Analog copying! at DVinfo.net

Adam Wakely · October 1st, 2002, 06:51 PM

I know the XL1 can't copy from an analog source (that sucks!) but the XL1s can. Anyone know of any possible upgrades to the XL1 that would make this possible? (probably not a software update eh?) (my DV Raptor card won't either, the analog kit download for it sucks) :(

Don Palomaki · October 1st, 2002, 07:08 PM

For a while Sony offered an A/D converter that could go to/from analog from/to firewire . The most recent was something like a model xxx-DA2 (where xxx are three latters I do not recall). There are other makess available as well, probably at higher prices.

Ken Tanaka · October 1st, 2002, 09:14 PM

No, the XL1 is a discontinued product superceded by the XL1s. It's ancient history (as far as Canon's concerned).

There are several products that enable d/a copying and transfer. I sometimes use the Dazzle Hollywood Bridge which does a pretty good job.

There's a current thread on this topic at:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=3791

Ram Nagarajan · October 1st, 2002, 09:35 PM

Adam, Ken, Don:
Hi, this is interesting...what do we mean here when we say 'the XL1S can copy from an analog source?' Does this mean I can plug in, say, RCA outputs from a Beta SP/VHS system and copy to MiniDV on the XL1S? If so, how does this work in terms of what needs to be setup/plugged in? (I haven't come across this nugget of info yet, so pardon the basic question!)
Best,
RAm

Ken Tanaka · October 1st, 2002, 10:03 PM

Yes, you can record from an external analog signal via the cam's RCA or S-Video jacks. See the main Watchdog site for more information: http://www.dvinfo.net/xl1s.htm

Jeff Donald · October 1st, 2002, 10:10 PM

The analog out of the XL1s is composite NTSC, as is the analog in. The steps are in the manual from pages 88 - 91. If you're PAL, it works the same but the pages numbers are probably off a little. You can , of course go FireWire, in either direction.

Jeff

Chris Hurd · October 2nd, 2002, 12:54 AM

For more choices in analog-digital converters, check out the Canopus ADVC-100 and ADVC-50 at www.canopus.com

For what it's worth, all current Canon camcorders (the entire DV product line) now include the ability to transcode analog to/from digital in realtime. This is the basic ZR40 to the XL1S and everything in between.

Ram Nagarajan · October 2nd, 2002, 06:56 AM

Thanks all; this is a real boost. Knowing I can pick up footage from a Beta player, or that I can make a VHS dub of a tape in a hurry is a boon.
However: Can I simply connect my Mac through the XL1S to a VHS recorder and dub a VHS copy straight off the timeline?
Best,
Ram

Ram Nagarajan · October 2nd, 2002, 06:58 AM

Oops, sorry: Yes, Jeff, I'm in PAL-land, and I'll consult the appropriate pages of the manual! :-)
Ram

Adam Wakely · October 2nd, 2002, 08:06 PM

Thanks all for the info!

It's probably more practical for me to buy a second camera (even a cheap one) using mini DV as they all have analog to digital transfer! I just wish they could make a software for my Canopus DV Raptor card that produced good quality without lost frames!

October 6th, 2002, 05:06 PM

I just got the ADVC-100 through Canopus and it is GREAT! I couldn't figure out how to hook it up through the DVRaptor, but I had no problem hooking it straight into my firewire port (separate from the Raptor), and capturing through Premiere. Just use the "NO DV DEVICE CONTROL" option, and plug straight in from a VCR or whatever. No dropped frames so far, and im capturing high-action basketball footage. Worth its weight in gold

Mike Butler · April 29th, 2003, 04:16 PM

Adam,
it was much more practical for me to pick up a little Elura to use as an analog-to-DV recording device, plus I use it to lay my projects off to DV tape once done. The only problem I have is when I want to take a clip from a commercial movie--one that is protected with Macrovision--the Elura (and the GL1) senses it, and shuts down immediately, saying "copyrighted material" or soomething like that in the error message. Makes it very frustrating even when I only want a 6-second sound bite for internal use.

K. Forman · April 29th, 2003, 04:22 PM

Just out of curiosity... what happens to the picture quality if I were to plug my VCR into my GL1, and record a tape? DV is a wider picture, with more lines of resolution. Is this going to stretch the image?

Don Palomaki · April 29th, 2003, 05:00 PM

You get a mini-DV recording that is no better than the VCR playback at its output. But is the surce VCR is VHS, it will not have any significant quality loss.

DV image is nominally 720 pixels per line, but the aspect ratio and number of visible scan lines is the same.

