The Canopus ADVC-100 is the current leader of the pack. Almost any 1394 card that is OHCI compliant will do the job.

Avoid analog input/output video cards. Unless you get something pro-grade in the over $1000 range, they just don't have what it takes and you'll be very disapointed with the quality.

I am a little confused....Why don't I just get a PCI video card????? Why do I need firewire when no drives or devices use it?????

Thanks

What about this card...

http://www.canopuscorp.com/ppt_advc_1394.htm#bay

Westside:

You state/ask: 'I am a little confused....Why don't I just get a PCI video card????? Why do I need firewire when no drives or devices use it?????'

Vegas does not draw its true strengths from the video card. From reading your comments, it appears that where your current capabilities fall short (in terms of tasks you apparently want to accomplish) is input/output (capture/print) to and from your VHS VCR.

Vegas looks for and outputs in the DV format, and can do so perfectly, with zero generational loss. The best way to do this is via firewire. Not only will there be zero loss in the video, the stereo audio is also transferred at the same time.

While an analog video card can capture and digitize your video/audio, as Chien points out, you have to get a really expensive card to get acceptable quality, and, then, you will probably be limited to analog out also.

You will probably get much better quality for less money if you go the DV cam route with a firewire card. Firewire cards don't cost much, and, because they are digital, you don't need the most expensive card to tap into the lossless capability of digital transfer.

I'm not sure where you're coming from with your question about no devices/drives using firewire. Most new cams and many new external harddrives are avialable at very reasonable cost that use firewire. If you are going do be converting any quantity of VHS footage, you'll discover soon enough (if you haven't already) how much space is required, not only for the capture, but for rendering the final output prior to printing back to tape.

Have you already a hefty investment in equipment that makes you hesitant to jump to go the digital route? It could very well be that your present video card is more than adequate for your needs.

The advice offered previously in this thread seems sound to me (although I prefer the cam route because, in addition to the analog/digital conversion capability, you also gain a digital cam . . . and once you've shot digital video, I doubt you'll want to shoot much analog again).

Keep in touch. I'd love to know what you finally decide upon. Good luck.

Caruso

Alright I am slowly starting to see this... So basically the dv Camera is acting as a D/A converter.....??? So the setup goes VCR>>>>DV CAMERA>>>>Firewire Card and vice versa for printing to tape???? Which Camera/Cards would you recomend??? Do all DV cameras have fire wire connections????

Thanks for all the help....I am new to this

Yes; you're getting it :)

All DV camcorders have firewire connections; it's the standard way for getting a digital signal in to or out from the camera. However, not all of them have analog inputs. Most have analog outputs though. Even the ones that do have analog inputs won't necessarily convert an analog signal to DV on the fly. Some of them require that you record the analog video onto a DV tape first, then you can play it back out through the firewire port.

When looking at camera specs, look for "analog passthrough mode" or something like that.

Will this setup also play the video in Vegas back in realtime to a TV....ie I have the video playing in Vegas while simultanously playing it back on a external monitor ( TV )?


Thanks