Which Canopus DV capture box is best?

[Knightmessenger]

I see multiple ones offered on amazon and I'm not sure which is best.

http://www.amazon.com/Canopus-77010150100-ADVC110-Converter/dp/B00030ATTO/ref=wl_it_dp...=3I07YG19ITNVR

http://www.amazon.com/Canopus-77010138100-ADVC-55-Converter-External/dp/B0006ZSQL4/ref...=3I07YG19ITNVR

Yes, I know DV capture is not as good as uncompressed. I have a PCI capture card but have not gotten it to work properly. I already have a different DV capture box from Pyro ADS but it drops frames like crazy. Meanwhile my dvd recorder handles just about all video with no problem. (sometimes the Pyro drops when the video is perfectly clean)

So basically, at this point I just want to have a better DV capture box (that captures rough video as well as a dvd recorder) and I have heard many times that the Canopus brand is the best for this aspect. So what version is recommended?

I've heard there is an advanced one with all sorts of video enhancement settings but they can't always be turned off. And careless noise removal can cause bad smearing and lose detail. Plus I can correct the color in vegas anyways?

Also, is it true what someone on amazon wrote about the Canopus box blocking copy protected stuff such as vhs movies with Macrovision?

[edDV]

I see multiple ones offered on amazon and I'm not sure which is best.

http://www.amazon.com/Canopus-77010150100-ADVC110-Converter/dp/B00030ATTO/ref=wl_it_dp...=3I07YG19ITNVR

http://www.amazon.com/Canopus-77010138100-ADVC-55-Converter-External/dp/B0006ZSQL4/ref...=3I07YG19ITNVR

Yes, I know DV capture is not as good as uncompressed. I have a PCI capture card but have not gotten it to work properly. I already have a different DV capture box from Pyro ADS but it drops frames like crazy. Meanwhile my dvd recorder handles just about all video with no problem. (sometimes the Pyro drops when the video is perfectly clean)

So basically, at this point I just want to have a better DV capture box (that captures rough video as well as a dvd recorder) and I have heard many times that the Canopus brand is the best for this aspect. So what version is recommended?

I've heard there is an advanced one with all sorts of video enhancement settings but they can't always be turned off. And careless noise removal can cause bad smearing and lose detail. Plus I can correct the color in vegas anyways?

Also, is it true what someone on amazon wrote about the Canopus box blocking copy protected stuff such as vhs movies with Macrovision?

Last thing first, the current ADVC models respect Macrovision. Older ADVC-100 models can be set to ignore Macrovision.

The ADVC-55 is a one way analog to DV format converter.

The ADVC-110 is a two way device that can also convert DV to analog composite or S-Video. DV output is very useful for monitoring an NLE timeline to a TV or broadcast CRT monitor giving a true indication of video quality. Computer display cards do not allow accurate monitoring without complex calibration. DV output is also useful for system calibration. You can adjust your monitor to accurate DV test signals on the NLE timeline. In adition, the ADVC-110 outputs an accurate color bar internally.

The ADVC-300 has all the features of the 110 plus a one line TBC, simple noise reduction and proc amp controls.

I use an ADVC-100. It has been stable under all conditions so far.

[bendixG15]

My old ADVC-100 easily ignored macrovision settings when I moved VHS content to DVD.

As a side note, had no dropped frames using WinDV and audio always stayed in sync.

[Vidd]

Get the 100 if you can still find it.

I bought the 110 as a backup to my 100, but found it has flawed macrovision detection that gives the light and dark effect for older self recorded tapes that don't have macrovision. I ended up returning it.

I recommend the 55 over the 110 as it did not have the contrast problem with older tapes. If you buy the 55 make sure you have a powered firewire port, otherwise you also need to buy the AC adaptor.

[lordsmurf]

I'd get this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006ZSQL4?ie=UTF8&tag=thdifa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=17...SIN=B0006ZSQL4
No reason for the higher models if you want DV input.

And use WinDV.

[edDV]

Only the early model ADVC-100 models had the MV override feature. Around 2005 the feature was deleted. Shop carefully.

[Knightmessenger]

I have to use a power source for the existing Pyro device. If I get the 55, will I need to buy a new power adapter or should the existing one I already have work. Or does it come with one?

Interestingly, I got my pyro box in 2003 and I have recorded off the Star Wars Phantom Menace and Empire Strikes unaltered dvd with no problems. I guess I already have something that doesn't detect copy protection. The vast majority of tapes I want to focus on converting were recorded with a video camera (mostly Hi8) anyways.