prberg:

(basically want to use my Avid as an expensive vhs to dvd converter)

that's probably the worst application to use MC for. no, not because it's overpowered and too expensive for the task, that's your decision to make. MC simply is not as flexible in input/output formats & devices as the majority of other NLE's, e.g. it can't use most of windows' video-input-devices, and it doesn't im/export mpeg2 natively, you'll need to use additional software for the mpeg-conversion, usually squeeze.

Best thing to do is to drop $100 on a cheap DVD recorder with analog inputs and transfer that way... I mean capturing to MC - then exporting - then transcoding - then burning - only to find out the setting were not right and you have digital artifacts or interlacing, then re-transcoding...
The DVD recorder will be worth it's weight in the short and long-term.

after trying various dv recording software.. I decided to go with Pinnacle Studio (I already had a copy lying around).  It can capture in DV or MPEG2, I can do simple editing, create a DVD menu and then burn to Disc (and re-encode as needed).  Hopefully that will solve my problem with as few steps as possible.

-peter

An update to which hardware works with MC:

I now have a Canopus ADVC-110 which is working extremely well for capture.  So far, I haven't checked the output but I'm not terribly concerned with DV-to-analog.  Analog-to-DV was the main goal.  I discovered there is already a profile within MC for the 100.

During the first few long captures, I've had no dropped frames or other problems.  A/V Sync is perfect for the duration of each of the roughly 45-minute captures I've made.

Today, I've had a chance to check the output and I'm impressed even more.  Input has been great and output is just as good.  For anyone looking for an inexpensive analog I/O solution, this is a good one.

Scott,

Thanks for the report.  Were you capturing from VHS or DVD through the Canopus?  Audio and Video came in fine?  Wonder why that would work and a DV deck wouldn't?  Avid is looking for TC on a deck but on a transcoder it doesn't?

-Peter B

Peter,

Right now, I've been capturing from DVD.  No problems at all with audio, video or the sync between them.  TC isn't an issue as long as the TC button is off in the Capture Tool.  If the TC button is on, catpure won't start and a message appears saying the deck isn't on or connected or to turn off TC and capture on the fly.  TC is taken from TOD.  There's a setting on the ADVC-110 for locked audio and also a setting in MC for locked audio.  From all I've read, you need to set both to maintain sync on long clips.

As far as why a deck won't pass audio in some cases as I've heard, I can't say.  That's one of the reasons I did not spend much time looking for a DV camera to use as a passthrough device.  Another was that cameras still cost more than what I paid for the ADVC-110.

Glad to hear it's working.  I wish I could just turn off the TC capture and get my DV deck to work.  Oh well.. at least there is an alternative.

thanks,

-Peter B

Another Canopus option is their ACEDVio pci card, which is again an analogue - dv transcoder. It has phono ins for both video and audio, and you can use rs422 deck control from your pc serial port - timecode capture is frame accurate too, and the canopus codec means there's no sync drift after capture. There's a 16frame delay that needs set in your desktop play settings for your client monitor to run in sync. Reccommended as a cost effective alternative to mojo.