Just read the article in Computer Video magazine and thought I would point out that have been inputing analogue video into my computer using the Marvel TV G400 card, editing the material using Media Pro 6, saving the file in DV form and outputing to my dv camera via Pyro DV card.
John
Perhaps you are making the best of a bad situation and for that, well done!
But, not everyone has a G400 TV or an equivalent(and be aware that its replacment the G450 e, doesn't record to M-JPEG, only MPEG).
Can you tell us:
1/ How long does it take to convert the footage from analogue to DV when you save it to disk (relative to real time, I mean)? In other words, you have, say, one minute of edited analogue footage, how long would that take to convert to DV?
This is important because, with something like DV-Bridge (and we'll be testing competitor models in coming months), the conversion happens in real time - and time for a lot of people is money (and for others is too valuable to waste).
2/ What spec is your PC (particularly processor type/speed) and how much RAM do you have?
3/ I assume your camcorder doesn't have an analogue input. If it does, though, you really should try recording your analogue footage to DV tape first, and then bring it in using the Pyro card. I would be very surprised if the final results that you output to DV from the PC weren't better than those you currently get doing it your way.
And, of course, you'd be able to batch capture this way and would also be carrying out the conversion from analogue to DV in real time.
Bob C
[This message has been edited by bcrabtree (edited 25 March 2001).]
I too read the article with interest. Being an engineer I was dissapointed to see there were no comments on the quality of the DV-analogue and analogue to DV conversion. Did anyone put a waveform monitor on it to see how good the D/A is? Do the syncs, colour burst etc. come even close to CCIR standards?
The article (and other reviews) seem to concentrate on how well it interfaces to software, does it work under Windows 3001 release 3b or whatever. This and other devices are video conversion devices so some of us (aka me!) would like to know how well they convert.
Richard
Nice points made. I've done a range of measurements on ADC/DAC kit for DV, the results are fairly discouraging, and surprising. I'll post details in the next few days.
I look forward to seeing the results - could be an eye opener if my experience with older (analogue only) kit is anything to go by.
Richard
I did mention that there was a noticable shift in colour compared to the original.
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regards
Steven Hood
[ O U T L A W : S D G ]
HI Bob,
On Reading the review and having tested the DV Bridge myself, I must admit i have had totally different results to you.
The biggest problem in the review was that there was No DV throughput and therefore no DV deck control with an added camera\deck to the bridge (using the bridge as a breakout box)
I tested this and it worked. On reading your review I re-tested and it still got it to work. In my test I used a purple laptop and purple desktop and a Sony PC100 as my DV device, it gave me full control through the bridge of the palmcorder and batch captured 5 clips fine with no problems.
I have not been able to try it out on anything else yet, however from my tests it does seem to do a DV to DV exchange including control.
Robbie@fastuk
In response to Bob C's comments, as you probably guessed, I use the latest technology !!- a Pentium 2- 350 with 192 MB Ram.
The conversion rate is about 17-1 which of course is far too long for most people.
With regard to your third point, yes it would be nice to have a camcorder with analogue inputs. Unfortunately however my Panasonics don't have this feature.Oh by the way how about another great line from the Dixon shower er sorry store in Chester when I ask why they don't stock Panasonic camcorders. The assistant's reply was " There is no demand and therefore we only stock Sony and " good all" JVC camcorders".
Finally, I look forward to reading over the coming months further reviews on the DV Bridge competitor models. You never know I might then buy one to convert 20 year old video's, shot using a " suitcase" recorder and camera, to DV. As they say time flies even when your retired!!
John
Just some more info on the DV bridge with some refs to the quality (however is based on 4:1:1 as the review was in NTSC land)
Robbie@fastuk
Richard, I've only just had tiome today to reread this thread (been busy lately). The DV ADC/DAC results is now in FAQs.
Alan,
Oh no it isn't!
;)
Bob C
S'truth, you hade me worried for a tick there. It's in A/V Hardware, because it's an answer to a once asked question.