Scan Converter Recommendation?

n201cm wrote on 6/7/2002, 5:14 PM
Sorry this is off topic a bit, but I know there are a lot of you out there with more experience! So, I need a good scan converter to go from my monitor connection out to an NTSC s-video jack and to a Sony WEGA flat screen. The video cards that I've tried with an s-jack out (like VisionTek Xtasy card) is pretty bad. I've built up a computer to do TV time shifting (as well as video editing with VV3)and would really prefer to watch the output on a TV rather than a computer monitor. I know that scan converters come in many modes/prices. I just wonder if there are certain brands known to do the job.

Incidentally I have the Sony DVMC-DA2 which does a superb job of converting through the firewire port. The only way to use it - that I can see - is to "print" from the timeline of VV3. Is there a program out there that can convert anything on the fly that the monitor "sees" to a firewire signal?

Thanks for any help you might offer!

Comments

SonyDennis wrote on 6/8/2002, 9:48 AM
I don't have a good recommendation on a scan convertor. I know they vary in quality, and there's wide range of price.

You might also consider a new graphics card with a better s-video output. I know a lot of people building a Home Theatre PC (HTPC) just use a high-quality s-video output instead of external scan convertor. It makes sense to do the scaling inside the graphics card, since the pixels are sill digital, and the rate can be controlled. An external convertor has many more issues to deal with, with analog pixels, unknown rates, etc.

Check out the AV Science Home Theatre PC forum at:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=ecb5c2e13856d2e9e09d928d582eae86&forumid=26

They might have a FAQ on this very topic.

///d@
seeker wrote on 6/9/2002, 5:08 AM
Peter,

When you are editing the video in Vegas Video 3, you can use VV3's option to send your video out over your FireWire port and that lets you use your DV camcorder as your scan converter by connecting its AV cable or S-Video and Audio cables to your TV. I do that, not just because my Sony TV screen is bigger than my computer monitor, but because that is the only way you can see a true rendition of your video colors while you are editing. My computer screen preview has lower contrast and lower saturation than what shows simultaneously on my TV screen, so if you edit based on your computer monitor, it is likely that your print will surprise you with overly saturated colors and excessive contrast.

-- Burton --
n201cm wrote on 6/10/2002, 6:48 AM
To Sonicdennis,

Thanks for pointing me towards the HTTPC forum!

Peter