I've been a Liquid user for a couple of years and have been working with MC since May doing testing for Avid.  Most of my editing is with analog material captured with Liquid's Pro BOB.  I do not have any MC hardware and am not likely to be able to have any, so my plan was to capture with Liquid and use the footage in MC.  Well, that's a real pain.  The MXF exported from Liquid is not compatible with MC.  To render twice isn't an option.  Exporting from Liquid to some format other than MXF, then importing to MC takes far too long and I don't have that kind of time.  That means three times (or more) the duration of the footage just to start editing (capture, export, import).

I've heard of at least one option for analog-to-Firewire capture that works with MC.  That's the Canopus ADVC300 which is a bidirectional converter.  From what I understand, output from MC can be monitored with the same box.

Canopus has other similar models and I'm sure there are other manufacturers with similar products.  Does anyone here have some experience with any of these 3rd-party converters and know which ones work and how well they work with MC?  Input is most important.  Output would also be nice to have although not mandatory.

The ADS Pyro A/V Link provides all that, plus Component, for under $150 ...

http://www.cwol.com/firewire/ads-pyro-av-link-with-software.htm

That's very interesting, Randall.  Thanks.  I had been looking for products from the "higher-end" companies.  The least expensive Canopus product is higher than that.

Do we know this works well with MC for in and out?  If I can get one locally, I know I can return it if it doesn't work but it would be good to know I won't need to return it.  With some of the video card testing I've done recently, I've had to return more than one and I don't want to end up on some store's "blacklist." 

smyers63:

have been working with MC since May doing testing for Avid.

If you're doing testing for Avid, then I would expect that they provide you with the appropriate Avid hardware. 

smyers63:

With some of the video card testing I've done recently, I've had to return more than one

Again, if you're testing for Avid, then you should be using the video cards that Avid has already tested.

Or are you just saying that you are testing Avid software on your own and worded it oddly?

Kenton,

I am testing MC software with unsupported configurations and reporting what works and what doesn't.  Avid sent me and two other Liquid forum moderators the software only (no hardware and none is forthcoming) for testing with our current system configurations and for helping Liquid users who wish to migrate.  There's no reason to test what's already been tested and every reason to test cards which most Liquid users are already using.

I hope this clears up your confusion and that you'll offer something helpful instead of questioning what I'm doing.

smyers63:

I hope [snip] that you'll offer something helpful instead of questioning what I'm doing.

Wow, thanks for that - I totally deserved it. 

Perhaps you could've been clear in your first post that you were testing these unsupported configurations for Avid and reporting your findings back to them.  I am not a mind reader and if you're posting in the MC forum asking about various configs I have to default to the answer of "use supported configs"

Asking for help, but then asking people to stop questioning what you're doing is a little contradictory to the process. 

• Patient:  "Doc, my arm hurts"
• Doctor:  "Have you strained it or done anything to hurt it lately?"
• Patient:  "Please,  just help me... don't ask me any questions."
  

I was very clear in my question about which 3rd-party capture devices work with MC and clear that I was testing for Avid.  If you don't have anything helpful to add, please let the thread stay on-topic which is "3rd-party analog capture hardware."

I'm not "asking for help" with an unsupported computer or video card configuration.  I'm asking what 3rd-party capture devices work.  Randall understood me quite well and was helpful.  If you can't respond to the specific question on capture devices, then there's no reason to respond and no reason to take the tone you're taking.

Avid knows what I'm doing and why.  It shouldn't be your concern, really.

Now, let's get back to the question.

If anyone else has some information about 3rd-party capture hardware, I'd like to hear from them.

What I mainly take exception with is this attitude:

smyers63:

Avid knows what I'm doing and why.  It shouldn't be your concern, really.

It is everyone's concern.  My main interest in this topic came when you expressed concern about being "blacklisted" by retailers.  My thought was that if you're doing testing for Avid, then it would be my expectation that Avid would handle the purchase and returns of the equipment you are testing.  Seems odd that you're fronting all this cost and inconvenience up front.

Have you looked at any of the BlackMagicDesign devices?

Can you provide a list of the devices that you have tried so someone doesn't suggest one that you've already looked into?

