Use DV Cam to convert analog to DV and vice versa?

kapalua wrote on 10/29/2002, 8:48 PM
What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of using a capable digital camcorder with composite video port instead of a dedicated break out box for the purpose of converting an analog signal to a DV signal to input to a fire wire card ?
I have the Canopus ADVC 100 for this purpose but others are suggesting just using the camcorder to convert the analog signal to digital and direct it to the 1394 card. Pros and cons??

Comments

seeker wrote on 10/30/2002, 7:24 AM
Kapalua,

Well, the advantage of using the camcorder is that you don't have to buy the Canopus unit. But since you already have the ADVC 100 that argument doesn't apply. The advantages of using a camcorder instead of the ADVC 100 are marginal. I don't know if there is any video quality difference. If you have both, you might want to do a test of your own to see if there is any quality difference. The camera hookup is a bit bunglesome as compared to the ADVC 100, and if you use the ADVC 100 you save "wear and tear" on your camcorder.

-- seeker --
SonyEPM wrote on 10/30/2002, 8:36 AM
The Canopus is fine for capturing a big long clip from an analog source. If you plan on re-editing a project at some time in the future, recording everything to tape first is a good idea- you'll have a DV archive you can re-capture later. You'll also be able to log and batch capture selects without hogging up your hard drive.

thief_ wrote on 10/30/2002, 8:45 AM
Kapalua,

I've had nothing but problems with my Asus V8200 Deluxe video card. It has analog capture facility and even analog out, but because of driver problems, I've only managed to get them both working recently.

If your PC isn't fast enough, you'll be dropping frames like flies in a PeaBoe factory. And my analoge out has interference lines in the picture! <G>

My DV Cam can convert analog to digital and transfer to the PC via Firewire. I can even, as I recently discovered with the help of this forum, convert digital to analog (ie Firewire to DV Cam to analog) using the DV Cam.

The benefits are that the quality of the video in and video out of the DV Cam are superior wrt any card u can plug into a PC. There should be no real disadvantages of using your DV Cam for data conversion, unless you have to spend AUS$3,000 to buy one. Other than that, I'm pretty happy now~!

Regards
kapalua wrote on 10/30/2002, 6:47 PM
Thanks to all who responded. I'm very happy with the Canopus ADVC 100 but was just wondering if I could have done just as well without. Thanks again.
p_l wrote on 10/30/2002, 11:21 PM
While we're on the subject, does anyone know if (and how) a Canon Elura can do pass-through? Thanks.
Randy Brown wrote on 10/31/2002, 7:50 AM
I'll be capturing from an analogue camera for my first time this weekend. When going through a DV camera, is it best to record to the DV tape and *THEN* capture or does it not matter (for all I know, it's the only way)?
Thanks,
Randy
bcbarnes wrote on 10/31/2002, 8:58 AM
I use a DCR-TRV20, and when I've had to capture from an analog source, I've found that it is easiest to just capture onto a miniDV tape, and then capture that in a second step as you normally would capture DV. That way, I have a tape incase I need to go back and get something that I didn't capture the first time.
Randy Brown wrote on 10/31/2002, 9:02 AM
Makes sense...thanks bc. But if I don't need to go back to recapture from analogue, are there any pros/cons to capturing the same way I print to tape (thru the DV cam to VHS w/o recording to DV 1st)

Thanks again,
Randy
Tyler.Durden wrote on 10/31/2002, 9:43 AM
Hi Randy,

BC wrote: "I use a DCR-TRV20, and when I've had to capture from an analog source, I've found that it is easiest to just capture onto a miniDV tape, and then capture that in a second step as you normally would capture DV. That way, I have a tape incase I need to go back and get something that I didn't capture the first time."


FWIW, I do the gag where you start recording with the camcorder, then jack-in the DV cable and simultaneously capture. Same result: captured footage and DV (D-8 in my case) for backup, but half the time spent.

HTH, MPH