Feedback on Canopus ADVC-100

thad andrews

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Jul 11, 2003, 10:35:21 AM7/11/03

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Hi All,

I need your help. I have been contemplating purchasing the Canopus ADVC-100 capture card. I want to capture some video off my mini-DV camera. I read through the Canopus website, but wanted to make sure I was getting the right capture card for my needs. I don't think I need the real-time capturing feature. I want an external device that will hookup through firewire. I just need to capture the video through Premiere 6 and then edit it.
Please tell me about your experiences with this card or other cards you would suggest.

Sonny Donato

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Jul 11, 2003, 11:48:06 AM7/11/03

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The ADVC-100 is a great product, but from from what I can gather from your post, you don't need it.

The ADVC-100 is used to take an analog signal (from analog camcorder, VCR, etc.), and convert it to digital (and the other direction, too). It acts as a "bridge" between your analog equipment, and the firewire card on your computer, allowing you to capture and edit in Premiere or other software.

To capture footage from a mini-DV camera, you don't need this.

Forgive me if I mis-read your post.

Michael Stehly

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Jul 11, 2003, 11:53:00 AM7/11/03

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Does the ADVC 100 work with Windows 98 SE?

Scott

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Jul 11, 2003, 12:20:55 PM7/11/03

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> Does the ADVC 100 work with Windows 98 SE?

IT ought to work with DOS since it's external and has nothing directly to do
with the OS AFAIK. It's just a self contained, hardware converter box for
analog to dv. And mine works well.

Cheers,
Scott

thad andrews

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Jul 11, 2003, 1:47:00 PM7/11/03

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Marcel Gutierrez

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Jul 11, 2003, 4:02:59 PM7/11/03

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I have the ADVC-100 that I use for my old analog camcorder videos, and for exporting completed projects to VHS.

It works great and I have no complaint.

But I agree with Nigel. Unless you have something your DV camcorder will not handle you don't need it. In fact, if you try to input DV through the ADVC-100, you must use a matching Canopus capture card in order to get Device Control in Premiere.

My motherboard has 2 Firewire connections so I just leave the ADVC-100 hooked up and set for analog.

Good luck,
MCG

Nigel Moore

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Jul 11, 2003, 3:50:36 PM7/11/03

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I have no experience with the ADVC-100.

I do have experience with another Canopus product. But other people here really like Canopus, so I shall say no more!

But, if all you want to do is capture from and export to DV, and you have no wish for real-time edit support, I would highly recommend going for a standard firewire card.

If your motherboard already has a firewire port you're good to go. Otherwise consider a cheap firewire port card.

Post back if you need more info.

HTH

Eleanor Owen

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Jul 11, 2003, 6:00:40 PM7/11/03

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I havent used it personally but I know two people at my video club who use it and have both been very happy with it.

thad andrews

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Jul 14, 2003, 6:52:28 PM7/14/03

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Thanks for the reply Sonny. It sounds like from your reply that it would be overkill for what I want to do. Do you have any product suggestions?

Sonny Donato

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Jul 14, 2003, 8:31:19 PM7/14/03

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You just need any OHCI-compliant IEEE firewire card, if you don't already have firewire ports in your computer. They're pretty inexpensive. When I was buying my stuff, I bought the "Adaptec FireConnect 4300", and it works fine. There are probably tons of other products out there that work just as well.

thad andrews

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Jul 15, 2003, 1:05:14 PM7/15/03

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Hi Sonny. Thanks for all the advice so far. All I need is a firewire card? I have a firewire card for my IPOD? I guess from what you are telling me I can just get a firewire cable that goes from the mini-DV camera to the firewire card and then I can capture straight to Premiere?

Sonny Donato

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Jul 15, 2003, 2:32:08 PM7/15/03

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As far as I know, yep, that's all you need to do. You'll need the firewire cable anyway, so get that, and if it doesn't work we can take it from there.

Sonny

thad andrews

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Jul 15, 2003, 5:17:34 PM7/15/03

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Hi Sonny. One more question for now. Can you capture an 8mm or VHS tape with firewire? Or do you need something like the Canopus capture card?

thad andrews

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Jul 15, 2003, 5:12:26 PM7/15/03

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Sonny Donato

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Jul 15, 2003, 7:26:56 PM7/15/03

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I assume you're talking about 8mm videotape, as in Hi8, as opposed to 8mm film, which is a different animal entirely. But for that kind of videotape as well as for VHS, yes, you would need some type of analog/digital bridge, in which case I would recommend the Canopus ADVC-100.

However, if your mini-DV camera has analog inputs and outputs (e.g., RCA, S-video, composite), your camera should be able to act as the "bridge", removing the necessity for the Canopus.

As I personally don't yet own a DV camera, I'm not 100% on this, so perhaps someone else here can verify/correct what I have said.

Sonny