ADS Instant USB vs Video Card

[ScarboroughGuy]

I can really use someone's help.

Two days ago I went and purchased ADS's Instant DVD capturing box. I have 28 days more to decide if whether or not I will keep it.

So far I have captured clips from shows on television and from my VCR but when I burn the VCDs to disk and put them in my standalone dvd player, I am always disappointed because the quality is worse than an analog vcr tape. I don't understand. The audio/video sync has been rectified after downloading the 2.2 version of CapWiz from ADS but the quality of the VCD leaves little to be desired insofar as trying to get rid of some of my VCR tapes.

HOWEVER

Here is my main problem right now (althought any assistance to the above is appreciated as well).

I have noticed that whenever I open a large program that requires lots of video memory, it either takes a while to open or the video can be blotchy. So I got to thinking that perhaps it is time to buy another video card with more memory.

BUT THEN

I started to thinking that why do I need the ADS Instant DVD when I can buy a video card that does what ADS Instant DVD does plus gives me more memory at the same time.

All I want to do is bring in my analog VHS tapes and turn them into VCDs (I don't know that much about SVCD) and one day DVDs when I get a DVD burner.

Is there a video card out there that does this?

I could really use someone's help. And I also want to say that this is one of the best websites I think I have ever discovered. Thank God for newsgroups with helpful people.

I am pacing the floor and look forward to any help.

Take care,

[Anonymous65]

The amount of memory in your PC will have no effect on the video quality captured by the ADS. Most real-time hardware and software capture devices does a poor job at VCD and even on SVCD captures. The lower the bit rate, the worse a real-time device will look. If you capture 720x480 at 8Mb/sec with the ADS, the video will look great (or just as good as the source). However, caping at 1.1Mb/sec, the results are totally different.

So far, the best hardware encoder for VCD is the PV-231 PCI card. It comes close to Tmpgenc results. For SVCD, the PVR-250 PCI does a nice job.

However, nothing I have seen so far will top the video quality by video capture at 720x480 and software compressing it down to VCD or SVCD. However, this require a super fast PC with lots of hard drive space. If that is not an option for you, go with the PVR-250 for VCD/SVCD captures, and the PV-231 for VCD only captures. The ADS is only good for DVD captures (720x480 at 5Mb/sec and higher)

[ScarboroughGuy]

However, caping at 1.1Mb/sec, the results are totally different.

What does that mean? I thought USB 1.1 transferred at 1.5Mb/sec

USB bus provides two types of data transfer speed -- 1.5Mbps and 12Mbps and it can provide a maximum of 500mA of current to devices attached on the bus. All these features will only need one interrupt to operate on a computer equipped with USB ports.

This is from a USB explanation website.

What about just buying a video card? Are there any video cards that will capture like or better than the ADS USB Instant DVD? If there is a video card out there that will do what the ADS USB Instant DVD will do then I would just return the ADS device and replace it with an upgraded video card with more memory. I know the memory has nothing to do with the video quality. I only looked at increasing my memory because certain large graphic consuming programs seemed to take a while to open and etc.

Any help is appreciated as I am still pacing the floor not knowing what to do.

[ats65]

I also own an ADS IDVD. I have nothing but trouble with this unit. If you read some of the postings about this product, you will quickly find out that there are two main problems, artifacts (blocks) in the converted video and audio sync problem. You will need a timebase corrector to solve #1. Some people have no audio sync problem. Do you suffer from any of these problems. I stop using the unit and use an ATI7500 AIW to do all my captures. If I could, I would return the unit.

[Jester700]

I have an ADS IDVD and a Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB. VCDs on the Hauppauge are better, but still not up to TMPGEnc standards. I will put a page up this weekend with some comparisons. If I don't post the link here, remind me...

[ScarboroughGuy]

Hi,

Again, in case everyone wants to know what I am asking . . . . it is this:

Can I return my ADS USB Instant DVD and in its replacement, purchase a better video card (current card is 32MB) that will have the same capturing capabilities as the ADS USB Instant DVD? This way I can kill two birds with one stone (Upgrade my video card because I want to and incorporate VHS capturing capabilities as well)?

Please help.

[adamthole]

Terribly sorry. I couldnt read that. Could you put it in a larger font next time? Thanks.

[ScarboroughGuy]

Sorry if I offended anyone. Just hoping to get help and sometimes people misinterpret what a person is saying.

Sorry again if you were offended.

[subclubkid]

Your putting them on vcd from vhs and your wondering why it dosent look that good.

I have a Ads IDVD, and I love it. I also have a dvd burner though and dont put movies I care to watch on vcd. (vcd is made for porn)

I know some people here are masters at vcd and make it look just as good as dvd, but I would rather slap everything on dvd and be done with it.

[adamthole]

[quote="subclubkid"](vcd is made for porn)[quote]

LOL Also, do you have usb 1.1 or 2.0? I only have 1.1 right now and I ordered Ads Idvd. I was just wondering if it was possible to achieve that quality with 1.1, if it isnt possible, or if the usb version has nothing to do with it?

Also, If I capture it in dvd format, is it possible to convert it to svcd format, or windows media format? Or do I have to leave it in dvd format? Can vegas video read DVD Format? What is DVD Format? By that I mean .what? Thanks

ScarboroughGuy, sorry for being a prick. BUt out of curiosity how many m/sec did you capture at? And is it USB 1.1 or 2.0?

[ScarboroughGuy]

Hello everyone,

Never mind anymore. I just walked into my house with a bag from Best Buy. I returned my ADS USB Instant DVD and bought:

ATI All-In-One Wonder Radeon 8500 128MB Video Card

It has capturing capabilities so after I eat my lunch I will install it and see.

Thanks for all the help!