Thanks for the info, Richard. I have seen good reviews of earlier versions (2002) of the Canopus ADVC 100 converter, but no current ones. It's probably even better now, I bet. With the $20 rebate now being offered to buyers of the Miglia Director's Cut 2, the cost of the two video converters is exactly the same.
Seems to me, however, that the Miglia Director's Cut 2 has the Canopus beat on several counts: the Canopus needs an external power source, while the Miglia can take its power off the Mac's Firewire port. The Miglia also has all its connections on the back, which leaves the front clean, it has dual output ports so you can use one for a TV monitor, and along with the converter you get a full set of every kind of cable you might need, whereas Canopus buyers complain that they only get a single cable. With all other features being apparently equal, so far as I can tell, I'm still leaning toward the Miglia converter. Thanks though, Tom At 11:04 PM -0600 5/11/2004, Richard Bae wrote: >Sorry if this was mentioned earlier but check out the canopus ADVC 100 >http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ADVC-100/pm_advc-100.asp > >I use this and the ADVC 300 in my small business I run of video >transfers. The 100 is perfect I think for you what you need as long as >you have a firewire port. The quality is just about as good as it can >get for a product under $300. It also works perfectly with iMovie or >FCP since it shows up as a DV device. The cheapest place right now for >the 100 is here for $246 >http://www.shopharmony.com/product.asp?file=PRICEGRABBER&i=CNP72100 > > >-Richard Bae > richardbae.com >On 11 May 2004, at 18.53, Thomas Baker wrote: > >> Since I have the luxury of being in no hurry to convert all my Hi-8 >> home >> movies to Digital Video, so that I can edit it and then export it from >> my >> Mac to DVD or videotape, I've been leisurely wandering around the Net >> looking at reviews of the various analog-to-digital-video converters >> that >> are available, before I buy one. What I have discovered is that there >> are >> wide variations in the quality of the converted video. The cheaper >> converters such as the Pyro AV Link can produce Digital Video with bad >> colors, digital artifacts, and other problems. >> >> A review in MacWorld June 2004 compares the Pyro A/V Link with the >> Miglia >> Director's Cut converter box with the following comments: >> >> ADS Technologies Pyro A/V Link, rating: 3-1/2 Mice >> >> Pros: Strong audio import, component video in. >> >> Cons: Colors and blacks looked washed out; firmware glitch prevents >> previewing in color; reliability problems; external power supply >> needed; >> tech support wasn't helpful. >> >> Director's Cut 2 converter, rating: 4-1/2 Mice >> >> Pros: Excellent video quality; FireWire powered; two sets of outputs; >> all >> plugs in back; rugged metal case; K & Lock support; headphone jack. >> >> Cons: No U. S. telephone tech support. >> >> Another review of this Miglia Director's Cut 2 converter are at >> http://reviews.macnn.com/review.php?id=41 >> >> and yet another favorable review of the Miglia at >> http://www.it-enquirer.com/publishing/3D/miglia.html gives further >> observations about cheap video converters like the Pyro: >> >> "What most people don't know is that many of these readily sold >> converters >> are not capable of providing a good quality conversion. A Dazzle and a >> Formac are best compared to toys: they are inexpensive but useless to >> the >> serious amateur and certainly to the semi-pro or pro. The quality of a >> conversion with these devices is poor in every respect: colour >> accuracy, >> artifacts, inability to maintain a decent frame speed, etc." >> >> Concerning the "Instant DVD USB for Mac" device from OWC that we've >> been >> discussing: >> <http://eshop.macsales.com/Item_MailList.cfm? >> ID=5448&Item=ADSMACAV1750>, to >> me it sounds similar to the Pyro or Dazzle, but I don't know for sure >> because I haven't been able to find an objective review of it yet >> (anybody >> know of one?). My main worry would be that its USB connection would be >> much >> slower than a FireWire link, and people have told me repeatedly that >> digital video work is already painfully slow. >> >> Every review I've seen so far of Miglia's Director's Cut 2 converter >> http://miglia.com/products/video/director2/index.html has been >> favorable so >> far, and although it costs about double the price of the Pyro or >> Dazzle, it >> looks like the results it gives might make it worth it. >> >> Tom Art website at http://www.ThomasBakerPaintings.com Archaeology website at http://www.nmia.com/~jaybird/AANewsletter/ -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... 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