Pyro av link hardware

[andrewgerm]

Good day all

I am looking to purchase the Pyro AV Link hardware from ADS Tech. This looks like the ideal solution for my 'under construction' studio. I'm looking at this becuase it allows analogue capture to firewire, and output from digital to analogue for recording if needed. I'm in South Africa, and am not able to source this hardware. Does anyone have a suggestion as to where to get this? I've looked online, but a lot of manufacturers don't ship internationally. If i get someone to purchase this for me, and bring it when they visit, what problems would I have with power supply? SA is 220-240V, while USA is 110V. Has anyone used this hardware before? Is there another product that you'd suggest? I'm using Video Studio 10 plus, DVD Movie factory 5, and Media Studio Pro 8, and so would prefer to get the hardware without the additional Premier Elements software that some places include.

Any comments or suggestions about the hardware, or where I should look, tips, hints, anything, would be appreciated.

Thanks, and regards,
Andrew

[Ron P.]

I just checked ADS TECH website and found that there is a distributor for South Africa: http://www.adstech.com/adsworldwide/adsWWResult.asp

EDIT
Well after posting I tried the above link and it doesn't go to the result page. So here is the distributors link : http://www.dcs.co.za/.

I would think that if you purchased it from a distributor or retailer for your country that the electronics should be made for it. If not then you would need a converter to convert it from the 220-240v to 110v. Is there such a thing? Here in the USA, appliances such as clothes dryers, cooking ranges are 220v. So it has to do with how the receptacle is wired in the main breaker box.

I'm sorry I don't have any tips, tricks etc., for using this device, as I have never had the occasion to use one.

[GeorgeW]

I have a Pyro A/V Link, and it works great for A-D Conversions (both ways).

I'm not sure about the power supply question you have.

One thing to consider -- do you have a dv camcorder (either digital-8 or mini-dv)? Some of those have A-D conversion with pass-through (check its features list). You might even be able to buy a used camcorder just for its A-D Conversion function (and it can double as a camcorder).

Regards,
George

[andrewgerm]

Thank you both for the reply.

(3rd attempt at posting this)

Videoman:
I have spoken to DCS here in SA. They do not sell to the public. None of the retailers stock the product though. I did speak to ADS Tech directly, and they say they do not have a distributor in SA. They put me in touch with B&H Photo Video. Speaking to B&H, they say the unit is PAL, SECAM and NTSC, so I will not have any problems using it in SA. I do, however, want to double check the power issue. I have family out here from USA currently, and they are using a step-down transformer for their laptops.

GeorgeW:
I'm using a SONY HandyCam DCR-HC26. This is very much an entry level, although still very good. The A/V port is output only, so I can not use this as a DAC or ADC.

My main aim in the whole exercise is updating my home studio. I'm doing a lot of showreels for models / actors who I've worked with, and a lot of old footage is still on VHS cassette. There are also the few occasions where people want the edited footage on VHS.

Regards, and have a good one,
Andrew

[andrewgerm]

Ok, so I've now got the Pyro A/V link hardware, but I'm having a few issues. The worst is dropped frames. ADS says its because of bad source material on the tape, but I've used some of these tapes only once to record something. Does anyone have the Pyro, and is experiencing similar problems?

Some video glitches seemed to dissapear when I attached a TV on a pass-through to monitor the video. I've done the usual housecleaning on my PC, and defragged, got latest drivers, etc.

I also have a bit of a hassle with VS10+, playing my project back via the FireWire to the unit, to preview on my TV.

Thanks in advance...