Canopus 77010138100 ADVC-55 A/d Converter External

I had decided that it was time to convert three decades of old videotapes into a digital format. I purchased the ADVC-55 after reading the stellar reviews on Amazon. A bit of research showed without question that a Firewire based conversion device was the only way to go and that the cheap USB 2.0 devices were a waste of time.Things started off well with the ADVC-55. The first video, about 10 years old, converted marvelously. The picture quality was great, and the sound was perfect. Then I tried to convert a video from the 1980s. The static, the tracking, and the pops in picture quality were just too much for the ADVC-55 to handle. It's not as though the video was in terrible condition. It was actually fine to watch on a TV. The digital conversion was full of freezing frames, jerky motion, and all the other trademarks of video with a poor digital signal. Imagine trying to watch satellite TV in a hurricane, then you'll get the picture. Needless to say, it was a huge disappointment. I would imagine that many people wishing to convert and preserve old video will be using old tapes of less than perfect quality. Unless my device was somehow flawed, I would argue strongly that this is not the device for them.I have ordered an ADVC-300, which contains a built in "time based correction" system. The voices of the Internet seem to indicate that this will serve me much better. In a few weeks, I'm sure I'll be posting a review of the 300 that will tell you whether or not my plans worked out.On a side note, for those of you still researching the project, Windows Movie Maker has an excellent video capture software that is completely compatible with the ADVC devices. There's no need to wade through the adware-infused offerings available online. Your Windows Vista or Windows 7 computer probably already has Windows Movie Maker. It can create .avi files (high quality, but extremely large in terms of hard drive space) and .wmv files (minimally lower quality but dramatically lower in terms of hard drive space).

OK , I'm rewriting my review. My first review I have 1 star because the unit didn't work at all, was not recognized by my PC. Turns out for the 1394 firewire (for which I had to buy a separate cable) you also have to buy a separate power supply for the unit because it does not ship with one. Canopus tries to stick you for $38 for a 5v power supply! Ouch. I have a huge pile of power supplies so was able to find one that would work because ADVC unit says on back it can take 5v to 40v - I had a 9v.After hooking up power it started working. In first test was able to pull some video off Video 8 camera. Was a bit grainy but I think that is a resolution adjustment in my import software - still playing with it. At least it is working.Seems that the product works, not sure of quality and reliability yet. In the small print of the manual they told me I would need a power supply for the 1394 firewire, did not say that in the marketing collateral. I seriously don't get why they don't just ship power supply with the unit and charge an extra $5 instead of putting people through this headache. Most laptops are 1394. Oh yeah, I guess they do it so they can try to sell you a $38 power supply.

So I have two Canopus advc 110 products, that I've used for years. I got this because I was trying to save a couple bucks and I needed one more audio video controller.The setup was not quite as "plug-and-play" as the 110 version. You gotta follow the manual and set the back switches correctly (they are very reminiscent of the old pins on IDE hard drives when you had to select "slave or master" except you can flip these switches with your fingers (there are some computer nerds reading this out there that totally get what I'm talking about here)I was surprised to find that there was no output on the Advc - 55. Which was probably explained in the listing, I should probably be more careful when I read and buy these things. But, it's pretty annoying to not have that svideo and RCA outs like you have on the 110.Bottom line, unless you have a very specific application like I had, get the ADVC 110 you'll be much happier with it.

I needed to set up a podcasting room, which really isn't as simple as I thought it would be! I learned a lot through the process, can summarize it as "there's no good turn-key solution...good luck throwing random stuff together". This works WAY better than the El Gato unit that's laying like a dead fish on my desk right now.The Canopus box let me do just that. Video from one camera source and audio from another source...both feeding my Powermac through a firewire cable. I like the fact it gets power from the firewire cable, too...don't need to use the (optional) external power supply I bought. Gave it only 4 stars because I think they should include the adapter with the unit...it;s way too expensive for something that anybody not using firewire will need (IMHO).It works, and I'm using it. Enough said.