Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge

[proroc]

Hey im new to capturing, I used to use a tv tuner card capturing with huffyuv... I read alot of good things about the dv bridge, so I decided to buy one. The first one I bought captured choppy video and when I played it back using the dv out program, the video flicked between color and black and white on my tv. I returned it and got a new one and have yet to try it. Does anyone else own this device? Did I make a good decision to go with this product? Anyone else using it in winxp? If you have any comments about this device please post them. Like what programs your using to capture with using the dv bridge, etc....

Thanks!

[Dragonsf]

I'm using the HW Bridge for about a year.It has some problems with capturing - especially with not so good video source.But the drop rate is quite low (max. 1 dropped frame per minute video).I'm always capturin with DVApp (comes with MS DirectX 8.x SDK).
Editing and authoring goes with ULEAD Mediastudio 6.x with DVD MF as plugin.
If you have problems with capturing, look at www.dazzle.com under support and searchj for meta_id 41.You can find some advice for preparing your PC before capturing.
The captured footage has very good resolution and besides the dropped frames I found no real serious problem.

[kc5hwb]

Goto this link....

http://www.digitalpostproduction.com/cgi-bin/getframeletter.cgi?/2001/03_mar/reviews/D...e/DVBridge.htm


I am seriously considering buying one of these. I have heard people say the same thing about the ATI card that you have said about this unit, but I have never had a problem with the ATI card. I simply want tosmething that will do a higher quality capture than an analog S-Video connection. I think it might depend on the hardware configs of your machine.

[dilorc]

I've had a DV bridge for about 9 months now and have had very few problems with it. I am running Windows XP and I use Windows Movie Maker to capture the video to a NTFS formatted drive. I then load the video in VirtualDub, edit out the commericals, frameserve over to TMPEG and I'm done. Biggest problem I have is that sometimes windows won't recognize the device. I have to shut the computer down, turn it back on and it's fixed. I've never had any problems once a capture started.

[kc5hwb]

I don't guess you have ever tried it in Win2000??

I was thinking of loading XP anyway. I have heard alot of good things about that Movie Maker Feature.

How is the quality on the Bridge? Have you tried capturing from VHS tapes with a VCR plugged into the Bridge? How does it compare to a ATI Card?

I am probably going to pick one of these up this week. Looks too good to pass up.

Thanks!

[dilorc]

I have tried the DV bridge in Win 2k. I didn't have any hardware problems with it, but trying to find a good capturing program was hard (for me...I was new to all this at the time). I wanted something that could do timed captures i.e. I can set a timer for 1 hour, start the capture, then walk away. I was using AVI-IO which really isn't designed for use with DV capture devices. I think either Win 2k or XP is a good choice. I espically like using NTFS so I don't have to worry about multi-segement captures. XP has a slight edge since it is so easy to capture. And if you want to mak WMV files, you can do it all from Movie Maker.

I've only used it once to capture off VHS. All of my captures are off Tivo, which is pretty much the same as right off the TV. The quality is excellent in my opinion. I do have an older ATI card, the All in Wonder from 1998 I think. It gave me good captures, but I wanted to capture at a higher resolution and the drivers for Win 2K didn't support anything higher than 320x240. I don't have any experience with the newer ATI cards.

I think the best thing about it is that it does all the work. I have a mediocre computer (P3 500) and I can capture 720x480 with 0 drops. I don;t worry about defragmenting my HD or anything like that. Since 99% of the work is done in the box, my computer doesn't need to do a whole lot. And someday when I get a DV camera, I can store the video on tape.

[vhelp]

As long as you don't let it go to your head about the quality
thing. Cause it just aint so!

I'm seeing more and more "DV" this, and "DV" that on this forum
and it seems to be having an influence on peoples minds that
"hay, if I get a DV this or that (bridge, ie) I'd get DVD quality
or something. Sorry, but it aint so.

What a Dazzle DV bridge will do is provide a higher resolution
capture! And, hopfully, without any frame drops. For those
(myself included) who have never ben able to
capture greater then 352x480 (or worse, 352x240) will have a
releaf on this issue finally.

