Dumb question about Canopus ADVC110

[Foxhack]

I recently picked up one of these devices for a dollar, tested it with Virtualdub at a friend's place (since his computer is old enough to have a Firewire port as standard!), and it worked fine. Since it's got S-Video + RCA inputs, I plan to use this device to capture some old VHS tapes I've got lying around.

My question is - can this device transfer a lossless video signal to a PC?

I mean, I know DV is somewhat lossy due to the way the format works. But since this thing is basically a passthrough, I had hoped it would actually work with the firewire cable the same way USB capture devices work - by converting the analog signal into something Virtualdub can handle.

But I don't know. Hence my question. I'm dumb, eheh.

Thanks.

[manono]

If you wanted lossless then you should have gotten something else. Canopus boxes are designed for DV-AVI only. Yes, you can then convert to lossless with VDub, but not without going through DV first. Most people actually use WinDV for capping with a Canopus box. I know I do.

[Foxhack]

If you wanted lossless then you should have gotten something else. Canopus boxes are designed for DV-AVI only. Yes, you can then convert to lossless with VDub, but not without going through DV first. Most people actually use WinDV for capping with a Canopus box. I know I do.

... In my defense, I did say it cost me one dollar.

I didn't know what DV really was until I got this device. I mean I'd heard it was a connection standard, but I didn't know if it was truly lossless or not.

Ah well. Guess I'll just sell the thing off on eBay and use the money to buy something else. Thank you.

[pippas]

Ah well. Guess I'll just sell the thing off on eBay and use the money to buy something else. Thank you.

I would seriously consider buying the 'something else' before you sell the Canopus box.
Although you will find some folk who don't like DV converters here on the forum, there are those of us who do think a Canopus DV converter can offer one of the best ways (short of a full blown 'pro' approach) of digitising VHS tapes.

At the moment, you're only $1 down -- keep the Canopus box for the present..
By all means look for 'something else', and try it out. If it does turn out to give better results... then sell the Canopus box.

Not before...some of these 'something else' devices are not always quite what they're cracked up to be....