Recommended capture devices? (Specifically ADS Technologies)

Masked Mystery II · Post by **Masked Mystery II** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 1:51 pm

I am converting older video tape (VHS, S-VHS, and 3/4 inchh) to DVD. I started using Dazzle with the bundled Pinnacle Studio 8. The device works great but the software doesn't. Of course, Ulead Video Studio and Ulead Workshop 2 doesn't interact with the Dazzle device.

I did some investigating and I was interested in the ADS Tech Instant DVD + DV device. My ears particularly perked at the " 'Audio-Lock' technology for perfect lip sync" feature.

I was about to pull the trigger and then I started reading the consumer reviews where the device got killed to death. People were saying it didn't work, kept crashing, etc., etc., etc.

Does anyone have any recommendations for capture devices and/or have any experiences with the ADS products?

rwindeyer · Post by **rwindeyer** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:00 pm

Can't help you with the capture device question sorry. If it's feasible for you, you may be able to look in a different direction: I use a digital handycam with a pass-through facility. The VCR output goes to the camera, which digitises the signal on the fly, and output to the computer is via firewire. Quality of capture is perfect, with no sync problems.

phd · Post by **phd** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:57 pm

A few other things to consider:

1. Depending on the Dazzle device you have, you potentially could uninstall the Pinnacle software and download the old Dazzle capture drivers and software. (The Pinnacle and Dazzle drivers can't exist simultaneously.) There was a utiltiy included (DVXCELtest) that, although barebones, gave a lot of flexibility to capture parameters. They are there buried somewhere. Look at the legacy devices in support. This is the cheapest option.

2. The Canopus ADVC100. Captures analog in and out to firewire in and out. Features includes A/V framelock to help ensure sync. Records to DV on the computer. Great quality. $300 US retail.

3. Set-top DVD recorders. Cut out the middle man (capture, author and burn) Go straight from VHS to DVD. Do some research. Some of the models have a built-in TBC to help the capture situation from VHS tape. Jerry Jones wrote about this on the original forum. Prices are all over the map depending on features. Depending on the manufacturer, formats are all over regarding blank disk support +/- R/RW/ RAM. Also depending on manufacturer, audio varies on the units MPEG/AC3/PCM. Depending on features they start at less than $200 and up.

4. DV or DVD camcorders. Some can pass thorugh directly to the computer. Some you record into, then transfer the material. You would need to look at whether it supports analog A/V in and does it have pass-through. Also some models feature a TBC. This is the most expensive option, but if you also have a need for a camcorder, it kills 2 birds with 1 stone.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 3:23 pm

I have the ADStech DVDXpress which is almost the same as what you are looking at except it does not output back and does not capture DV.

I have never ever had any sync problems with it capturing from my camcorder, vcr or live broadc ast using my vcr's built in tuner.

jchunter_2 · Post by **jchunter_2** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:08 pm

MM,
I have been capturing analog video with the ADS Instant DVD2 box for 18 months. It has worked flawlessly - especially with the Capwiz software that comes with it. Ulead support for the box has been terrible but who cares?

BTW, I just realized that my projects that have no Audio/Video synch problem were captured with this IDVD2 box... (My problematic digital project with the 1 second audio lead was captured directly by Video Studio 8.01...)

Masked Mystery II · Post by **Masked Mystery II** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:19 pm

Thanks for the feedback.

It makes sense that the most consumer reviews would be written by people who are frustrated by the product and may or may not represent the majority. Most people happy with the product usually don't take the time to go back and write a positive review.

GlennG · Post by **GlennG** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:26 pm

For another inexpensive way to capture analog video from an analog camcorder or VCR, see my response below to the topic initiated by
BASHA entitled, "Is it possible to capture from VCR?'. I use this method and it works great!

jwarner · Post by **jwarner** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:37 pm

I too have had excellent results with my ADS DVDXpress and the supplied CapWiz capture software. The box has a hardware MPEG-2 encoder so solves many of the capture problems that result from software encoders being interrupted by other applications.

The earlier versions of this box had an overheating problem that caused them to hang after 30 minutes or so. This has now been resolved but you may have read some older reviews?

Like most people, as you point out, I don't generally bother to review or comment on a product that does what it is supposed to!

I've now successfully captured all of my old Hi-8 tapes (about 50 hours worth) so have lots of raw footage to feed my creativity with UVS8! It's nice to have all this old footage in digital format where I can quickly scan through it to see what I have...

moomin · Post by **moomin** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 11:43 pm

I have an ADS DVD Xpress USB2.0 device and Ulead Studio 8.

Although I had initial issues getting the device to work properly, I quickly overcome them. CapWiz does a marvellous job of doing the capturing, and VS8 is great for the editing. I only use my box to convert old VHS cassettes to DVD. I can only say good things about the device concerning the quality of the captures I have created.

The only slight issue I would mention is the device does generate some heat if you are capturing for long periods (a couple of hours continuous or more) so it is worth making sure that the device is reasonably well ventelated to make sure it doesn't "freeze" during capture. I have mine on my computer desk and have captured almost uninterrupted for about 6 hours without it having any problems whatsoever.

hypr · Post by **hypr** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:40 am

So I am capturing from VHS tape in a few days once the ADS Instant DVD Xpress comes in at Staples.

There won't be any audio problems with Instant DVD Xpress compared to ADS Instant Video CD?

And the audio will stay in sync with Video I am nervous but will it because Audio was not being in sync when I was capturing with Instant Video CD?

jwarner · Post by **jwarner** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:43 am

The MPEG-2 files mine creates are excellent with no audio sync problems.

Getting UVS8 to maintain that sync after you've done your editing is another question...

hypr · Post by **hypr** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:50 am

I would be using Virtual Dub for editing, but CapWiz for capturing, either in AVI or MPEG whichever is smaller and if CAPWiz allows divx I still couldn't get X-Vid codec to work but I will try.

How is the audio in Instant DVD XPress when first capturing ?

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 8:52 am

You can not capture to avi with that device. You can however capture to divx with the new capwiz 3.6 beta that you can download from Adstech's website.

You should expect no audio problems what so ever with that device.

hypr · Post by **hypr** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:19 am

I can't wait to try it out, Staples should have it in a few days, so I can encode stuff in Mpeg, but not AVI (Weird) I might test around X-Vid codec to see if I can get a smaller output file when switching over to AVI with Konvertor

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 5:04 am

You can get the DVD Express from Walmart for $79.99. They have them in stock.