Thinking about FireWire

XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/9/2003, 10:24 AM
I'm thinking about getting the FireWire thing, but before I look, can anyone give me some information about it? What I should look for on the stats to make it be good? Why it is no comparison to a regular ATI All in Wounder 64MB Graphix card? What stats are bad and good? Which one is the most prefered and the cheapest?

Comments

Former user wrote on 1/9/2003, 10:27 AM
You need to get a Firewire card that is Texas Instrument OHCI compliant. My card cost $15 US. There are more expensive ones, but I don't see the point.

If I understand the ATI, it is an analog capture. Meaning there will always be some quality loss going in and out of the computer. With Firewire, it is a direct data transfer, no loss from camera to computer and back.

HTH

Dave T2
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/9/2003, 10:37 AM
So the FireWire Converter Card will be just Fine? I dont need the little external thing? Mind I ask you, what is Texas Instrument OHCI compliant?
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/9/2003, 10:42 AM
Actually I think I didn't ask that question to the full. I also ment to say is that if your cam has to be FireWire Compliant in order to use the FireWire Card or perifferal?
Former user wrote on 1/9/2003, 10:46 AM
Yeah, you need a firewire camera. Most digital cameras have firewire. If you don't have a firewire camera, then you need an External convertor, such as the Canopus convertors that you read about on this forum, and a firewire card for your computer.

Texas Instrument is the chipset that is the best on the firewire car. OHCI is the standard for the communication. I believe it stands for Open Host Compliant Interface. There are firewire cards that use other chipsets, but some people have problems with them.
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/9/2003, 10:52 AM
Crap so I need both the External and the Card!!!!!! #$!@ And I cant get a DV Camera because we use multiple cameras and I want them all to go in.
Former user wrote on 1/9/2003, 10:54 AM
It's never easy is it!!! :)

Dave T2
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/9/2003, 11:10 AM
What about the Canopus ADVC-100 Analog-to-Digital Video Converter? Is that any good?
Summersond wrote on 1/9/2003, 11:17 AM
Yes it is. Also, get a Pyro firewire card made by ADS. They work great and are not all that expensive.
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/9/2003, 11:25 AM
bASIC IS FINE?
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/9/2003, 1:53 PM
The Basic Version of this card is fine?
Summersond wrote on 1/9/2003, 2:24 PM
Thats what I use.
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/9/2003, 4:02 PM
OK,
I'll see what I can find. Thanks all!
snicholshms wrote on 1/9/2003, 5:16 PM
XTREEMMAK:
A solid, basic firewire card you can buy cheaply is made by SIIG. You can pick one up at COMPUSA for about $25. DO NOT buy an "off brand", cheapo firewire card.
Do a search on this forum by name SPOT. His name is Douglas Spotted Eagle and he recently responded to a forum post that had to do with this topic.
Steve
BillyBoy wrote on 1/9/2003, 9:52 PM
I got a SIIG too... well made card, and not overpriced. All that really matters is if or not it is 100% IEEE 1394 (firewire) compliant. That's the one thing few companies put on the box or even in the fine print on their web pages.
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/10/2003, 10:56 AM
What about Quality?
I've seen a few FireWire Cards that render or import video at around 720*520 or somthing like that. TV quality. Is that enough or do I need it bigger? And what about big screen?
Summersond wrote on 1/10/2003, 11:22 AM
That would be a software issue. Firewire is a standard for digital communication. Any relevance to video would be tied to the software that came with the card.
James Green wrote on 1/10/2003, 1:24 PM
All video going into and out of Vegas through 1394 will be 720x480.
Also, there's no reason you can't use both the firewire card and the AIW card. I use both with no problems and can capture with either one in Vegas' capture utility.

James Green
XTREEMMAK wrote on 1/10/2003, 2:18 PM
Ok,
I heard that the AIW card was good, but the FireWire is much better. But by how much? I can only afford to by one. What I need it for is to of course import my VHS or TV movies into the computer for blue screen editing and other sorts of editing. Now all I want to know is what gives the best quality, does not slow the frame rate, and will work for multiple types of cameras? (So far I'm running with FireWire)
Chienworks wrote on 1/10/2003, 3:29 PM
Stick with firewire. I've used both and the AIW was nothing but headaches. It's definately not a device i could count on to get the job done. Firewire just plain works.
Grazie wrote on 1/11/2003, 1:52 AM
Although not on a standalone PC, Dell laptop here - I use 4 x firewire drives daisy-chain together - AND a separate 4-pin OHCI video qualified DELL port for DV video in/out. Works for me. - Total external firewire drive capacity 380gb. One of the 120gb drives has Vegas Video reporting 8hrs 20mins capture time - plenty for my sloppy file management!

Grazie