Comments

planders wrote on 3/6/2004, 3:37 PM
I've been using the ACEDVio since September and am very satisfied with it. Quality of converted video is top-notch, and it hasn't so much as hiccuped during a conversion job.

The only area it has trouble is when trying to capture from lousy recordings; I suppose it's a time code problem, but to be fair the affected tapes also have significant tracking problems on VCRs as well.

If you already own Vegas, make sure you order the card without bundled software; you'll save some money. If not, the bundle is a very good deal.

I'm partial to having my converter on a PCI card, as I rarely (i.e. never) have to change my wiring and I've got enough little boxes cluttering up my workspace.

As for realtime editing, as far as I can tell that simply means that you can preview transitions and effects immediately, without waiting for them to render. Vegas does this in software so the realtime preview isn't as smooth as it would be with dedicated hardware, but with a fast enough computer it's perfectly workable--and for far less money than a hardware solution.
taliesin wrote on 3/6/2004, 3:40 PM
There is no real-time advantage using the ACEDVio. The advantage of this card is you can use both OHCI firewire in and out as well as analoge in and out and each of them combined.

Marco
donp wrote on 3/6/2004, 3:49 PM
I have it's predecesser the AVDC-1394 which is the same except for the analog out. I have been using it for two years now and it has alway given me excellent results even on some pretty poore VHS tapes. It only has dropped 1 or 2 frames where the tape was actually completely bad. This isn't a realtime card either.
cworld29 wrote on 3/6/2004, 6:58 PM
If you have had problems finding a card that "works" then here is your answer. I have had this card for about a year. I have captured dozens of hours of video and can count the amount of dropped frames on one hand.

The Vegas software bundle is nice but it didn't come with DVD architect. In fact I think they may be shipping it with a competitors product now.

The connections are a little inconvenient. Two firewire ports representing both standard size cables, two 8 pin mini dins for video in/out and 2 mini jacks for audio. No breakout box means you have to switch cables alot if capturing from different analog sources. S video plugs right in but composite requires that you use the composite to s video adapter that comes with the card. Just kind of a pain to pull the computer out and swith cables when I want to capture something form my VCR after capturing from an S-video source.

When I had a video camera that used Svideo this was a big pain. Since I have updated to a Sony that has firewire out not only have I cut the time I spent switching cables by about 75% but I can also view macrovision protected tapes on my computer when running the VCR through my camera.

I can't imagine being happier with another set up. Although a break out box would have been nice.
BrianStanding wrote on 3/7/2004, 1:05 PM
Looking for a break-out box? Build your own:

http://www.frontx.com/order1.html