Higher resolution means greater detail in capture (oops, I mean
"tranfer") vai fireWire and working driver(s)
My harddrive is 5400 (I believe) and if I'm not mistake, it's
just borderline in my firewire transfer. I have reason to
believe that 7200 will do MUCH better. Also, any blocks in your
final transfer will be this result of 5400 issue (I think). I
could be wrong though.
It may be the TAPE quality of my DV cam. I'm not sure how the
Dazzle DV bridge (no tape) will be on this issue. so, again, I
could be wrong. I was speaking about MY dv cam experience thus far.
In any case, I'm not sure how the "frame drops" issues are with
DV and firewire.

My current setup is so screwed, it ain't even funny anymore.
I have half or incomplete installation of the drivers and/or
software installation, though instation(s) did complete

Its ben a rocky ride for me in my DV cam endever!
And, I don't wish it on anyone. For some people, it's a fast setup.
For others (like myself) it's a nightmare!!! But, I'm the kind of
person who doesn't give so easily. I keep at it till I get it!!
...unless it can't be get! (CCE rings a bell)

But, on the bright side, I managed to get most issues taken
care of. My last is the sound. NO SOUND! ...from DV avi.
Virtual dub can't handle DV avi files, and so, it only allows
the video to display, but NO SOUND.
Dragging the DV avi file into TMPG will also give you NO SOUND.
Ben doing some more research on this NO SOUND issue, but nothing
so far.

Just don't expect mericles from ANY DV this or that.
If you got the monies, and the time, and can put up with what may
or may not be a rocky ride, then go for it - the DV bridge, or a
DV Cam.

-vhelp

[BluVCD]

Hi!
I have a Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge - I got it last month. I am basically using to it capture VHS tapes that I want to save. I play the tapes on a regular VCR or my world-wide VCR. My OS is XP.

I had absolutely no problems until today ironically. I could capture any tape with very few dropped frames (if any).

But today - I have tried about 5 different tapes - both brand new and older ones - and I get about 150-250 dropped frames within the first 90 seconds of capture - I stop it then - there's no point in torturing myself.

There is obviously something wrong. All of my settings are exactly the same as they have always been. I have not added any new software of hardware. This has got me all stymied!

I am looking for some solution here. I have done everything Dazzle.com said to do - in fact I did that when I got the hardware and it worked fine until today!

I would recommend this because I think I can fix my problem soon. And, it is a great device. It is easy to set up and use.

I use Pinnacle Studio SE to capture. I cannot figure out how to use Virtual Dub with the Dazzle. It never captures anything...but that's for another post!

And the quality is good - not DVD obviously - but I'm just trying to preserve what I have.

Good Luck
BluVCDKid

[yg1968]

vhelp,

Why are you using virtual dub? For capturing DV, you are better off using other freeware programs such as amcap or dvio. I have never had any sound problems with DV. There is a type 1, type 2 avi (DV) issue that can cause you problems with TMPGEnc but DVIO allows you to capture in type 1 or type 2 avi (DV). Make sure that you chose bottom field first in TMPGenc in order to avoid video problems.

You need about 12 gig an hour for DV. You are better off capturing the DV and transfering it to mpeg. You also need Windows XP in order to avoid the 2 gig problem.

Hope this helps,

YG

[vhelp]

evening yg1968,

it's very thunderous and lightening over here, so bare w/ me if I loose my
connect.

>> Why are you using virtual dub? For capturing DV, you are better off using
>> other freeware programs such as amcap or dvio. I have never had any sound
>> problems with DV. There is a type 1, type 2 avi (DV) issue that can cause you
>> problems with TMPGEnc but DVIO allows you to capture in type 1 or type 2 avi
>> (DV). Make sure that you chose bottom field first in TMPGenc in order to
>> avoid video problems.

