If it's a later model, they're great. They had some earlier models that weren't Vegas compatible.
I use one, and have installed a couple in "B" rooms at broadcast facilities.

You want either model API-550 Rev C. Firmware Ver. 3.3 May 2005 or a model API-555. Anything earlier than an API-550 Rev C with that firmware will need to go back to ADS Tech for a firmware upgrade. The upgrade is free but you must pay the shipping out to California (they pay the shipping back)

If you can go to the store, just open the box and look on the bottom of the unit. If you order over the internet ask them to read the model number off of the box. If the box says API-550 there is no way to be sure without opening it up and looking at the unit. If the box says API-555, buy it! (the unit is great)

~jr

Nea.

Mine (which has the latest firmware) would consistently drop frames, even when using a time base corrector on the signal. I gave up and got a ADVC300. Have not had a dropped frame since, even on stuff recorded in SLP. I only use the Pyro for external preview from Vegas.

J,

I got a gently used Canopus ADVC-100 on ebay a couple of years ago and I love it, it just sits there and works. It was about $65 at the time I think. Might want to consider that.

DM

Thanks guys for all the comments. It appears we have one nay sayer but all else have great responses on the newer one(s). David, thanks for the suggestion, I will look on ebay and see what I can scrounge up. It was good to meet you at the Sacramento World Record Video Event.
Thanks again guys,

j razz

$146 @ newegg.com

Thanks,
I have some gift certificates at Tiger as well as 120 dollar credit- mainly I am looking for an excuse to use the credit and cards and this would be a profitable one.

j razz

Given that I'd say go for it, not much to loose and if nothing else you can use it to drive a monitor. I bought one of the early ones and well as said it just plain didn't work. What I was very unhappy about was they continued to sell them knowing full well there was a problem and had their man over on Cow making up all the excuses under the sun. I guess I could have lived with that except when the technically challenged buy something it should just work out of the box. Fortunately I got mine very cheap so I just wrote it off as a lesson learned and bought an ADVC 300 and never looked back, that has paid for itself just in hiring it out, add to that a few hundred hours of VHS that's been through it and I'm laughing.
In all fairness to ADS they weren't the only ones to build a dodgy A/D converter, there was the Dazzle which was anything but dazzling.

Bob.

I got the product in today, hooked it up and it works fine for standard dv footage on the timeline, but the cineform intermediaries it displays in black and white and there are a lot of artifacts that pop up all over the place.

Is this normal for the intermediaries or am I missing a setting?
Thanks

j razz

Are you trying to view HD using CineForm, downsampled to SD in Vegas, over the Pyro?
This could be a couple things, but likely is dip-switch related on the back. Be sure you're set up for setup, that could be the issue, but it's likely that there is another switch (Switch 4?) not set correctly. I don't have mine handy to peek at. If you've got your project properties set to DV though, it should just out-of-the-box work.

Yeah, that is what I was trying to do. I will play around with the switches on the back (maybe consult the manual) and see what I can come up with. If anyone does have a definite on this, let me know.

Spot, you make it sound as if yours works correctly when viewing the intermediaries? Is this right?

Thanks for the help,

j razz