I have the same device as you (DV80), and my advise is to drop that. I also tried it with VW4 and 5; it was a big dissappointment for me. If you have a DV camcorder, a analog source and VF, you're pretty much set to capture from a vcr, for example. Use your DV camcorder as a 'pass-through' device to capture analog video WITHOUT HARDLY DROPPING ANY FRAMES!!!!
Check the link below to see how stewartr002 did it. It's awsome. You'll be amazed.
http://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=97505&Page=6

Good luck.

There are only two outputs from the camcorder (BTW it's not digital but analog), one for video, and one for audio.

The DV80 has two audio inputs (right and left). I've tried taking the single audio from the camera in both, to no avail. Really wondering if it isn't the DV80.

I'll keep trying. And I gather from what I'm reading, Video Factory is worth the price. Just want to make sure that the hardware works before the software upgrade.

Thanks much,

-jP

Work with the Dazzle for now. Several other VF users have reported getting useful results with it, but after lots of tweaking. You will want to completely uninstall the Video Wave software from your computer. It's not only unnecessary, but it gets in the way of Video Factory working properly. Once you've used VF, you'll never want to go back to VW!

As far as the single audio line, don't worry about that. There's a very simple procedure you can do inside VF to switch the audio from one channel over to both; it takes only a few mouse clicks (see below).

You will want to save your pennies for a better A/D video converter eventually. The Dazzle is just about the worst of the lot (sorry). Right now most users are recommending the Canopus ADVC-100 unit and getting excellent results. It's $300 though, so you may want to work with the Dazzle for a while anyway. If you are planning on a DV camera purchase at some point, then save the money for that instead and get one with a "pass through" mode, which will let you use the camera as the converter.

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To convert single channel stereo audio to an even signal in both channels:
1) click on the event to select it
2) insert, audio envelope, pan
3) move the pan line towards the empty channel to 50%
4) insert, audio envelope, volume
5) move the volume line to +5.4dB (to compensate for the pan making the level quieter)

YES !! jkpalmer52....You just got the best advice from the VF/VW 'Guru'. Who is the "Tom Cooper" of VW (someone very respected in the VW forum)...

Post your signature here if you WERE a VW user, and agree with me...

(BTW...I've been there, done that, and did not get a T-Shirt)...

I didn't get a T-shirt from VW either, in fact I got bugger-all (as they say in Lancashire). VF is the biz. but it'll take me a long time to get up the level of some of you people.

I appreciate your recommendations. I'll stick with Dazzle DV80 for now, should probably "upgrade" from VideoWave to Video Factory. If I start to get serious, then look into Canopus ADVC-100 converter.

Question about the Canopus ADVC-100. If my PC doesn't have a firewire connection, then I need to install a card to give me the capability of having a firewire connection to the Canopus ADVC-100, correct?

Correct. Most generic firewire cards run in the $25 to $40 range. Make sure it's OHCI compliant. If it comes with a driver disk, toss the disk in the trash immediately; use the Microsoft drivers instead of any that may come with the card. You will also need a firewire cable to connect the converter to this card for another $25 or so.

I had the same problem and traded in the Dazzle for a Belkin USB Video Bus II (belkin.com). If you select CAPTURE and the "Start Capture" buttons don't all turn the button label text from gray to white - the drivers are missing/corrupted. In other words, I suspect you're seeing the VIDEO text as white...but the AUDIO text as gray.

I'm sure you already know you won't hear any audio during capture...only playback.