Upgrade or update G400TV?

[zappa]

I purchased the G400TV a couple of years ago and did many a video on my PC then burned out. I have not updated anything since the very beginning. I will use it primarily for video editing from digital tape to CD's and VCR tapes with VCR tapes being the majority of my output. I have a Sony DCR-TRV7 camcorder.

I now have new energy and new projects and need advice:
1) Do I upgrade or update?
2) If I update do I just need the most recent driver or do I need to do them in order?
3) Are there other updates I should do for the G400TV?
4) If upgrade is the answer what is next?

Thank you.

[Brian Ellis]

Zappa

I recommend you go the DV way (you can still keep the G-400 for display and odd use). Get a cheap IEEE-1394 card, such as the Pyro or Swann. Your DV input will go direct to that. Then get a Canopus ADVC-100 for analogue to DV conversion and DV to analogue conversion. This will take care of everything you need at reasonably low-cost, hassle-free (if you have a fastish drive, no drops, no format conversion). I suggest Media Studio Pro as a good capture/edit device, although your IEEE-1394 card should come bundled with a lite editor. If poss, use W2k as o/s, but 98se will also work.

[zappa]

So it's an antique already. So be it. I use Win98SE.
Clueless so bear with me.
Questions:
1) Is Media Studio Pro a Matrox product?
2) Canopus ADVC-100 is software?

Putting puzzles together is not my forte so what is the one stop shop slam bam thank you upgrade? A couple of bucks ain't gonna matter as user friendly means less time which I prefer as my projects are for family and friends enjoyment.
Thanks.

[Brian Ellis]

Zappa

MSP is a semi-pro capturing/editing/titling/painting/publishing software for video, offered by ulead (see www.ulead.com)

Canopus ADVC-100 is a hardware converter that to's and fro's analogue, such as you would use for inputting from and outputting to VHS tape, that plugs into your DV card. See http://www.canopus.com/US/canopus/pr_dvconverter.asp (this is a press release, but the Canopus products website doesn't seem to be working today )

Certainly, with these two products I can do almost anything with excellent quality, but we are talking a few hundred to buy them. Of course, your computer and drives have to be up to the job as well.

[AndrewDV]

Hi,

I have been using the ADVC along with MSP since it was released. I have been very pleased with the results. That setup is certainly easy to use. What I really like is that it works great with my VIA based motherboard. Previously, I was using the Marvel G400-TV and then PIC MJPEG + WinTV that needed some tinkering to work properly with the VIA chipset.

Another option is to wait for the new Matrox X.10. It is a complete package that is going to cost around $599. Seems pricey at first, but if you are just starting off that is a good price for a better-than-average package.

[Fred H]

599$ for just a capture card?
But, you can go another way.
Se this thread for alternative solutions:

http://forums.murc.ws/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35383

Fred H

[AndrewDV]

$599 is for the entire X.10 package. This includes real time rendering and Adobe Premier editing software. You can read the press release on the Matrox User's home page (www.murc.ws).

[Fred H]

X.10 = 599$
+
Parhelia ~500$
---------------------
Total ~1100$

Not a price for common users and not for low activity video editing people.
And I assume that every, more or less experienced people already own a copy of the Premiere.
So, why to pay 399$ for another one?

Sorry, for my... “negativism”.

Fred H

[Brian Ellis]

Originally posted by Fred H

Not a price for common users and not for low activity video editing people.
And I assume that every, more or less experienced people already own a copy of the Premiere.
So, why to pay 399$ for another one?

Not to mention that Premiere isn't a patch on MSP, which doesn't work with any of the RT/X series

[Fred H]

Not to mention that Premiere isn't a patch on MSP, which doesn't work with any of the RT/X series

Is it true........? He-he-he...
What a piece of ****!

Thanks, Brian, for supporting me in my view of this story.

Fred H

[AndrewDV]

The X.10 does not require a P.

If cost is that much of an issue and the goal is home video editing to VHS and (S)VCD, then the Marvel setup in question will do just fine. Just upgrade the editing software to something like VideoStudio DVD Edition ($99) or MediaStudio Director's Cut ($199) to get the more advanced features. With MediaStudio Pro costing $495, that seems to be pushing the limit for you. Getting something that does software captures, like an AIW, would require upgrading the computer hardware to get full frame captures.

[Brian Ellis]

Andrew

Why pay $99 for VideoStudio when it's bundled free with a Swann or Pyro (?) DV card? OK it may not be the 2002 version but it surely is the 2001 version. If I remember correctly, I paid GBP 35 for the Swann card and the VS disk packet has never been opened I suggested this with the second post in this thread.

In view of the fact that Zappa has a DV camcorder, the DV suggestion earlier still seems the most logical, low-cost, up-to-date solution IMHO and will cause him the least hassle.

[Dr Mordrid]

Because the version of VideoStudio that comes with those cards is a limited edition of an earlier version. The newer version is better, especially if you have a system of 1ghz or better.

IMHO I'd go with the RT.X cards. They have an analog DV I/O bridge built in and their DV edits are much cleaner than going with a plain-Jane IEEE-1394 device.

Unless you plan on using three monitors for a triplehead workspace any other display card will work, but I prefer something like a G450/550 DualHead on editing systems.

Dr. Mordrid

[AndrewDV]

Zappa,

Maybe, you can give us some insight on your budget and what you plan on doing (aka "requirements). That could help us understand your needs.

[Brian Ellis]

The newer versions are better, but with the bundled ones, you can start the cheaper upgrade route