October 1st, 2002, 06:51 PM	#1
Adam Wakely Quantum Productions Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada Posts: 161	Analog copying! I know the XL1 can't copy from an analog source (that sucks!) but the XL1s can. Anyone know of any possible upgrades to the XL1 that would make this possible? (probably not a software update eh?) (my DV Raptor card won't either, the analog kit download for it sucks) :( __________________ Adam Wakely, Quantum Productions

October 1st, 2002, 09:14 PM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	No, the XL1 is a discontinued product superceded by the XL1s. It's ancient history (as far as Canon's concerned). There are several products that enable d/a copying and transfer. I sometimes use the Dazzle Hollywood Bridge which does a pretty good job. There's a current thread on this topic at: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=3791 __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

October 1st, 2002, 10:03 PM	#5
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Yes, you can record from an external analog signal via the cam's RCA or S-Video jacks. See the main Watchdog site for more information: http://www.dvinfo.net/xl1s.htm __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

October 2nd, 2002, 12:54 AM	#7
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,369 Images: 513	For more choices in analog-digital converters, check out the Canopus ADVC-100 and ADVC-50 at www.canopus.com For what it's worth, all current Canon camcorders (the entire DV product line) now include the ability to transcode analog to/from digital in realtime. This is the basic ZR40 to the XL1S and everything in between. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

October 2nd, 2002, 08:06 PM	#10
Adam Wakely Quantum Productions Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada Posts: 161	Thanks all for the info! It's probably more practical for me to buy a second camera (even a cheap one) using mini DV as they all have analog to digital transfer! I just wish they could make a software for my Canopus DV Raptor card that produced good quality without lost frames! __________________ Adam Wakely, Quantum Productions

October 1st, 2002, 07:08 PM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	For a while Sony offered an A/D converter that could go to/from analog from/to firewire . The most recent was something like a model xxx-DA2 (where xxx are three latters I do not recall). There are other makess available as well, probably at higher prices.

October 1st, 2002, 09:35 PM	#4
Ram Nagarajan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 107	Adam, Ken, Don: Hi, this is interesting...what do we mean here when we say 'the XL1S can copy from an analog source?' Does this mean I can plug in, say, RCA outputs from a Beta SP/VHS system and copy to MiniDV on the XL1S? If so, how does this work in terms of what needs to be setup/plugged in? (I haven't come across this nugget of info yet, so pardon the basic question!) Best, RAm

October 1st, 2002, 10:10 PM	#6
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The analog out of the XL1s is composite NTSC, as is the analog in. The steps are in the manual from pages 88 - 91. If you're PAL, it works the same but the pages numbers are probably off a little. You can , of course go FireWire, in either direction. Jeff

October 2nd, 2002, 06:56 AM	#8
Ram Nagarajan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 107	Thanks all; this is a real boost. Knowing I can pick up footage from a Beta player, or that I can make a VHS dub of a tape in a hurry is a boon. However: Can I simply connect my Mac through the XL1S to a VHS recorder and dub a VHS copy straight off the timeline? Best, Ram

October 2nd, 2002, 06:58 AM	#9
Ram Nagarajan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 107	Oops, sorry: Yes, Jeff, I'm in PAL-land, and I'll consult the appropriate pages of the manual! :-) Ram

October 6th, 2002, 05:06 PM	#11
ucsbgaucho Posts: n/a	I just got the ADVC-100 through Canopus and it is GREAT! I couldn't figure out how to hook it up through the DVRaptor, but I had no problem hooking it straight into my firewire port (separate from the Raptor), and capturing through Premiere. Just use the "NO DV DEVICE CONTROL" option, and plug straight in from a VCR or whatever. No dropped frames so far, and im capturing high-action basketball footage. Worth its weight in gold

April 29th, 2003, 04:16 PM	#12
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	Adam, it was much more practical for me to pick up a little Elura to use as an analog-to-DV recording device, plus I use it to lay my projects off to DV tape once done. The only problem I have is when I want to take a clip from a commercial movie--one that is protected with Macrovision--the Elura (and the GL1) senses it, and shuts down immediately, saying "copyrighted material" or soomething like that in the error message. Makes it very frustrating even when I only want a 6-second sound bite for internal use. __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

April 29th, 2003, 04:22 PM	#13
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Just out of curiosity... what happens to the picture quality if I were to plug my VCR into my GL1, and record a tape? DV is a wider picture, with more lines of resolution. Is this going to stretch the image?

April 29th, 2003, 05:00 PM	#14
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	You get a mini-DV recording that is no better than the VCR playback at its output. But is the surce VCR is VHS, it will not have any significant quality loss. DV image is nominally 720 pixels per line, but the aspect ratio and number of visible scan lines is the same.