Seeking Advice on a Capture Device

[megamachine]

I recently got a new rig at my job (see below), basically the same as my old rig, but with one difference that is effecting my ability to capture from VHS and audio cassettes. The sound card on the new machine only has a mic input (the previous one had a line input). Connecting line signals to the mic input results in clipping and there doesn't seem to be a way to bypass the mic preamp. My VHS capture device uses the line in on the sound card to capture the audio stream (video goes through USB2, pre-compressed to MPEG-2). So, I am looking for another capture device that will send both audio and video through either USB2 or FireWire (preferred), bypassing the sound card input altogether. Also, as I still want to digitize some audio cassettes, I wonder if any devices can capture audio only. I have a laptop, so am limited to external devices. Many thanks for any advice anyone can offer.

IBM ThinkPad T42
ATI Mobility Radeon 7500
Pentium M 1.60GHz
512 RAM
40GB HDD

[ormonde]

I have a VideOh Adaptec AVC-220 external device that is both Firewaire/USB2 that has served me quite well. It captures on-the-fly to mpeg-2. It comes bundled with Sonic MyDVD - which I have never really liked, but it is the only software interface that works with the device as far as I know.

[megamachine]

Thanks for the reply, Ormonde. Are the audio and video streams both captured via FireWire/USB2? Or is the audio via soundcard?

[ormonde]

Both the video and the audio is captured via FireWire/USB2...

[megamachine]

That's good to know, thanks Ormonde. I'll look into it further.

[ormonde]

"thanks Ormonde."

Glad to be of help

[megamachine]

Anyone have any experience with the Canopus ADVC-100? I can't tell from the the online specs if it uses the soundcard to capture audio, or if it is captured as another stream via USB2/Firewire.

[jackwhitaker]

I have used the Canopus for about 2 years. It is a fantastic device!! You can use Nero, Studio 9, Roxio or Sonic MyDVD to capture. The card is immaterial.

[megamachine]

Mm hm, thanks Jack. How does it capture audio? In what format does it capture the video? And for others that have used the Canopus device, does it work with VirtualDub and Premier?

[jackwhitaker]

The software you are using determines the format. Canopus is just a super interface to capture, with hardly any loss of quality.

[jackwhitaker]

Mm hm, thanks Jack. How does it capture audio? In what format does it capture the video? And for others that have used the Canopus device, does it work with VirtualDub and Premier?

I don't have any experience with VirtualDub or Premier.

[megamachine]

Mm hm, sounds interesting. But I am wondering, does it require hookup to the sound card, or are the audio and video both captured via Firewire? My original problem is that my new machine no longer has a line in audio recording option, and so I need a capture device that does not rely on the sound card.

[jackwhitaker]

It captures via firewire

[megamachine]

Thanks Jack, for taking the time to answer, and I'll check it out.