First, I have NO problem with the whole DV route/process/TMPG, etc. I've done
many encodes from DV-to-VCD... and w/ no problem!! Really!!
But, my main reason for NOT using the DV for firewire-to-HD route is because
of the colors issues. I just don't find DV (once outputed via firwire) color
is as good as an Analog AVI capture!! Sorry! This is just my opinion! I've
tried many variation w/ the color filters in vdub and TMPG, but I just ain't
satisfied, nohow! YES! I know how to adjust colors to compinsate for DV avi
and all, and YES, I've used/selected TMPG's [x] Output YUV... under
Settings/Quantize.../ and a few good combination of this w/ color filters in
TMPG and vdub. I just don't see as better color quality from a DV source
as I do w/ analog AVI capture source. The analog AVI capture source quality
wins, hands-down, IMO!! And, yes, in cce, I check the [x] 0..255 color better
DV color conversion, but thats about all cce and tmpg is doing with the color
issue from DV source materials. So, I prefer to continue using the OLD fashion
method of analog capturing. Not to mention that my whole capture/encoding
process via my Canon ZR-10's DV cam is a simple one. It's my mini TIVO !!!
I capture to miniDV tapes, and later, I encode it to whatever I like. So,
basically, my process is like this:
* tape whatever is airing from my satalite (directv) to a miniDV tapes (in SP
mode)
* when I'm ready, I RW tape, press play, and proceed to
* capture analog'wise via my ATW card

Note, I'm still debating wheather or not this is totally true about the
color issue in DV vs. AVI, but for now, I prefere to continue my analog avi
capture process. And, yes, I have tried other apps for DV capturing (transfering,
that is) They are all fine apps.

* I have ben succesful at recording VHS tapes to miniDV tapes, but this is only
on a few, ie, "Superman, The Movie" passed MV, and i was able to send it to my
DV cam onto miniDV tapes. Yes, I was testing some VHS tapes out, including this
one. However, I didn't quite like the final quality of my encodes. But, after
altering the DV route, to an analog route, I was able to see a better difference
in color quality.
Yes, I know that prior to, that DV color will look washed out and all, and that it
has to go through a DV CODEC route to de-convert the color space a little, but my
guess is that some people here don't know this, and just encode the DV avi file
straight into tmpg, w/out the setting in tmpg, ie [x] Output YUV.... But,
making this setting active will give you better color quality (not quality)
* In some instance, ie, for store bought movies on VHS... I don't feel that it's
all worth the, "run the VHS tape through the DV pass-through or DV bridge, or
whatever, to then finally encode it. WHY?? because it's still gotta down-convert
the video, color and all, and once on your harddrive, you have to re-convert the
color, ie, w/ a DV CODEC, and feed that into TMPG, though in TMPG, you could
forego the DV CODEC, (I hope) and just make this [x] Output YUV... setting
and hope that it comes out GOOD quality! (no, i didn't say, "DVD quality")

The only time i would fee it OK, to go the "run the VHS tape through the DV
pass...." route is when it's an OLD vhs tape or a priceless tape or footage, and
you wanna play around w/ the best possible combo of settings to yield the so
called, BEST QUALITY. In my opinion, go the "VHS-to-DV-to-miniDV tapes" because
you don't want to wear out your priceless VHS tape FF/RW till you find the best
capture, and then encode process. Best to juts get it out to miniDV tape (if you
have a DV cam) and then play around w/ the miniDV tapes all you want. But, bare
in mind, that even those miniDV tapes are subject to the same wear and tare that
VHS tapes are subject to - they are tapes! But, at least you wont ware you VHS
tapes as much, since they are ORIGINALS. Other than those priceless VHS
tapes or 8mm/hi-c, etc. if you're just trying to make VCD/SVCD's from store
bought VHS tapes, then don't bother w/the above. Just capture from the VCR direct,
and encode. It's really not worth VCR-to-DV-to-miniDV, or VCR-to-DV-to-firewire-
to-harddrive!! You WILL loose some quality using this VCR-to-DV process. After
all, DV in intself, is a lossy process, hence the smaller size files. In short,
DV is another form of compression, like mjpeg is... it's lossy! But people get
confuse because they here that DV is digital. So, right away, they think that DV
will retain FULL quality. Well, NOT SO!! Don't let the 720x480 resolution thing
fool you. You're missing one important aspect - being color - it's being
compressed, hence some bit are out, gone, etc.

I have something like 40-50 or so of these miniDV tapes. I'm constantly fliping
and swapping through them like a rolladex. I don't buy those expansive one either.
I buy the ones are BJs for $27 (they went down in price from $29) for a 6 pack.
That's a great price compare to those at Walmart for $10 or even $6 A PIECE! The
brand I most use are the FOJI brand, as BJs only carries this brand. But, the price
is right! and, within my budget. Come to think about it, it's time for another
6 pack he, he... I've lost count on how many tapes I have. oh well...

