Which converter?

Hello everyone,

I have just joined this forum but I have been browsing the past posts for a few weeks trying to find out if my questions are answered anywhere. I have found lots of useful information here, so thanks for that.

I basically wnat to convert my old anologue VHS tapes and Hi8 tapes into digital format so that I can burn them to DVD. I have been searching to find the correct product for ages. But I still can't decide, so can you help.

I have narrowed it down to two options the Pinnacle Studio AV/DV deluxe or maybe the SNAZZI* DV.AVIO. My budget is about £130. I was going to buy the Pinnacle but only a small percentage of people seem to like this product.

Can anyone help. Or does anyone have any other hardware ideas that i can purchase?

Thanks in advance,
Pez

 

What Made you think those 2 products were any Good?? First off any Hardware that Pinnacle Makes that costs less than $1000 is going to Suck and the Pinnacle AV/DV Deluxe is well known for haveing really bad sync problems....

The Snazzy Device is a Better one but it still has some DrawBacks Like it doesn"t have an audio Lock feature which means that there is a Chance you will experience Sync Problems and I"m not 100% sure on this But going from the sofware that is Bundled with it it seems that the Mpeg-1/2 capture is Software Based and not hardware Based....

A simular Device for a about the same Price which might be More to your Likeing is the "Canopus ACEDVio" which has the audio Lock Feature so there is never any Chance of any sync Problems in your Captured Files and it uses the Best In Class Hardware DV Encoder Chip which produces Exelent captures.....

Either way I would NOT get the Pinnacle Device and I would Consider the Snazzy device which actually seems like a good device accept for the Lack of the audio Lock Feature....

Cheers

 

How about a hardware mpeg-2 device, such as the Hauppauge PVR USB-2?

 

thanks for the replies,

I picked those products because they have got good reviews in mags and on some internet websites. But having read a couple of other threads in this forum I have to consider the canopus product, but i was looking at ADVC 110. Does the internal one capture in DV or AVI. Because I didn't realise how long it takes to encode the avi into a format that will fit onto tha dvd.

Does the Hauppauge PVR USB-2 produce good quality video? That was the only reason why I didnt consider that. But I'm probably wrong.

Thanks for your time.

 

First, DV is avi.
Second, that's the only format the Canopus ADVC-110 uses.
Third, these files will then have to be encoded, adding substantial time to the process, but...with the right encoder and settings, you can get superb DVD's.
The hauppauge usb device encodes the video directly to mpeg-2 via hardware, thus allowing the computer to do other things during capture.
Quality can be tweaked to DVD quality easily (with the right software), and it's much faster than the other method.

 

rebootjim, Minion
What kind of encoders do you suggest/reccomend? Does Adobe have encoding software? , because I can get software by Adobe. I remember you mentioning Procoder by Canopus, is that a good one?

I was looking at the ACEDVio and does not have any component conections for the audio, but my camcorder only has component and S-video. So how would I connect the audio to this device?

http://www.canopus-uk.com/UK/products/ACEDVio/pt_ACEDVio.asp

For me to produce a dvd from my Hi8 tapes is this the process, if I was using Canopus ACEDVio.

Capture
Edit
Encode
Burn
Enjoy?

Oh yeah, I almost purchased the pinnacle product yeaterday, but then I remembered this thread.

Thanks V Much

 

IIRC, Adobe uses Mainconcept's encoder engine (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). A good choice.
Edit: http://www.mainconcept.com/adobemedia/adobe_media_faq.html

No matter what device you get, the audio is piped from the cam, to the input on your sound card in the computer. It's direct. It's the video that needs either software or hardware (or both) to work.

Your cam has composite and s-video outputs, so the hauppauge USB device would work extremely well.

The process you describe, would be if using a "soft" device, that records to your hard drive in .avi format. It's process would be:
Capture
(Edit) optional
Encode
(Edit) optional
Author
Burn
Enjoy
This process will take between 5 and 50 hours, per 2 hour capture.

The Hauppauge records in mpeg-2 format, so the process would be:
Capture
Edit
Author
Burn
Enjoy!
This process will take between 3 and 5 hours, per 2 hour capture, up to 10x faster, because you don't have to encode the video, the hardware does it for you, on-the-fly.

The ACEDVio is a very high quality device, with audio lock, etc.
If you have the time to do all the encoding, you can get superb quality video DVD's this way.
Price prohibitive! $359 for the bare card!

(Somehow I was thinking you were using a laptop?)

If this is a desktop PC, go get a Hauppauge PVR-250, and start your project. It comes with all the software you need, to capture, edit, author and burn.

 

Hi, The ACEDVio has RCA Audio inputs for Analogue Audio...The Inputs are on the Breakout Cable which comes with the Card....

I have seen the Canopus ACEDVio on E-Bay New for as Low as $175 US for the Bare Card with a $245 "Buy it Now" Price but that was a couple of Months ago....

 

Thanks for the replies, its much appreciated.

I have decided to go for the Hauppauge product, I recently read a review for this,
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/70705/hauppauge-wintvpvrusb2.html

they said its pretty good, but they also said the Pinnacle was good.
If theres not much difference in price between the 250 and 350 should I get the 350 or is it not worth the extra money.?

rebootjim,
I have Desktop PC,
Pentium 4 3.4ghz,
1gb ram
300gb hard drive and Geforce 6600 graphics card.

Minion,
I had a look on e-bay (uk) but that device is not currently for sale, they do have ADVC 110 though. I love to get that product but I'm sure i would become frustrated with the amount of time it would take me to produce the final product. Plus I have loads of tapes I want to convert.

I will have a look at the local pc shops this weekend, and i'll let you guys knows the outcome.

Thanks again.

