Canopus ADVC-300 Converter

[Alan Henderson]

Would the Canopus ADVC-300 converter provide a significant improvement over a software-based solution for improving captured analog video quality?

By software I mean using Neat Video for noise reduction and some of the Vegas filters, like levels.

Thanks...Alan

[Seth Bloombaum]

There are two significant differences between the 300 and the 100/110:
It has a time-base corrector (TBC).
It has proc amp controls for brightness, contrast, sharpness, hue and saturation, and some others.

The TBC will reshape poorly timed video frames. This was sometimes a problem in analog recordings. If your tapes show this inconsistency of frames, black frames, show blanking that should be off-frame, then a TBC is the ticket, and the ADVC300 is about the least expensive way to get one.

For all those other picture/sound adjustments, you can correct in an NLE.

In some cases, workflow might be more efficient if picture adjustments are made during capture, eg. if you are digitizing many tapes that you'd rather not color correct in Vegas, but just want to burn straight to DVD or something.

[Jeff Pulera]

The ADVC-300 is apparently no longer available. Did a Google search and none available from dealers, or Amazon, or even Ebay!

Jeff Pulera

[Alan Henderson]

Originally Posted by Seth Bloombaum

It has proc amp controls for brightness, contrast, sharpness, hue and saturation, and some others.

Do hardware corrections look better than software corrections?

[Seth Bloombaum]

Originally Posted by Alan Henderson

Do hardware corrections look better than software corrections?

In my opinion, not having done such side-by-side comparisons, no. In fact, you'll get finer control for CC with more controllable parameters in an NLE.

OTOH, if you need a TBC, hardware is the way to do it.

[Don Palomaki]

The ADVC-300 is apparently no longer available"

As of today, Grass Valley still lists the ADCV300 (no dash) it as a current procuct ontheir web site, although B&H Photo/Video says it is discontinued. There has been no note of discontiuation in the GV forums supporting the ADVC products.

In any case, used units are often offered on E-Bay.

Its TBC is a line TBC, it can help reshape bad sync from a VCR, but effectiveness depends on what is wrong with the input signal. Similarly within its capability it provides real time correctinon to the input signal and provides an output that emulates a DV camcorder to most capture software. I can provide a faster workflow than analog capture followed by correction using NLE filters and plug-ins. Whether or not the possible corrections meet your needs without further work in a NLE will depend on the source mateial and your client's expectations.

Overall I would say it is a capable and convenient unit at its price point.

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