It's fun taping stuff off my Satalite and onto my Canon ZR-10 dv cam to miniDV
tapes. Since I have plenty stock of these, I just record w/out stopping at times.
Some tapes,I keep for much longer period of time, and sometimes months later, I can
go back and re-capture the footage form miniDV tapes in analog AVI and re-do my
encoding. So, I guess I have the opportunity to test my prev encoding process
again my current one. And, I can see my results. The more tapes I have, the less
I will have to record over them, and less I have to shuffle them with age, etc.
...if that makes any sense to you.

As far as DVD-to-DV-to-firewire-harddrive goes, quality is virtually
indistingquishable (spelling) I did some scenes of the "The Matrix" and compared
it to my DVD rip and I virtually couldn't tell the difference. But, who would go
this route, unless you are one of those who visits friends that WONT lend their
DVDs out, and so, they have to use their DV cam in this mannor. But, then, this
is not legal, and I don't advise anyone to do it.
It looks to me that DVD vs. TV broadcast's color quality are not the same.
They are different.

Just to note, that TMPG and CCE don't know how to DECODE DV color or is it DV
source. Well, color is the bottom line here. So, don't assume tat by
checking either one of these options/settings that it's main or nly purpose is
to fix DV color space issues. Neither one was ment for DV. OK? The only thing
that TMPG and CCE are doing for you w/ these color settings is altering HOW it
handles color based on a scale. Sometimes, it, by chance or coensidence, helps
in the final encode quality, and sometimes it don't.

I do know one thing though, and that is. . . that
even though I tape to miniDV tapes, and that I capture analog'wise to AVI, that I
do realize that once I record to miniDV tapes, there is in fact some minor quality
loss, but barely noticable at all, but I can live with this. BUT, one you send
the DV AVI file to CCE or TMPG, it has to DECODE this rouce file before it can
encode it. It is here, where an additional drop in quality is had and more noticable.
Basically, the quality I'm getting from my analog catpure off my Canon ZR-10 dv cam
is the same quality as if I connected the dv cam to my TV. That's the same quality
I'm getting out of this process, and is what I base my whole record/miniDV/capture/
encoding process quality.

yg1968, maybe as time goes by, and some things improve in the DV world,
INCLUDING my process, I'll go and give DV another go. But, for now, I'm very
happy with my routine. On occassion, I do play around with DV-to-firewire, etc.
So, you never know.

So, beleive me you, the method I am currently using, imo, is the best method for
the best overall color quality in an encode. This is my subjective opinion.

>> You need about 12 gig an hour for DV. You are better off capturing the DV and
>> transfering it to mpeg. You also need Windows XP in order to avoid the 2 gig
>> problem.
Nop! I have Windows 98, and FAT32 turned on, so I have 4g per 18min. of transfer.
For my needs, this is more than enought. And, I have gone this route in my prvious
DV endeavors, But, since I do use this currently, it doesn't really all that matter
much anyways. But, still, I have no problems with 4g limit vs. XP no-limit.
Whatever method I choose to use, I can get by plenty, w/ no troubles. It's only
when an inexperienced person embarks on this DV or Analog, that peoples here will
tell them that the 2g or 4g limi of windows is not the way to go - just plain
hogwash! If you know what you're doing, as I do, then you needent worry about the
limits, whatever they may be. If you're one to stumble on this, and listen to
people, hence not making any progress, then you just don't have it yet. I could
give you the answer, but I want YOU to figure out the, "I CAN go ahead and
capture. . ." So, until then, GO FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!! ...w/out doing a
lot of "what-if's" you'll be stuck on the "basic princepals" Time to start doing
those "what if's"

