Volume Controls on a canopus ADVC300

[billycar]

I have some underlying noise in my setup ... in Final Cut Express 4, it shows up as audio bars of about a half inch in height, when playing back the captured video. I can also hear it during periods of blank tape input in the basic canopus ADVC software Preview.

Here's my hardware setup:

VHS Tape into Zenith XBV342 DVD Player/Video Cassette Recorder (RCA L/R and Video connectors) > canopus ADVC-300 (FW Output) > Quicksilver 2002 Dual 1GHz (Capture using FCE4)

Analog audio to/from my Quicksilver, and other sources at other times, is connected to a Mackie 1402 VLZPro in a configuration that allows Output from the PCI audio card, an M-Audio 2496, to be mixed in with other audio In, and sent to the Mac, as a mixed Input. Here's the actual article that gave me this great setup:
http://www.ethanwiner.com/mixer2daw.html

Another article by the same author, Ethan Winer, discusses Hum and Buzz:
http://www.ethanwiner.com/dimmers.html

Wondering if anyone here has experience with the canopus ADVC-300 and VHS recorders and a Quicksilver 2002 (or similar Mac), that can help isolate the problem? I've tried using different wall plugs for the canopus and VHS Tape Deck, separating them from the QS and Mixer (and other wall warts).

I'm looking at the Quicksilver as the possible source ... I can see a repetitive slight spiking as if something is running, making some interference noise ... maybe fans? ... also the Zenith player is a bit clunky sounding ...

With Soundflower linking my computers audio through Live, I can see more as to what is going on:
http://cycling74.com/products/soundflower/

I notice when I turn down the Volume in ADVC, the software that sets parameters for the canopus ADVC300, the noise goes down very low ... except I need to set it to 25-50%. I suppose that's ok?

I also can set "Variable Signal Levels" on my M-Audio 2496 to -10dBv, and that further reduces the level of noise.

Am I just turning everything down, so if I raise the digitized audio later in FCE 4, I'm just going to raise the level again? Haven't really solved the problem?

"Listening" to my Quicksilver with Live via Soundflower, the noise doesn't appear to be there. If I remember correctly, it showed up on my PowerMac 8500 ... could see it just jumping around via Live.

Now focused on the canopus ADVC300 app parameters ... I think its coming from there ... something is set too high ... Main Window > Volume or Options > Audio > Volume ...

Suggestions welcomed. Is there an article discussing the several types of Volume Settings on the canopus ADVC300?

Thanks

[lordsmurf]

Putting an audio mixer board between VCR/cam and the ADVC should be a great idea

Some more info, for those that are interested:
There's a recent thread that discusses audio boards in a high quality tape to DVD workflow.
Buy a Behringer mixer for only $60 (awesome price): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J5XS3C?ie=UTF8&tag=thdifa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=17...SIN=B000J5XS3C

If you're getting noise, maybe there's something wrong with the mixer? Power line noise, maybe?

[billycar]

Can't quite figure the best way to do this.

I did try sending the VCR to the mixer, then got the canopus ADVC300 to accept audio from my Delta Audiophile 2496 ... not sure how it did that, as the only way my Mac is connected to the ADVC300 is via FW. Maybe it channels the digitized audio from the Audiophile 2496, and merges it with the video? calling it the ADVC300's outputvia its software. I did select the Audiophile as the Audio's Source.

I thought the sound wasn't quite the same ... sounded a little like an echo might be involved ... but the VHS tape I am using has sounds such as these on the recording ... probably not the best for testing my setup.

I could then use the mixers multiple control knobs to adjust the audio ...

Still have not figured a way to send the audio from the mixer back to the canopus box, yet ... maybe that would be a next experiment, and is really what was being suggested above.

Have to admit, I'm a novice at this ... fast learner ... but a new to it.

Suggestions welcomed.

[billycar]

Oh ... the way I am capturing now, FCE4 outputs a .mov file. Is this the best?

I thought earlier experiments with iMovie 5 gave me files with a .dv suffix.

Then my new iDVD (from iLife 9) would not have to convert ... or does it?

A bit perplexed ...

[2Bdecided]

If the levels are too high, you need an external mixer - not the mixer of the 2496. It's a software mixer - it doesn't change the levels before the ADC, so won't prevent clipping. Looping through the PC and out again might introduce a delay - that's the last thing you want went capturing video+audio!

Sounds like you need to fix an interference issue though.

Cheers,
David.

[edDV]

I wouldn't use the ADVC-300 to set audio levels. Do it in the analog mixer before A/D.

I have a Mackie 1202 VLZ in my capture loop with no noise issues. I can configure it to feed VHS audio to an ADVC-100 then Firewire into a MAC or Windows machine. The Mackie sets audio levels and equalization.

It is important to run all components off the same circuit breaker to control hum noise.

[billycar]

Could you explain the connections to your mackie? That is what I basically have ... and looks like that would solve my problem.

Connect the VCR to mackie ports, mackie ports to the ADVC, and the ADVC to the Mac/PC with FW. Also connect the mackie to the Mac/PC for audio In (not used in the Capture).

Adjust the levels by:

(not sure what to use as "EQ" has several sets of knobs targeting different levels of something ...)

I think the noise is coming from the VCR and Tape ... something that might not be avoidable.

[lordsmurf]

yes = Connect the VCR to mackie ports, mackie ports to the ADVC, and the ADVC to the Mac/PC with FW.

[edDV]

Could you explain the connections to your mackie? That is what I basically have ... and looks like that would solve my problem.
Connect the VCR to mackie ports, mackie ports to the ADVC, and the ADVC to the Mac/PC with FW. Also connect the mackie to the Mac/PC for audio In (not used in the Capture).

My connections vary by project but yes

VCR/Camcorder (audio) -> Mackie -> ADVC ----Firewire-----> Mac/PC

I use the ADVC for audio A/D (to 16bit 48KHz PCM stereo). This keeps audio in sync with video.

I monitor audio off the ADVC for input and playback monitoring from the editor. This allows monitoring the digital audio.

Premiere/Vegas/FinalCut all allow timeline A/V monitoring via the IEEE-1394 port. This avoids the computer analog audio system entirely.

ADVC input mode monitors the Mackie output just before A/D.
ADVC output mode monitors the editor timeline (audio and video) post D/A.

Adjust the levels by:
(not sure what to use as "EQ" has several sets of knobs targeting different levels of something ...)
I think the noise is coming from the VCR and Tape ... something that might not be avoidable.

Yes the analog EQ (low-mid-high frequency) in the Mackie can be adjusted to optimize voice vs. noise. I leave these flat if I'll be doing computer audio enhancement. VCR audio quality varies. The linear tracks can be very bad but the Hi-Fi tracks can be very good.