ADS Pyro A/V Link owners please read

JohnnyRoy wrote on 8/1/2004, 5:56 AM
I got an email from ADS Tech about a week ago notifying me that they had found a fix for the chronic dropping frames problem when capturing VHS with the A/V Link. They gave me an RMA number and I just got my unit back a week later and I am happy to report there are no more dropped frames. I captured 30 minutes of a VHS tape that I recorded from cable TV at SP speed and there wasn’t a single dropped frame. Previously this same tape would constantly loose 28-30 frames within just a few minutes of capture.

I just wanted to let any of you know that may have this unit (API-550) that a fix is available if you have this problem.

~jr

Comments

farss wrote on 8/1/2004, 6:12 AM
John,
are you in PAL or NTSC. Seems the problem was much worse with PAL.

Bob.
JohnnyRoy wrote on 8/1/2004, 9:50 AM
Bob,

I'm NTSC but there was a PAL fix back in the January timeframe. Look on the bottom of your A/V Link at the part number. Next to API-550, it should say Rev C. If it’s a Rev A or Rev B then you don't have the PAL fix.

~jr
NickK wrote on 8/1/2004, 1:06 PM
Johnny,
Are you saying that if it states, "Rev. C" after API-550 on the bottom label, then the fix for NTSC has been incorporated or just the PAL fix? I just purchased an ADS Pyro A/V Link this past week and it has "Rev. C" on the bottom label.

Thanks, Nick
JohnnyRoy wrote on 8/2/2004, 12:10 PM
Rev C is the PAL fix. I don’t believe they are shipping the new NTSC fix yet, which is why you need to contact them and get the unit RMA’ed if you have the problem where it drops 28-30 frames at the exact same spot on a tape. If you frame drops are random, you may have a different problem. This was a very reproducible error at the exact same spot each time. (so recapturing didn't fix it)

~jr
R0cky wrote on 8/3/2004, 3:46 PM
yeah, i got a refund on mine and got the canopus box when i had this problem awhile back.
JohnnyRoy wrote on 8/3/2004, 4:47 PM
I picked mine up at Christmas time at Circuit City for (are you sitting down?) $112 brand new. They mislabeled them as a close-out item. No way I wanted my money back. So I was quite patient about getting it fixed. I also have a Pinnacle Deluxe capture card so I wasn’t pressed for the functionality. I just wanted to replace the Pinnacle card because it only works with their proprietary (and very buggy) software. It was well worth the wait. Now I can capture analog in Vegas.

~jr
farss wrote on 8/3/2004, 5:09 PM
It might be worth my while sending it back to the US, I'd basically given up on the thing and bought the ADVC-300 which has got many extra features (as it should for the money!) but the Pyro might be handy for going out component to SP.

Bob.