[theewizard]

I have a windows machine and the older adsXpress, and this thing works great,

can your try the pyro out on a friends PC, to see if the hardware is bad or wheter the problem is with your PC or software

[thecoalman]

As a test, I plugged my DV cam into the front of the Pyro using the supplied 4-pin to 4-pin DV cable then the Firewire cable from the Pyro to my Mac. Believe it or not, trying to capture DV is actually WORSE then trying to capture VHS! I couldn't even preview video in iMovie and Vidi was unreliable for preview and wouldn't let me capture at all.

Going from Cam>firewire>PYRO>firewire>computer is no different than going from Cam>firewire>Computer. If you can plug the cam directly into the same firewire port and it works then i would suggest:

1. You have a bad firewire cable
2. You have bad box
3. You have the dipswitches set incorrectly (assuming the pyro has dipswitches)

[andrewgerm]

Hi all
I have also just had a Pyro AV link unit shipped to me from the states. I finally figured out how to set things up, and now have my Sansui VCR connected to the AV Link via RCA, the unit to my PC via FireWire, and to my TV for video only via RCA.
Things work great when viewing TV via the VCR, or a tape, but when I start capturing I get a LOT of dropped frames. About a minute in to capturing I'll get a burst of about 30-40 dropped frames, and it almost seems like a few minutes later the same 30-40 dropped frames.

My hardware works perfectly for capturing from my Sony DV cam via FireWire. Does the Pyro not produce the same output datawise? I'm using VideoStudio 10+, but have also tryed WMCap from the ADS site, Media Studio, DVD Movie factory's capture function. Does anyone have any idea where I might be going wrong? Or any tips, etc? I've just done a regular 'spring-clean' on my PC, and defragged all drives. I have a dedicated video HDD.

Thanks all!