Are you saying the BlackMagic devices work with MC or do you know?

I haven't tried any capture devices, if that really makes any difference in getting an answer.  I'm asking which ones work with MC.  I'm sorry but I can't make that any clearer.

My question is very specific.  Which 3rd-party capture devices work with MC?  If anyone knows, please list them.  I would appreciate that very much.

Again, I want to thank Randall for giving me an answer with no strings attached. 

Search the knowlage base for supported devices.

The canopus equipment works as an analog to DV25 converter, just as if You put a DV-deck to Your MC-software. I think Canopus will be in the list of known working devices.

he only way a third party device can be used in MC is if it behaves like a deck. I do not know any devices which convert analog to DV50 or other firewire compatible formats.

Of course, it may also work with a DVCPRO deck if it can input and output analog to DV50, but I have never test and do not know if it works that way.

smyers63:

I was very clear in my question about which 3rd-party capture devices work with MC and clear that I was testing for Avid.  If you don't have anything helpful to add, please let the thread stay on-topic which is "3rd-party analog capture hardware."

I'm not "asking for help" with an unsupported computer or video card configuration.  I'm asking what 3rd-party capture devices work.  Randall understood me quite well and was helpful.  If you can't respond to the specific question on capture devices, then there's no reason to respond and no reason to take the tone you're taking.

Avid knows what I'm doing and why.  It shouldn't be your concern, really.

Now, let's get back to the question.

If anyone else has some information about 3rd-party capture hardware, I'd like to hear from them.

 

If none of this information is anyone's concern and all you want people to do is give you a simple answer to your "which 3rd party hardware" question, I find it odd that you would write a 3 paragraph description in your original post instead of a one sentence question.  For some of this being "none of our business", you sure did tell us a whole lot trying to make it our business.  If you were trying to give us more information to help you with your question, than I see nothing wrong with him asking you questions to try and help you get a better answer.  You're the one with the rude tone if you ask me.

 Ooops! I know this is not the answer to Scott's question. However I am a little worried that 2 gentlemen I have respect for got off on the wrong foot in this thread.

I know Scott from the Liquid side of editing and I have been helped many times by Kenton VanNatten's postings on this Forum.

I knew exactly what Scott meant by, "...and have been working with MC since May doing testing for Avid.." However I felt that the statement should either have been dropped, or clarified better for MC users here, who may have little or no knowledge about the Pinnacle Liquid forum.
Kenton's question was a valid one in my opinion. But from there on there was a little friction caused by clear misunderstandings on both sides.

I hope you two gentlemen can smooth things over

Now back to Scott's original question........

Regards,

Douglas

PS. Scott started a forum, as an alternative to the Pinnacle Liquid Forum, just over a month ago.
In that Forum he is doing a very good job of promoting MC as the best way to go for anyone considering upgrading from Liquid.

Douglas, I appreciate your attempt to help.  You don't know how long this has been going on.  It's nothing new.

I'm going to ask that all the posts (other than berga's) after my reply to Randall be deleted.  This has become the sort of thread which keeps people with relevant information from ever posting.

berga:

Search the knowlage base for supported devices.

The canopus equipment works as an analog to DV25 converter, just as if You put a DV-deck to Your MC-software. I think Canopus will be in the list of known working devices.

he only way a third party device can be used in MC is if it behaves like a deck. I do not know any devices which convert analog to DV50 or other firewire compatible formats.

Of course, it may also work with a DVCPRO deck if it can input and output analog to DV50, but I have never test and do not know if it works that way.

I've looked at the device lists before and don't remember if those were listed or not.  I think it was all cameras and decks but I'll look again.  Thanks for the reminder.  I'd really like to test things which aren't on the "supported" list.  That's part of what this is about.  Of course, if the ADS and Canopus devices are already supported, then that's even better.

Yes, I'm aware that they're DV25.  Since I'm mostly working with analog SD, I don't have a need for anything more than that.  My HDV camera works great via FireWire but it doesn't have analog inputs, unfortunately, or I might be able to do a passthrough.

No need to get mean and nasty folks... OK? Try to be respectful of each other and keep that humble and servant attitude that is so prevalent here.