Canopus vrs ADS at DVinfo.net

Steve House · April 29th, 2006, 05:32 PM

Looking at A/D converter boxes, primarily to send DV output from the NLE to an external monitor for preview and colour correction etc and secondarily to ingest analog video such as VHS and convert to DV. Seems to be boiling down to a choice between either a Canopus ADVC110 or an ADS Pyro DV Link. Editor will be Windows PC running Vegas or Premiere Pro. Any user feedback on either one pros or cons? Anyone with experience with both to be able to rank them? Other options to recommend? Anyone have an idea how either one would compare to using a Decklink SP for similar purposes?

Boyd Ostroff · April 29th, 2006, 07:02 PM

This version of the Pyro has component video in/out which may be useful in some applications (like driving monitors):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

Matt Howell · May 1st, 2006, 09:03 PM

This device certainly is priced right, a few years ago you had to pay about double that amount for a DV converter and got no software. One correction, this is component input only, it does not have component output. Anyway component in is not really needed because the only common consumer SD component source would be a DVD player, and there is no reason to capture DVD through analog when it can be ripped and transcoded to DV if needed without going through an analog conversion. Most of the time a DV converter will be used to convert composite or s-video from older VHS, S-VHS, 8mm, Hi-8, etc.

I have a Canopus ADVC-100 I bought over 3 years ago. I use it in combination with a JVC 9500U S-VHS with a line TBC and NR. I just got through capturing some priceless 17 year-old video from a full size Panasonic VHS camcorder (remember those?). I could not believe how pristine and drop out free the 17 year-old VHS was. Virtually no drop out except in the first minute of the tape. I've also used it to capture equally priceless Hi-8 from about 11 years ago. I highly recommend DV conversion for dealing with these old formats, no matter which one you choose, it's the only way to go.

Back when I bought the Canopus, this ADS device was about $200, and the ADVC-100 was about $280. At that time, some people said the DV codec in the Canopus produced a higher quality conversion, and there were some problems with the ADS unit but I don't remember what they were. Now I hear the firmware of the ADS has been improved and that it should be on par with the Canopus, except for the codec used. How much of a difference that makes I do not know.

I forgot to mention these are excellent for monitoring as you edit in the dv to analog mode, that's another huge feature I use all the time with Vegas and Premiere Pro.

April 29th, 2006, 05:32 PM	#1
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Canopus vrs ADS Looking at A/D converter boxes, primarily to send DV output from the NLE to an external monitor for preview and colour correction etc and secondarily to ingest analog video such as VHS and convert to DV. Seems to be boiling down to a choice between either a Canopus ADVC110 or an ADS Pyro DV Link. Editor will be Windows PC running Vegas or Premiere Pro. Any user feedback on either one pros or cons? Anyone with experience with both to be able to rank them? Other options to recommend? Anyone have an idea how either one would compare to using a Decklink SP for similar purposes? __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

April 29th, 2006, 07:02 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	This version of the Pyro has component video in/out which may be useful in some applications (like driving monitors): http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

May 1st, 2006, 09:03 PM	#3
Matt Howell Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Raleigh, N.C. Posts: 26	This device certainly is priced right, a few years ago you had to pay about double that amount for a DV converter and got no software. One correction, this is component input only, it does not have component output. Anyway component in is not really needed because the only common consumer SD component source would be a DVD player, and there is no reason to capture DVD through analog when it can be ripped and transcoded to DV if needed without going through an analog conversion. Most of the time a DV converter will be used to convert composite or s-video from older VHS, S-VHS, 8mm, Hi-8, etc. I have a Canopus ADVC-100 I bought over 3 years ago. I use it in combination with a JVC 9500U S-VHS with a line TBC and NR. I just got through capturing some priceless 17 year-old video from a full size Panasonic VHS camcorder (remember those?). I could not believe how pristine and drop out free the 17 year-old VHS was. Virtually no drop out except in the first minute of the tape. I've also used it to capture equally priceless Hi-8 from about 11 years ago. I highly recommend DV conversion for dealing with these old formats, no matter which one you choose, it's the only way to go. Back when I bought the Canopus, this ADS device was about $200, and the ADVC-100 was about $280. At that time, some people said the DV codec in the Canopus produced a higher quality conversion, and there were some problems with the ADS unit but I don't remember what they were. Now I hear the firmware of the ADS has been improved and that it should be on par with the Canopus, except for the codec used. How much of a difference that makes I do not know. I forgot to mention these are excellent for monitoring as you edit in the dv to analog mode, that's another huge feature I use all the time with Vegas and Premiere Pro.