back to post...
proroc
I can't comment on the Dazzle DV Bridge, but again, it's about DV, so... based on
my experience with DV (using my DV cam, same thing right?) you'll get GOOD results,
but that is dependant on your source.
* What is your source, VHS? Cable? Satalite? home-movies?, etc.
IF you purpose w/ DV Bridge is for VHS tapes, ie, store bought materials, then
maybe you should look at your experience first. If you not an experience encoder,
you probably wont be satisfied with your results. If you purpose is is capturing
(firewireing) source like Satalite, then I would say, you'll be better satisfied
with it for that purpose. But, time will tell for your experience - juggling the DV
Bridge vs. encoding, etc. It takes a lot of "trial and error" when you first start
this way. At least, this is how it happened w/ me, and 1 1/2 years later, I'm much
happier now than I was WAY back then. Read lots of materials. To you left, there
is a FAQ link. Read as much as you can on DV, and do searches on DV on this FORUM.
You'll see lots of posts, including mine.
proroc, remember, that whether your ource is DV avi or analog AVI, they are
source materials to be encoded. As such, don't blame the DV Bridge on your fauts,
but blame your process and/or encoding abilities. There is a lot more to it,
than just encoding, you know. You have to have an eye for detail, ie know the
level of quality of your source. Don't assume that just because its DV that you
should be getting DVD quality. Many people here make that mistake, nd are
disapointed. Treat your DV Bridge outputed AVI as any other source material, ie
analog or even DVD va dvd2avi *.d2v as source. It all depends on the quality of
the source BEING captured or firewired. So, if you can, look closely at your
source material after you have captured it. TIP, use vdub, and set to 2x or 4x
and see if you can see any blocks in your AVI as your step through it frame by
frame, mostly in fast scenes will you notice any blocks. But don't blame your DV
Bridge for this, as it didn't produce them, rather the TV broadcaster did, due
to their low pre-process or encoding or whatever.

Despite what I said in my earlier post here, I still think that DV is a good means
to source your videos to be encoded.

Anyways, I'm currently doing some VHS movies (store bought) of a BUG's life
and Antz analog'wise, via my ATW card. Ben working on my "filer chain" and
to work on another sample clip to upload for you's all to download at VHELPs Sample....

Sorry for being so anal here, but hay, it's the start of the weekend, and I was due
for my usual, long posting.

Well, I hope I've ben of some help here. Have an nice evening all.

-vhelp

[Greg12]

I have it and i luv it.

I had to reformat to install though, something got messed up in XP and it said I needed to install a AV/C Subunit controller driver.

I reformatted and installed XP pro again and no problems. I luv this device, I get very very few dropped frames and a good quality.

I wish i could capture lower than 720x480 with it.

[yg1968]

vhelp,

I only recently read your post. I didn't mean to offend you. My comment about Windows XP and hard disc space was actually meant as a general comment to anyone. I did not want to create two posts: one for you and one for others. The 2, 4 gig question comes up a lot. So I thought it was worth mentionning. I know that there is a work around for this problem (creating multiple files, etc).

I am not as fussy as you are on colour. So I am happy with DV and I think that most people are happy with it also. You are lucky that analog capturing works for you but for many others analog captures means audio sync problems and dropped frames (which is what I get with my ATI AIW). DV transfers rarely have these problems. So it is a good solution for most people.

Anyways, your posts was informative on the problems that TMPGEnc has with colours from DV.

[vhelp]

yg1968,

you didn't offend me
I let people say what they want, even if it seems to insult. Who
cares. Anyways,

About the audio sync issues via analog capturing. The main reason
why I don't have audio sync issues is because I DON'T capture a
whole project in one gulp!! People presume that they HAVE to, or MUST,
but they DON'T!! Neither do YOU!
I capture in as min. as 5-10 min (TV) or that low or 20 minutes to
1/2 hour segments. Never audio sync issues!! Never!!

Color:
If you go the DV Firewire route, and you use TMPG to encode it,
you need to turn on the YUV in TMPG to correct the color from DV's
codec.
If you are feeding DV into vdub, and you have the MainConcept's
codec installed, and vdub is using it, even though you feed it into
TMPG, you still have to correct the color via TMPG. The color looks
fine in vdub, cause the color is being corrected (to an extent) via
the DV codec. Once it leave vdub, and head into an encoder, ie, TMPG
or CCE for instance, you need to adjust the color by the above method.
If you are satisfied with the color washout, then that's ok for you.

But, I mostly am working on my VHS-to-DC10+to-CVD and the color issue
of this card. This card performs very well so far. I've manged to
get the color very close, but on most of the tapes that I tested on
so far.

Anyways, back to DV.
CCE suffer the same issue w/ DV color as TMPG does. You have to turn
on the [x] 0-255 box in CCE to get the correct color space.
It's not really correct, but just another level in the color space,
TMPG and CCE.

-vhelp