Has anyone tried the Pinnacle Linx USB capture cable?

[q1aqza]

I still can't decide which capture device to buy for capturing in SVCD or DVD res from my old VHS tapes. (Can't decide between ADVC-100 or a WinTV PVR)

As a short term interim/test I was considering the Pinnacle Linx USB cable which would interface with my existing Studio 7. It only captures 320x240 but that should be ok for VCD.

I would be interested to hear of people's experience with it?

[bgard08]

I am still a relative newbie and in the early days of playing with it but so far it looks good. I've also been able to capture at higher than advertised rates. I would also note that the accompanying Studio 7 SE software is pretty slick and easy to use.

[MANUMAX]

I've seen too the PINNACLE LINX Cable whit the STUDIO 7 SE. I Want capture from a 8 mmm camcorder to a laptop (OS WIN-XP-HE; HD 30 GB, 256 MB Ram, graffic card - 32 MB video memory, etc.). Somebody tell me that this product is no good because it only captures slowly, at 320x240, and loose quality when we need to see on a tv screen, because it needs expanding the images, or something like that. Now BGARD08 says that is a good product. Have you record your films on a CD? wich format you used? VCD or SVD? Please tell me more about your experience.
I'm sorry. My Inglish is not very good. I hope you understand my message.

[bgard08]

My experiences are minimal as I'm still a newbie, but I'll tell you what I know.

First, my specs:

Athalon 1700+
512MB DDR RAM cas 2
80GB Samsung 5400RPM
64MB GForce 2 MX200
Panasonic D311 DVD-R burner
Win XP pro
Linx w/Studio 7 SE
neoDVD
Nero 5.5.8.2

First Linx was inexpensive, $45 delivered in two days to my door from here: http://www.provantage.com/scripts/cart.dll/f/fp_68367/add/PINH00A

Next, Linx and the studio software installed easily, no problems on the system.

My first project was two japanese animes at about 50 min. each. Following the advice from here: http://forum.vcdhelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=98152
I customized the capture settings in Studio to YUV2, 352x288 and captured the two videos and converted both to MPEG1, used neoDVD to add a menu and author the MPEG1 into the acceptable VIDEO_TS directory structure and used Nero to burn to DVD. Results most acceptable but anime is hardly a demanding medium (who knows if the video and audio is actually synching? ).

IMO the Linx is great for home video conversion and relatively low quality VHS conversion. The limitation on resolution at 352x288 (due to bandwidth of USB) makes high quality VHS action film capture or DVD capture impossible. But if all one is doing are home movies, the solution should be fine.

In other words, whether the Linx is a good or a bad product rather depends on what you are using the product for.

[Greg12]

I have a Dell Inspirion 8100 and had the same problem. It has a firewire card, but my video camera only does digital out, it can't do A-D conversions.

So I looked around, I tried a Dazzle DVC 80 and I hate it.

then i finally found the Dazzle Hollywood DV bridge. It is wonderful, using firewire, it has a 400 meg bandwith so frames don't get dropped often. The only program is, only Pinnicle and Adobe can use it, some other programs can, but you have to manually switch it to A-D.

Now Adobe is wonderful for capturing just audio, however I get alot of hissing and clicking.

So I use Pinnicle which is great, no hissing however I can't capture only audio.

So I use preview quality, except it's broadcast TV and it detects the flucuations in the signal as time code changes and stops recording.

[MANUMAX]

What you mean when you sad " IMO the Linx is great for home video ...."? What is IMO? As I sad I need this cable to capture video from my 8mm video camcorder, edit and burn a VCD or SVD. Have you this experience or know something about it? The final quality of de CD film is good as de 8mm video? All I want is the same quality and not be came lower than the 8mm video film.

[bgard08]

Sorry amigo, as I stated I'm a newbie too and I can't give you definitive answers at this time. As I stated you have a limitation of capture bandwidth that in turn limits the resolution you can capture at. This seems to be quite adaquate for for video that doesn't require high capture resolutions e.g. the majority of home video shot on VHS. Will it do the trick on 8mm? I don't know, I haven't tried it yet.

[MANUMAX]

OK BGARD08, thanks anyway. I've tryed some information on www.sharbor.com. Look at the topics " 8mm VIDEO CAPTURE TO A LAPTOP " and see what DALE ROETHIG sad. I'll look around and I'll tell you if learn some more about this. OK?

[MANUMAX]

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