Customer Reviews

Hardware, ADVC-55 A/d Converter Ntsc

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I hooked this device up and it worked out of the box. I use it with my iMac and iMovie to convert old VHS tapes with lots of family memories to DVD. It has worked flawlessly. I am very pleased. Purchasing was also easy and delivery was prompt.

What a great product. I just plugged it in and it works great with all my editing software. I know it's a bit pricey compared to similar products out there but it actually works while the other seem to stuggle. I have already converted 25+ old 8mm camcorder movies to DVD and am now easliy able to catalog and re-edit with ease.

This is one of those products that is simple yet effective. I am using it with an iMac to do video capture. It is easy to use out of the box and does a nice job of video conversion. Build quality looks to be good. It also comes with some bundled software, but I have not used that, since I am already using iMovie and FCP.

I debated over getting the ADVC-55 and the Canopus ADVC110 Converter the main difference is that the ACVC110 can output back to your VCR so that you can either preview or edit digitally and then put back onto VHS. I decided that I didn't need that option, but now I kind of wish I had it. I liked the look of the 55 better. I had a few issues at first getting it to work with iMovie on my Macbook Pro but it worked it self out.

I ordered this product and received it the very next morning. This fast turnaround was unexpected since I had not paid for any special urgent delivery.

The product works fantastic. I've used it to digitize videos from my analog camcorder and also from VHS tapes created back in the early 90s on an old camcorder. The quality of the newer camcorder video is superb (no surprise). However, the quality of the old VHS video and sound seems to be enhanced (perhaps by the ADVC-55 A/D converter and/or by the Microsoft Movie Maker I used to edit the video) and is better than when viewing it on the VHS recorder. There is no flicker - no image capture problems, etc. I've not experienced any of the difficulties transfering old videos to my computer that some of the reviews have alluded to. I couldn't be happier with the product or the shipping response time.

I purchased this product from Amazon for use with my new iMac. The ADVC-55 uses 6-pin firewire and my iMac uses 9-pin. When I contacted Grass Valley Technical Support they stated that they do not support/recommend 9-pin firewire use with the ADVC-55. They stated that some users have had success using a Belkin 9-pin to 6-pin cable, but others have not. I was told that I should return the ADVC-55 and purchase the ADVCMini - which is specifically designed to be used with a Mac via USB. So I returned the 55 and bought the mini. Great return experience with Amazon! When I received the mini it had a sync issue (video didn't match audio). Grass Valley Technical Support couldn't solve the problem and suggested that I purchase a product from another vendor. When I visited an Apple store this past weekend, the sales person recommended an Elgato product over the ADVCmini - both were available at the store. Based on these experiences, I can not recommend Grass Valley.

I was looking for a quality, yet reasonably priced means to convert tapes to DVD. I read the horrible reviews about the Dazzle, one of which lamented that they wish they would have purchased the ADVC55, and decided to buy the ADVC55. It worked the first time out of the box. I am happy with the decision and would recommend this to anyone trying to convert from analog to digital.

This thing does exactly what it is supposed to, without additional software, right out of the box.

How many products can you say that about?

I am sure, for considerably more money, you could get a better signal than this product provides. But that is to be expected. I was not left wanting by this investment. It delivers exactly what I was looking for: a simple, functional A/D converter.

Using the firewire bus for power worked flawlessly on the Core 2 iMac I interfaced with, which is a nice bonus.

This works easily and so far without problem in converting old VHS home movies to imovie "08. I tried another brand that did not work as well and was really buggy. I recommend the ADVC-55

Converts analog video signals into digital DV stream for processing(with an i-Mac intel based computer)just as advertise. Simple to set-up, without any software drivers!