Canopus ADVC300 - software?!

[Pixelrage]

I've finally gotten the ADVC300 and it's all hooked up, then I realized that it actually comes with no capture software. I remember seeing someone here say that Virtualdub does not work with it - what software would you recommend I use? I basically cannot use this thing until I find software.

I bought Roxio Creator Pro 2010 a year ago, that might be able to do it - but would rather get your recommendations. My sole purpose of getting the ADVC300 was to convert old VHS to .AVI files.

I'm using Vista Ultimate 64 if that means anything.

EDIT:
- Roxio doesn't detect the ADVC300 at all...so that option is out.
- Virtualdub isn't recognizing the ADVC300
- WinDV isn't recognizing the ADVC300

[DB83]

winDv

[Pixelrage]

Doesn't work at all - It's not recognizing the ADVC300. I'm using Vista Ultimate 64

[danno78]

DVio

[DB83]

Don't know anything about Vista but is the OS recognising the device ie do you get a notification when you turn it on ?

[Pixelrage]

The OS recognized and installed the drivers properly the first time I installed it - I was then able to install the Picture Controller software, which works fine.

[DB83]

You would need to set the video source under 'Capture from DV device' tab to Microsoft DV Camera and VCR.

You could also try Corel(Ulead) Video Studio as that also works fine over here with a ADVC300 although I normally do Mpeg2 transcoding with this sw rather than DV

[Pixelrage]

That's where I'm confused - the "Microsoft DV Camera and VCR" option doesn't even exist for me when I click "..." (see image):

I'll look into Corel Video Studio, I'm afraid that I'd buy it and that won't work as well this is extremely frustrating. I have emailed Grass Valley support and posted about this on their forum as well.

Thanks for helping out here! I'm really hoping someone here on Videohelp can figure it out - surely someone else must be running Vista Ultimate 64 and had encountered this issue.

[DB83]

Grass Valley (Canopus) will probably not help much. Whe I first bought the 300 I did contact them and was rather pertly reminded that this is not a capture device. But no obvious reason why it should not work with Vista.

Corel have a try-before-you-buy so nothing to lose there.

Have you tried it in stand-alone mode rather than in PC mode ? The Picture Controller software will not work then but maybe, just maybe, that is the villain.

[hech54]

Seeing as you cannot undo the trashing and low rating you gave this FREE program in the comments section....why are you still wasting your time on it?

[Pixelrage]

I figured as much - I've been searching Google for solutions and have been seeing complaints about their customer service.

About stand alone mode, the switch was actually pre-set to "off" (meaning not in PC mode) by default!

[Pixelrage]

Seeing as you cannot undo the trashing and low rating you gave this FREE program in the comments section....why are you still wasting your time on it?

If warning others that it doesn't work with Vista 64 is "trashing", then I don't know what to tell you. All I know is that I can't get this to work.

[DB83]

Bit confused right now. If the switch was set to off i.e not in PC mode, then how did the Picture Controller Software work ?

Do you get a picture in the preview window ?

Is it still set to 'off' ?

[Pixelrage]

Correct - it's set to "off", but Picture Controller still opens. The preview window is nothing but a black box, though:


(screenshot taken with video running)

[DB83]

Firstly - try the silver button on the top of the box to switch the input source analogue/digital

if this does not work....

1. turn off ADVC
2. set switch to PC mode
3. turn on ADVC
4. Turn on Picture controller - hit the OK key (that will switch the input source in PC mode)
5 Turn the Picture Controller back on and select the preview - you should now see a picture

If you see a picture then there is no reason why WinDv will not work. The lack of picture is the issue not the program.

Of course, it could also be a drivers issue. There was no Vista when I bought mine.

[Pixelrage]

Thanks again for your suggestions -

The unit was always in Analog, but I tried Digital with the same results.

I also tried the PC mode/picture controller 5 step process you've listed to no avail - still the same issue, a black screen. I suppose I'll see if I get a response on Grass Valley's site. Otherwise, I'm at a loss, here...

[DB83]

Me too. But the other, obvious question, is that you have your connections from VCR to the Canopus correct ?

I can not put my hand on my user manual right now but IIRC there are also some other switches that may have to be set for NTSC. However I thought most were factory set and I just altered mine for PAL.

[Pixelrage]

Yes - I'm 100% confident on the connections with the firewire & s-video. I've quadruple checked them, since most issues come from stupid mistakes like connecting cables.

The NTSC one was defaulted for me on the back of the unit.

[edDV]

The ADVC-300 is capable of all feature adjustments from the panel buttons (see manual). I agree with others here that WinDV is the most reliable capture/transfer software for DV source including any ADVC.

That given, your issue is with the ADVC-300 specific "Picture Controller 300" remote control software and whether it works with Win7 64bit. That question to GVG (Canopus) should be answered. Be ready to deal with a yes or no answer.

In the meantime try the "Compatibility Mode" options in executive file properties. Try XP SP2 first.

[DB83]

Found the manual now. The other switch for NTSC is No 5.

One final thought. Do you have a way to check the connections from VCR as composite rather than S-video ?

It is always a possibility that the issue is at the VCR end

[DB83]

My final thought before I put out the stocking for Santa to fill.

Just for one minute discount the working or non-working of either the ADVC or any attached software. For whatever reason there is no video signal being displayed. So from the point of view of a process of elimination be 1000% sure that the VCR is actually outputing a signal by connecting it to other equipment - all these connections look the same yet it really is so easy to put the cable in to an input socket rather than an output one.

Then once you are 1000% satisfied that the VCR is working then go to the other end of the cable. Again, with identical inputs and outputs on the ADVC - the inputs are on the front (same side as the output for the IEEE cable - it would not be impossible to confuse them.

Hope you solve it.

[edDV]

Also try all on a separate 32bit XP/Vista/Win7 computer to eliminate 64 bit issues.