WAY OT: Canopus ADVC 100 question

dand9959 wrote on 5/31/2005, 8:37 AM
I realize that this has nothing to do with Vegas, but this is the most helpful forum around so maybe someone has some thoughts...

I'm using a Canopus ADVC100 to pass through analog from a dvd player to digital (firewire) out into vegas for capturing. Regardless of the dvd source, the ADVC box very cyclically distorts the output. The output is fine for 5 seconds, then distorts for 30 or so, then normal, then distorted, ad nauseum. (The little red warning/bad data light is on while the signal is bad.) By "distorted" I mean that the output looks to be at about 25% brightness, 150% contrast and 75% resolution.

I replace the Canopus in the process with a VX2100 to use in pass-through mode, and everything works fine.

I remember long ago having a similar problem that ended up being a switch in Vegas (Studio) capture set incorrectly...strangely, I had to turn the DV controls switch off. However, this is NOT the problem here. If I remove Vegas from the process, and display the signal directly to a TV, the distortion still occurs.

Comments

prairiedogpics wrote on 5/31/2005, 9:00 AM
If you're trying to capture from a DVD player, you definitely have to uncheck "Enable DV device control" in the Vegas properties.
If you've done that and you're still getting this cyclic error, is it possible it's reading some type of copy protection inherent in the DVD?
(I have the ADVC-100; I use it with my Sony Hi-8 cam.)
Dan
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 5/31/2005, 10:00 AM
Dand9959 - sounds to me like what you're describing is copy protection on the DVD. if it's coypright protected then it's a no go unless you use something like DVD decryptor. or something of the sort. Mind you it's illegal to take copyright protected materials from the DVD and do..... well, pretty much anything form them, including just copying them to your HD :)

I'd suggest not breaking federal law, but what do I know.

Have a good one. :)

Dave
Laurence wrote on 5/31/2005, 10:14 AM
You are allowed to do this legally if you are just using it for your own private purposes. What you are describing is definately Macrovision copy protection.
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 5/31/2005, 11:40 AM
I'm not sure that you can sometimes - the copy protections don't even allow you to copy it.

whether for personal purposes or not.

Just depends.

Dave
Laurence wrote on 5/31/2005, 1:16 PM
I have a Phillips DVP642 DVD player that I bought at a local Target store that came Macrovision free right from the store. You can copy anything with it. There are also Macrovision-free DVD players and hacks for cheap DVD players available online.
jaydeeee wrote on 5/31/2005, 1:52 PM
There is a jumper you can move (ADVC-50) and/or a power on sequence (press some button while powering on) that allows you to bypass the macrovision.

I have the ADVC -50 (move jumper 6 - off).

ADVC-100:
How to disable Macrovision on the Canopus ADVC-100 hardware video converter device :
Press and HOLD the Input Select switch.
When colour-bars appear at analogue output, KEEP THE BUTTON PRESSED.
Wait until the colour-bars DISAPPEAR before releasing the button.
Macrovision is now disabled until the unit is switched off. You do not have to be playing a Macrovision-protected signal into the box while doing this.

ADVC-50 Addendum:
You can disable macrovision protection by removing the last "reserved" jumper on the card WHILE CAPTURING A NON-MACROVISION TAPE !!!!
If you do this while capturing a Macrovision tape, capture will be dark, even on a non-macrovision tape.

try either approach and see which works best.

Harold Brown wrote on 5/31/2005, 6:00 PM
I have the same unit with a DVD player and a VCR attached via a video selector and never have a problem.