 

You don't really need the 350 for anything. The 250 or the USB2 are good choices.
If it's going into a desktop, get the 250. If you want it portable, to a laptop, or a friends computer, get the USB.
The 350 has hardware mpeg-2 DEcoding, so it can output mpg's to your TV.
Your video card probably already has video out, so you don't need the 350, and it's video out is limited anyhow.

 

Hello everyone,

I brought a snazzi dv premier pro avio edition SN1615.my system is p4,2.4gh Asus p4s800-mx board,512mb ram 400bus, i have broblum with tv out. Transition effects are out with thrilling.can anyone help me what is the problum.



Thanks in advance,

 

Hi pezzer:
Maybe I´m late to answer but here it goes...
I just bought a ADS VIDEO XPRESS on eBay.
It arrive on the 26th...
Plugged in...installed the software...IT WORKED ON THE FIRST TRY!!!
With this ADS i also use ULEAD VIDEO STUDIO 9 and ULEAD VIDEO MOVIE FACTORY. The second program comes with the ADS, the first one doesn´t.
The ADS works with NTSC and PAL

Good luck

n0v0n

 

N0v0n, thanks for your enthusiasm, and your advertising for ADS, but please, do not give poor advice to every post on these forums.
The ADS may work for you, great. It is not the best, and not everyone want's to buy more gear than they already own.

If you're happy with the ADS, and Ulead, that's also great.
Personally, I won't ever use either of those, and I have tested them before.

Your opinions are noted.

 

REBOOTJIM:
I think that my suggestions are not off-hand.
I can only state what works and for the least amount of money.
If you can spend thousands of dollars (or any other kind of money) do so.
MY question to you his:
Why are you so negative about these products?
What can you suggest?
What ype of program or equipment do you suggest to a question that I ssimply posted and you came unglued.
ARE YOU THE GOD OF THIS FORUM?
Everyone on this site wants information, suggestions and advice.
That´s what forums are for.
Don´t insult my intelligence, please

n0v0n

 

n0v0n: What Works for you doesn"t work for everybody as if you Look Back the Last Couple of Years of Posts you will Find that there are Many more poeple who have Problems with "ADS" Devices than have found them Good devices.....

The Poeple who have been useing this Forum for many Years know that ReebootJim and Me and a Few others who have been on this Board for several Years have experience with Video related Matters not only as a Hobby but have worked with Video on a Professinal Level and Value our Advice because they Know that we have a very advanced Knowlege in this area...

It is not that what you are Saying is Wrong or that anyone is Trying to Insult your Inteligence but you have to realize that there are going to be Poeple who know more than you do because of Experience and that what works for you doesn"t mean it will work for everybody and when over the Last couple years you have Heard so many Poeple Complaining about problems with there ADS Capture Devices you have a Hard time Recomending it to someone ......

Cheers

 

hi n0v0n,

Thanks for the reply, but I have already purchased the PVR-250, which I think is pretty good. I have not however spent too much time tweaking settings etc yet. I have captured footage from my hi8 camcorder and I think its actually better quality than recording straight onto VHS.

Thanks

 

REBOOTJIM & MINION:

Don´t tell me that U don´t have people with problems with such products as Haupgage and others.

That is why when I built my computers I only choose what worked and continues working for me.
In my opinion ASUS mobos really suck and all the others too...except ABIT. I like ABIT and will continue using ABIT.
I aldo use AMD over INTEL (yakk!!).
I use NERO over ROXIO.
I don´t use YAHOO, GOOGLE etc. I use COPERNIC to search all of these in one simple step.
I use IE and not NETSCAPE.
I used to use MIRC until it turned out to becomne crap.
Yes, I used many other things since they came to be something, like MICROSOFT. I like MICROSOFT...I saw MICROSOFT be born. I don´t like LINUX and will never use LINUX.
As a matter of fact one of you mentioned that ADS DVD XPRESS (comes with ULEAD)was crap, however when one of the noobies bought a card or device that included ULEAD...it became respectable.
Let´s raise the white flag and call for peace. This is a forum, we are all here for the same purpose...knowledge and advice.
Therefore I am calling this subject to an end.

Thank you

n0v0n
every rule has an exception...

 

And you're completely entitled to your opinion...
What we're trying to convey, is that you posted in 15 consecutive posts, that the answer to everyones problem is the ADS device you own.
It's not. Period.
I've been building computers since before you were born (probably), and you couldn't even purchase a Tandy or Commodore, because they hadn't been invented yet.
When I build computers, I also have my opinions on what works best, and what to avoid, but I don't shove my opinions down everyone's throat in 15 consecutive posts.

I will now let you have the last word.

 

REBOOTJIM:
Tandy was my first personal PC...4MBs of RAM...remember
I was introduced to computers in the 60s...big huge IBMs...
I am conveying nothing. All I am saying is that every single person that has a problem with ADS...might not be reading the instructions.
My first try did not work either.
If the other hardware or software works...I am really happy for you guys. However it seems to me that you are still having problems...or you would not be posting your questions over here...right?

n0v0n
every rule has an exception

 

Least but not last...
REBOOTJIM & MINION, what would be your suggestion for me to buy?
I am willing to go out and buy your suggestion...and try it.
I am open for suggestions.
I am building a new PC solely for the purpose of copying and editing VHSs & DVDs and produce my own entertainment DVDs.
By the way, another way to convert your VHS (home) videos (that are not locked) is to hook them directly from the VCR to a DV CAMCORDER (i.e. CANON ZR 90).
Then you use one of the editing softwares available and edit the movie and burn it to a DVD(Idon´t dare to say ULEAD...you´ll kill me).

8>)

n0v0n
every rule has an exception



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