Anyone using PYRO A/V LINK? (This thing stinks!)
Tony
Biostar MB with IEEE1394 (Intel 845 chipset)
Intel Pentium P4 2.4 Mhz
512 MB DDR
2 x 120 GB Western Digital Hard Drives (8MB Cache)
Windows XP
Premiere 6.5
I have been capturing video my system (and past systems) for years now with no problems. Up until
now, I captured analog 8mm, Hi8, VHS, etc. by playing the tapes through my Sony TRV 120 camcorder
which has Analog Pass through. It always worked great.
Recently, I decided that it was a pain in the butt to have to connect the camera every time I wanted
to do this so I was looking for a permanent solution like the Pyro A/V Link. Originally, I was gonna
go with the Canopus model that fits in the 5 1/4 bay in the computer. But then I saw the Pyro and
for the same price, I get Component output and am able to monitor on a tv if I want to.
I received the unit yesterday and connected it to the PC. All I can say is that this thing stinks. I
get so many dropped frames that the video stutters and stops completely during playback. That is
completely unacceptable. I tried many Hi 8 tapes and SVHS tapes. They work perfectly when played
into a tv monitor, so I know they are good.
Then, I did a test.
Sony EVC 100 played through the Pyro = terrible result.
Sony EVC 100 played through Sony TRV120 Camera = beautiful results
Sony TRV120 playback of 8mm tape via firewire into PC = beautiful
By deductive reasoning, the only bad part of the mix is the Pyro, right? Since my system is far
above the recommended requirements, it must be the Pyro.
Is anyone using this unit successfully? Is it possible that I got a defective unit? (BTW, all of
the dip switches are correct on the back of the unit) I am about to ship this thing back and get it
the hell out of here.
Any feedback will be appreciated.
Tony
Nobody_of_Consequence
but you shouldn't be having so much trouble. If it is not too late,
return the Pyro and get a Canopus. The external Advc 100
captures with high quality and reliability.
"Tony" <tony...@ureach.com> wrote in message
news:3539fvohqrvq744ct...@4ax.com...
Tony
outputs at no extra cost. It isnt too late, so it is going back. Are you using the Canopus?
Tony
John Price
Are you connecting the A/V link directly to the Pyro 1394 card
(Presuming a Pyro, if not which card). i.e connecting to a firewire
drive ain't recommended
DMA on your hard drives is of course enabled?
I have a Sony TRV120 & also use the Pyro A/V link with no dropped
frames, my OS is Windows 2000 SP2.
Regards
John
Tony <tony...@ureach.com> wrote in message news:<hneafvsb73pvaktin...@4ax.com>...
Tony
I am using the Biostar's onboard firewire ports (which is the reason I bought it in the first
place). I didnt think it mattered as long as it is OHCI compliant. Like I said, I can easily
capture going direct from camera to firewire port, or even doing an analog pass through using my
Sony TRV120.
So, the A/V link is going directly into the firewire port of my motherboard. DMA is enabled but here
is the problem. The video stutters before I even attempt to capture a single frame. I click on
CAPTURE MOVIE in Premiere (I also did this in Microsoft Movie Maker to see if it happens there too)
and the video plays fine for 10 seconds or so and then it freezes and then starts again . This
happens just while viewing it. No capturing involved at all. Keep in mind that everything works
beautifully when I remove the A/V LINK from the mix and use the TRV120 as the converter in it's
place. That must mean that all is well EXCEPT for the A/V LINK. Maybe I have a defective unit but
it is a brand new one.
I actually have a PYRO IEEE1394 card that I removed from my system when I upgrade to this new
motherboard. It is my impression that all OHCI compliant cards are equal and all perform the same
function - transfer data.
If you have any ideas, feel free to shoot them my way. The most puzzling thing here is that the
video plays choppy just by viewing it through the A/V Link, so my PC is outside of the problem.
Tony
On 22 Jun 2003 02:11:23 -0700, in rec.video.desktop you wrote:
HighPeaksVideo
>upgrade to this new
>motherboard. It is my impression that all OHCI compliant cards are equal and
>all perform the same
>function - transfer data.
>
>If you have any ideas, feel free to shoot them my way. The most puzzling
>thing here is that the
>video plays choppy just by viewing it through the A/V Link, so my PC is
>outside of the problem.
>
>Tony
tony, try the pyro pci card. Not all OHCI cards/chips are equal. The one
that came with my Compaq will capture and print to tape perfect. But it
doesn't like the OHCI previews from Vegas.
What software do you use to capture with?
Craig H.
John Price
Very True, if you still have a problem with the Pyro 1394 I suspect a bad unit.
Regards
John (It sometimes takes 9 hour for my post to come up :()
highpea...@aol.com (HighPeaksVideo) wrote in message news:<20030622143720...@mb-m25.aol.com>...
Tony
the same symptoms occured. I really think it is the unit. If using my Sony TRV120 as the A/D
converter, then that has to mean that the onboard Firewire ports work, the hi8 Deck works, the tapes
are good, the SVHS Deck and tapes are good. The only thing that ever fails in all of my tests is
the A/V LINK.
I am returning this piece of junk and am gonna give ADS a piece of my mind for selling such a piece
of garbage. At $200+ level, I was expecting a lot more. I probably would have been better with a
cheap Dazzle product.
Thanks for the suggestion. It didnt help but it did confirm that my Biostar onboard firewire ports
work perfectly.
Tony
HighPeaksVideo
>onboard firewire ports
>work perfectly.
>
>Tony
Good to hear you narrowed it down. Bummer about the AV Link. What about a
used D8 camera off Ebay for same or less money?
Craig H.
Tony
of the time. I will just send this POS back and buy the Canopus.
Tony
wally
>Well, I already have a D8 camera. I bought the AV Link so I wouldnt have to
> have the camera out all
>of the time. I will just send this POS back and buy the Canopus.
>
I've the Canopus and its simply plug it in and use it. No problems.
--wally.
Jeff T
> I was going to go with the Canopus but I figured that this would do the job and add the component
> outputs at no extra cost. It isnt too late, so it is going back. Are you using the Canopus?
>
1394 card. We capture well over 5 hrs a day of DV footage live (5 days
a week). We have yet to drop a frame when capturing to an interal
7200rpm IDE Drive (capturing to an external Firewire Drive is a
different story though...) I think the Canopus is probably the safest
bet only because is has a fairly large user base and I have not heard
many complaints about it.
Sounds strange that the Pyro converter would drop frames like that.
Might be real sensitive to marginal video. My Pinnacle DV-500 card is
that way with the analog inputs. I have to run any 8mm, Hi8, VHS or
SVHS source through a TBC if I want a decent capture.
Good Luck
Jeff
HighPeaksVideo
>have the camera out all
>of the time.
I'm saying have two cameras. One is hooked up to the PC all the time. But
then when you need two cams, or a backup cam, you're are all set to go. Just
another way to spend your $300.00 and have some redundancy in your setup. You
would have to pull cables tho between input and output uses. Tough call.
Craig H.
Tony
one to do convert Analog to Digital if the PYRO did what it is suppose to do. I always liked hte
Canopus so I will go with it.
Tony