VIA Firewire controllers, a problem?

[Hulk]

I've read that VIA Firewire controllers pose problems. I was wondering if anyone in this forum can verify or deny that claim?

- Mark

[Dr Mordrid]

Haven't tried the latest ones yet, but all the ones previous have been a royal PITA. What with the other chipsets working well why tempt fate.

Dr. Mordrid

[Hulk]

Doc,

As always you are right. I'm starting to get the upgrade itch and a lot of the motherboards I'm looking at have built in VIA Firewire controllers. I'll probably just get the board, see if on-board Firewire works, if not just use the PCI card solution like I am now.

In other news I've decided to dive into Vegas 5. After getting used to the workflow I have to say that I'm VERY impressed with this NLE. Superb audio handling, flexible interface, very professional looking effects and transitions, etc... MUCH better than the last time I checked out Vegas, probably around V3.

- Mark

[Brian Ellis]

VIA IEEE-1394 controllers work fine. I've used a Swann IEEE-1394 PCI card with a VIA chipset and it has never once caused me the slightest problem in two+ years, either in conjunction with my DVCAM drive or the Canopus ADVC-100, with both permanently plugged into it. I recommend it.

VIA rightfully obtained a bad reputation for their m/b chipsets, but this is a different kettle of fish.

[wkulecz]

Does Vegas 5 still have the stupid "product Activation"? I quit Vegas when version 3 intoduced the requirement to activate twice -- once on install and again to encode mpeg2!

I've had nothing but trouble with Via 1394 controllers. Including one on an HP notebook that HP ending buying back from me because they couldn't get it to work with both a DV camera and 1394 hard drive attached!

Brian, try uisng two or three 1394 hard drives *and* your DV cam or ADVC-100 on your Via based Swan. I've one, it sorta works if I plug in everything in just the right arrangement. Pretty random if the drives will be there when I reboot. PITA.

--wally.

[Dr Mordrid]

Yup....multiple device usage is one of the areas where they've fallen flat in the past. It used to be that single devices would fail & perhaps they've fixed that, but apparently not for muliti's.

Dr. Mordrid

[Hulk]

Wally,

Yes, there is A LOT of product activation with Sony Vegas 5. But the program is really quite good. Little things, like being able to drag text around WHILE still seeing the background is very nice. As you know, that's an "either or" situation in MSP now. Being able to drag a selection and create subclips is also nice. And the color correction is very good. And you all know about the audio handling. MSP will always feel like "home" I think, but this experience with Vegas has been good for me.

Wally, you've been railing against activation for years! I hate it too, but am too tired to battle on. Keep up the good fight!

- Mark

[wkulecz]

Only way to fight is to not buy it.

--wally.

[Jerry Jones]

There are different versions of VIA brand Firewire chipsets.

If Brian has one that works, then good for Brian.

Of course, the early reports about Firewire chipsets suggested the most reliable were those by Texas Instruments followed by Agere.

I have both Agere and Texas Instruments chipset Firewire cards and they perform equally well.

A couple of years ago, the Web boards seemed to be full of complaints about issues with VIA and NEC Firewire chipsets.

I don't see those types of complaints anymore, but if I were to buy a VIA Firewire device, I would want to test it within the warranty period to make certain I could return it for a refund if there were problems with timeline playback or blocky video transfer.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Frank Marshall]

Yes, I was *given* an early VIA firewire card but it proved to be completely useless.