maiki
16th November 2003, 02:19
I currently have the Dazzle DVC80, a lower-end unit. I'm not too happy with the quality of the captured video, and the video and audio are often out of sync. I would guess that that's probably true with most of the units well under $100. (I think the DVC-80 usually sells for about $69.) So, I'm thinking of getting something better.
As my computer is a laptop, it needs to be an external device, USB (I have 2.0) or Firewire. (I have 4 USB 2.0 ports, only one Firewire port, which I likely would have my large (180GB) external Firewire HD on while capturing, so probably USB 2 would be best for the capture device.) (I've read something about daisy-chaining Firewire, but not sure how well that works.)
I've been looking mostly at products in the $100-$200 range, a step up from the product I currently have. (For instance, the Dazzle product in that range would be DVC-150.) I don't really need an analog output on the unit, as my laptop already has a video out port. I just need the analog inputs, video and audio, and the USB connection to the computer. I don't really need a tuner in the unit, as I can connect it to my VCR. (Or, is there an advantage, in recording from TV, for the capture unit to have its own dedicated tuner?) (Also, any advantage I'm not aware of in the unit having an analog out?)
What I do care about is getting a better quality of captured video than I have been with my current unit. Obviously, in recording old VHS analog tapes to digital video, or from a television broadcast, with not-too-great cable reception, the quality is not going to be too great anyhow. But I certainly wouldn't want the capturing process to make the final result worse than the original in quality. Also, I've read in the specs of some products that they are supposed to have "noise filters", etc., to improve captured video from an original that isn't so great. Are such filters built into the hardware, or only in the accompanying software? Do they really help?
I see several products available by different manufacturers--ADSTECH, Adaptec, Pinnacle, Dazzle (now owned by Pinnacle, but still a separate product line), Hauppauge, Averkey, etc., etc, etc. (I'm sure I've missed some.) Are they all about the same (per price range), or do some get a better signal than others? Anyone reading tried models of more than one of these brands, and could compare them? Anyone know of good comparative reviews of recent models? (There was a recent comparative review in PC Magazine of a few models, and although I normally find that a good magazine, I found that review rather disappointing, as the reviewer mostly compares the software bundles that come with the units, which software he likes better, etc., not the quality of the hardware. I don't buy hardware based on which "limited-edition" or "special edition" software comes with it.)
I have read a little here about another brand, that one doesn't see often in stores, called Canopus. I looked at their web site. Their products cost much more than products with similar features by different manufacturers, such as those mentioned above. For instance, it looks like their lowest-priced model that is an external device, is their "100" model (I forget the letters, it might have been something like "ADV100.). It costs almost $300 dollars! And it is just firewire, no USB I believe. (If I were to use that, daisychained into my firewire external hard drive, where the video was being captured to, would that be a problem?) Is the Canopus capture device really so much better than the other brands, to be worth twice as much? Is the quality of the captured video much better? Even when one is capturing old VHS tapes, and not-so-great TV reception, is the difference in the result really noticeable?
Thank you for your input.
As my computer is a laptop, it needs to be an external device, USB (I have 2.0) or Firewire. (I have 4 USB 2.0 ports, only one Firewire port, which I likely would have my large (180GB) external Firewire HD on while capturing, so probably USB 2 would be best for the capture device.) (I've read something about daisy-chaining Firewire, but not sure how well that works.)
I've been looking mostly at products in the $100-$200 range, a step up from the product I currently have. (For instance, the Dazzle product in that range would be DVC-150.) I don't really need an analog output on the unit, as my laptop already has a video out port. I just need the analog inputs, video and audio, and the USB connection to the computer. I don't really need a tuner in the unit, as I can connect it to my VCR. (Or, is there an advantage, in recording from TV, for the capture unit to have its own dedicated tuner?) (Also, any advantage I'm not aware of in the unit having an analog out?)
What I do care about is getting a better quality of captured video than I have been with my current unit. Obviously, in recording old VHS analog tapes to digital video, or from a television broadcast, with not-too-great cable reception, the quality is not going to be too great anyhow. But I certainly wouldn't want the capturing process to make the final result worse than the original in quality. Also, I've read in the specs of some products that they are supposed to have "noise filters", etc., to improve captured video from an original that isn't so great. Are such filters built into the hardware, or only in the accompanying software? Do they really help?
I see several products available by different manufacturers--ADSTECH, Adaptec, Pinnacle, Dazzle (now owned by Pinnacle, but still a separate product line), Hauppauge, Averkey, etc., etc, etc. (I'm sure I've missed some.) Are they all about the same (per price range), or do some get a better signal than others? Anyone reading tried models of more than one of these brands, and could compare them? Anyone know of good comparative reviews of recent models? (There was a recent comparative review in PC Magazine of a few models, and although I normally find that a good magazine, I found that review rather disappointing, as the reviewer mostly compares the software bundles that come with the units, which software he likes better, etc., not the quality of the hardware. I don't buy hardware based on which "limited-edition" or "special edition" software comes with it.)
I have read a little here about another brand, that one doesn't see often in stores, called Canopus. I looked at their web site. Their products cost much more than products with similar features by different manufacturers, such as those mentioned above. For instance, it looks like their lowest-priced model that is an external device, is their "100" model (I forget the letters, it might have been something like "ADV100.). It costs almost $300 dollars! And it is just firewire, no USB I believe. (If I were to use that, daisychained into my firewire external hard drive, where the video was being captured to, would that be a problem?) Is the Canopus capture device really so much better than the other brands, to be worth twice as much? Is the quality of the captured video much better? Even when one is capturing old VHS tapes, and not-so-great TV reception, is the difference in the result really noticeable?
Thank you for your input.