Converter Recommendation at DVinfo.net

Kris Schultz · September 7th, 2003, 07:26 PM

Hello everybody, I'm KIND OF a newbie, so to speak. I need an analog to digital/digital to analog media converter. Any body know of a particulary good one, or know of a website that does?

Thank you,
Kris

Ken Tanaka · September 7th, 2003, 08:32 PM

Kris,
Aside from cameras like the GL2 that perform this function there are a few of these on the market. I have a Dazzle DV Bridge which works pretty well and is reasonably priced. (My colleague, Jeff Donald, has used one for sale here.)

Kris Schultz · September 8th, 2003, 07:52 AM

Do you know of a site that would review several different converters? I just want to be sure I'm getting a good one for my money. I've seen about three of these around. What do people think of these three: Canopus ADVC-100 Advanced Digital, Dazzle DM2200 Hollywood DV-Bridge, Datavideo DAC 100 DV Converter (DAC-100)? Or are there some other good ones available that I just haven't found?

Glenn Chan · September 8th, 2003, 02:09 PM

These threads give you an idea about real world experience with various convertors.

http://www.lafcpug.org/phorum/read.p...=29857&t=29850
http://www.lafcpug.org/phorum/read.p...=24544&t=24538

Mike Rehmus · September 8th, 2003, 03:01 PM

I've used the discontinued Sony DVMAC-2 or whatever the model number was. It is a great converter. Now Canopus seems to rule from what I've heard, not experienced.

You can purchase a camera that will also do this but these tend to be closer to the top of the line cameras.

I've seen people trying to buy used cameras where the electronics work but something else is broken. Should work OK if you can find one of those.

Glenn Chan · September 8th, 2003, 04:36 PM

A good convertor should handle 7.5IRE setup properly. Cheap decks and consumer cameras don't do this.

Kris Schultz · September 8th, 2003, 06:24 PM

Ok, that helps, but now I'm more confused to some extent. I know my sony dv cam can convert to some extent, I was just under the impression, for whatever reason, that that would produce a lower quality than a stand alone box, is that true?

Mike Rehmus · September 8th, 2003, 08:06 PM

Not really. Most of them have the same hardware from one or two suppliers.

Harry Settle · September 8th, 2003, 10:04 PM

Canopus ADVC-100. Extremely reliable transfers. No fooling around.

Roze Ann · September 10th, 2003, 01:10 PM

I vote for the Canopus too. Have had great experiences with everything Canopus makes.

Mike Rehmus · September 10th, 2003, 06:23 PM

Just a side comment. If you don't mind used equipment, you can buy a used Canopus DVRexM1 card for around $350. You get a great editing card and good s-Video and RCA sound in and out plus the firewire (proprietary) connection.

Harry Settle · September 10th, 2003, 07:25 PM

If you go to other sites and compare what is being discussed, you will find two things 1) most are discussing why they can't capture worth a damn. 2) the canopus people are discussing techniques for the most part. Canopus products work without a lot of B.S.

September 7th, 2003, 07:26 PM	#1
Kris Schultz Tourist Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3	Converter Recommendation Hello everybody, I'm KIND OF a newbie, so to speak. I need an analog to digital/digital to analog media converter. Any body know of a particulary good one, or know of a website that does? Thank you, Kris

September 7th, 2003, 08:32 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Kris, Aside from cameras like the GL2 that perform this function there are a few of these on the market. I have a Dazzle DV Bridge which works pretty well and is reasonably priced. (My colleague, Jeff Donald, has used one for sale here.) __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 8th, 2003, 03:01 PM	#5
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	I've used the discontinued Sony DVMAC-2 or whatever the model number was. It is a great converter. Now Canopus seems to rule from what I've heard, not experienced. You can purchase a camera that will also do this but these tend to be closer to the top of the line cameras. I've seen people trying to buy used cameras where the electronics work but something else is broken. Should work OK if you can find one of those. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 8th, 2003, 08:06 PM	#8
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Not really. Most of them have the same hardware from one or two suppliers. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 8th, 2003, 10:04 PM	#9
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	Canopus ADVC-100. Extremely reliable transfers. No fooling around. __________________ "DOH"!!!

September 8th, 2003, 07:52 AM	#3
Kris Schultz Tourist Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3	Do you know of a site that would review several different converters? I just want to be sure I'm getting a good one for my money. I've seen about three of these around. What do people think of these three: Canopus ADVC-100 Advanced Digital, Dazzle DM2200 Hollywood DV-Bridge, Datavideo DAC 100 DV Converter (DAC-100)? Or are there some other good ones available that I just haven't found?

September 8th, 2003, 02:09 PM	#4
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	These threads give you an idea about real world experience with various convertors. http://www.lafcpug.org/phorum/read.p...=29857&t=29850 http://www.lafcpug.org/phorum/read.p...=24544&t=24538

September 8th, 2003, 04:36 PM	#6
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	A good convertor should handle 7.5IRE setup properly. Cheap decks and consumer cameras don't do this.

September 8th, 2003, 06:24 PM	#7
Kris Schultz Tourist Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3	Ok, that helps, but now I'm more confused to some extent. I know my sony dv cam can convert to some extent, I was just under the impression, for whatever reason, that that would produce a lower quality than a stand alone box, is that true?

September 10th, 2003, 01:10 PM	#10
Roze Ann Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 116	I vote for the Canopus too. Have had great experiences with everything Canopus makes. __________________ "God is good, life is hard, Heaven is sure" Camille Daily Fat Cat Media

September 10th, 2003, 06:23 PM	#11
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Just a side comment. If you don't mind used equipment, you can buy a used Canopus DVRexM1 card for around $350. You get a great editing card and good s-Video and RCA sound in and out plus the firewire (proprietary) connection. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 10th, 2003, 07:25 PM	#12
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	If you go to other sites and compare what is being discussed, you will find two things 1) most are discussing why they can't capture worth a damn. 2) the canopus people are discussing techniques for the most part. Canopus products work without a lot of B.S. __________________ "DOH"!!!