Adaptec VideOh! USB 2.0 DVD Video Converter Kit

by Adaptec

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006HYKG
• Item model number: 1980200
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 29, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Adaptec's VideOh! DVD converter kit captures and digitizes analog composite and S-video signals and delivers them through your PC's high-speed USB 2.0 port. Bundled Sonic MyDVD and ArcSoft ShowBiz software help you edit clips, create menus, and record your projects onto DVD and CD media.

To test VideOh!, we connected the power supply, USB cable, and external video source (a VCR) and installed the device driver. Next, we installed the bundled software and restarted our PC. The entire installation process was simple and intuitive, requiring only about 10 minutes.

In Sonic MyDVD, we followed onscreen instructions to create a new DVD project, to capture and save a brief video clip, to create a simple DVD menu, and finally to burn the clip onto a DVD-R disc. After only an hour from opening the box, we had a playable DVD. Even in "best" mode, picture quality was only fair--slightly faded from the original, a few artifacts in the top and bottom scan lines, and occasional dropped frames--but consistent with our expectations for a low-end capture system.

Subsequent tests to create more interesting multi-chapter DVDs were unsuccessful. As we tried to capture clips longer than about eight minutes, to trim and edit clips, and to burn DVDs with more than about 20 minutes of content, VideOh! manifested show-stopping bugs. Even after downloading an updated device driver, our system would completely freeze at seemingly random times after MyDVD had been running for several minutes. Testing VideOh! with other capture and editing software is, unfortunately, not an option, as the manual warns that the "Adaptec VideOh! DVD converter kit supports video capture only by using MyDVD."

For extremely simple video-capture tasks and very short DVDs, VideOh! worked adequately well and was easy to use. For hobbyists who want to produce DVDs at home, we would recommend a more functional product. --Mike Brown

Pros:

• Quick setup
• Easy to learn and use

Cons:

• Soft video quality
• Too many bugs

Product Description

ADAPTEC (1980200) Adaptec Video Creator DVD USB Device Kit

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars VideoOh! - OH MY! Nothing But A Hassle!, November 12, 2002

By 

R. Neal (Bloomingdale, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adaptec VideOh! USB 2.0 DVD Video Converter Kit (Personal Computers)

I was looking for a soluton to transfer VHS to DVD and I found this product. After working for a week with it, it's going back! My first time sending anything back purchased on Amazon.

The drivers included with the package didn't work with my system (XP). I had to download new drivers (required complete delete and re-install, really slick process NOT!). Software, don't even bother as I got random error messages when trying to use it.

Besides big hassle with getting software to work, the resulting output is POOR at best (very grainy and distorted looking).

Also, Adaptec's customer service is POOR at best, the link to their "forums" doesn't work. Only option is online submission of problem - figure at least 48 hours for a less than well thought out response from their tech support.

My recommendation - I have instead picked up competing product Dazzle Video Creator 150 and find it to work MUCH better compared to Adaptec's product. The output from Dazzle looks great compared to the output from Adaptec's product. I was burining my first DVD in under an hour after installing the unit. I spent more than that just getting Adaptec's product to even capture any video!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worked Perfectly Fine on my XP System, August 26, 2003

By 

Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Adaptec VideOh! USB 2.0 DVD Video Converter Kit (Personal Computers)

If you're trying to get your VHS tapes into your computer so that you can put the videos onto DVD, this is exactly what you need. I'm very surprised at the bad reviews seen on here, I haven't had *any* issues with this - while other software I've tried has failed miserably.

It's actually pretty simple to use this system. One end of this device has 3 holes in it. You plug your VCR right into those holes, like you would into a TV. The other end of the device has a USB cable. You plug that USB cable into your computer. You hit PLAY on your VCR. The signal goes out of your VCR into your computer! I use XP and was able to record smoothly without any issue at all.

The Adaptec device comes with Sonic software that lets you read in that video as a variety of file types. While it first comes in as the standard encoded MPG video file, you might want to use this video for other purposes. Their editing software lets you turn those MPG files into AVI files or a variety of other files so that you can use the video segments with just about any video software you might enjoy using. I personally use Roxio's Easy CD & DVD Creator for the actual DVD creation.

The input device is VERY easy to use, just hit PLAY on the VCR and RECORD on the Sonic software. Once you get your entire VHS cassette read into your computer, you can use either the built in software or another package to start adding music, putting on titles, and doing much more! When your creation is complete, create a bunch of DVDs and send them off to family and friends to enjoy!

Not only did the device work wonderfully, but the tech support group was very helpful even when Roxio and other software groups were completely unhelpful. The Sonic guys talked me through exactly how to get everything to work properly, to compensate for the problems the other software I own had. I was able to get my video files just the way I wanted them. I give Adaptec the highest praise for this product.

Note: This is meant to work with the super-fast USB 2.0 connector, but if you don't have a USB 2.0 card, you can still get it to work with the old USB connectors. It'll just run much more slowly.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works perfectly for me!, November 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Adaptec VideOh! USB 2.0 DVD Video Converter Kit (Personal Computers)

I do not know why a lot of people cannot make the device to work. I bought it from a local store so that I can return it easily just in case it does not work.

To my surpusise, the device works perfect for me. I am running a PIII 866MHZ/40GB/USB 2.0/Windows 2000 with sony 510A dvd writer. My main purpose is to transfer my old VHS to DVD. So far(less than a week), I have burned 6 DVD+R using Sonic MyDVD program, without single failure. the Quality is in line with my original VHS video, actually I felt it was better than original. No frame drop or unexpected stop capture. I did not do any video editing, only used the feature to create chapter point every 5 minutes.

Since the device has MPEG encoder itself, it does not require too much CPU power. But you do need USB 2.0 with faster HD.

The only complain I have is it can only burn 85 minutes video on 4.7GB DVD+R with Better setting. That is the reason I give it 4 stars.