Quick ADVC110 Questions

Stuart Robinson wrote on 10/9/2006, 3:33 PM
Thanks to everyone who provided glowing feedback of the Canopus ADVC units a while back. I couldn't really justify the 300 so picked up a 110 this week.

Two things I notice and wanted to run by other Vegas users...

When capturing PAL via Y/C (S-Video) the clip dimensions are 720×576 as expected, but the image area is only 700×576. I've tried a few different sources, including the S-Video output of a camera, and it seems the same with all of them. Is that normal?

Secondly, looking at the audio waveform in Vegas there's a definite DC offset. Capturing the same audio via my E-Mu sound card doesn't exhibit any offset, so it can't be the source. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Comments

farss wrote on 10/9/2006, 3:52 PM
Yes the 700x576 picture area is correct.
Analogue video includes an area to allow for drift etc, etc. Well that's putting it very simply but yes you'll get that from any A->D converter. Vegas shows you the whole digital frame, much of which will not be visible on a analogue TV / Monitor (unless you hit Underscan.

I alway mask that area when making a DVD, just so the encoder doesn't waste bandwith. Also so if viewed on a LCD monitor at least it'll have clean edges.

Don't know about the DC offset in the audio, that's a worry. I only have the ADC 300, not noticed a DC offset but it does employ some form of AGC. Hardly a real PIA becuase without it and RT level meters on capture you'd be kind of flying blind and risking clipping.

Bob.
farss wrote on 10/9/2006, 3:52 PM
Yes the 700x576 picture area is correct.
Analogue video includes an area to allow for drift etc, etc. Well that's putting it very simply but yes you'll get that from any A->D converter. Vegas shows you the whole digital frame, much of which will not be visible on a analogue TV / Monitor (unless you hit Underscan.

I alway mask that area when making a DVD, just so the encoder doesn't waste bandwith. Also so if viewed on a LCD monitor at least it'll have clean edges.

Don't know about the DC offset in the audio, that's a worry. I only have the ADC 300, not noticed a DC offset but it does employ some form of AGC. Hardly a real PIA becuase without it and RT level meters on capture you'd be kind of flying blind and risking clipping.

Bob.
Stuart Robinson wrote on 10/9/2006, 5:37 PM
Thanks farss. Having captured a few things now with everything "properly" hooked up, it looks like that DC offset was caused by a ground loop, which is a relief!

When you say you mask the edges of the clip, I assume that's just via a simple black mask on a separate track? What do you do if the video does have some positional drift and isn't dead centre, just leave it that way and adjust the mask accordingly?