ADVC300 to standalone dvd burner via firewire

[Mr.Logical]

I would like to capture video input and burn to dvd real-time. As I understand it, using the firewire output from the advc300 will prevent burning dead space in the input feed? A definite must in what I want to accomplish.

After purchasing an advc300 and a sony vrd-mc5 dvd burner, I connected the two via the provided canopus firewire cable. However the dvd burner always reports that the DV device is "rewinding". I've read on the board about timeline issues so I tried ensuring that there was a video signal before turning on the dvd burner. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks.

[GrassValley_CP]

What is your workflow exactly? Is your source material coming from a computer or a VCR or camcorder or...? I feel like I'm missing something here. If you're coming from a computer via firewire to the ADVC-300 and then out again via firewire to your DVD burner, then the ADVC-300 is actually getting in the way. Please elaborate.

Also, for your reference...

Since the ADVC-110 and -300 models are auto-switching bi-directional converters, they will select the conversion direction based on the type of input signal it first receives.

If you're connecting the ADVC-300 to the DVD burner first, then connecting to your computer, it will go into A-to-D mode (though you should be able to switch that after the fact). Try reversing the order that you connect your devices.

Also, to be sure that the ADVC-300 is actually working properly in both conversion directions by performing short test conversions. Try sending out a firewire-to-analog signal by connecting a standard TV to the analog outputs and have your digital source (miniDV camera, computer video editing timeline, etc.) play a short clip. If you see the picture on the TV, it works. Now, reverse the conversion order and try again.

[Mr.Logical]

Thank you for responding. You are absolutely right. I omitted the input source. The workflow is:

VCR (s-video and rca left/right out) -> (in) advc300 (firewire 6pin out) -> (firewire 4pin in) sony vrd-mc5

I made sure that the input selector on the front of the advc300 lights the blue led for analog in only. Swapping out the firewire for a s-video works, as I am able to record the source. I do not want to use s-video between advc300 and dvd burner as I am under the impression that I will record blank footage from the vhs tape? I want the setup to auto crop tape dead space. Not sure if there is another way.

[GrassValley_CP]

Your workflow direction is sound--it should be working. There's no point to going S-video->ADVC-300->S-video->DVD burner, and it probably won't work that way anyways since it's not designed for pass-through.

Hmmm.

You are connecting the analog VCR to the front analog plugs on the ADVC-300, right? The ones on the back are for output. Just thought I'd check since sometimes the solution is hiding in plain sight. Though this may require a different firewire cable, see if you can get anything out of the 4-pin firewire port on the front of the device. Just trying to rule out the obvious.

Any chance you have a computer or another device with firewire I/O that you can connect to the ADVC-300 to see if you can get anything in the A-to-D direction.

Beyond this, I am out of ideas. You may need to contact Technical Support unless someone else has some ideas that I haven't thought of.

[Mr.Logical]

VCR wires are all plugged into the front of the advc300 unit. I suppose I could pick up a 4pin to 4pin firewire cable and try that.

I wish I had, but do not have any firewire devices at my disposal.

Before I was aware about the forum I contacted tech support. They said it was their job to ensure the advc300 box is working properly but anything beyond that is out of their scope. =(

Is the firewire cable the only solution to prevent recording dead space?

Thanks again!

[GrassValley_CP]

Dead space should be the least of your worries at this point!

However, since the conversion from analog-to-digital (from a VHS or standard consumer format) usually replaces the source timecode with free-running time code, you shouldn't end up with any problems that are normally associated with scene breaks or breaks in the timecode that could result in blank spots on your direct to DVD burn, if the burner stops it's process due to a scene break.

But, if the direct-to-DVD burner has options for analog input, I'd give them a try too. Chances are that in it's A-to-D conversion, it will also convert the source timecode to free-running timecode and eliminate the errors from a scene break. Just another thought before I throw in the towel.

[Mr.Logical]

Thank you GrassValley for your assistance. Over the weekend my girlfriend and I were somehow able to get the dvd recorder out of "rewinding" mode and into play/record mode! It had to do something with which device is powered on first and unplugging and plugging the dv cable that came with the canopus advc300. The 4pin to 4pin dv cable didn't seem to make a difference.

After the tape footage finished the dvd recorder continued to record the vcr blue screen for the remainder. Not sure how to avoid that?

[GrassValley_BH]

Not sure how to avoid that either.

Essentially what sounds like is happening is...
Your DVD recorder is looking for running timecode to "see" a source.
The ADVC will start free-run timecode if it's either powered up with a video signal present, or if it receives a DV Play command.
Your DVD recorder isn't sending a DV Play command.

I'm guessing the "right" combination is either:
a) Turn on DVD recorder with ADVC connected, start VCR playing, turn on ADVC
(This one assumes the DVD recorder sends some kind of DV command during startup, which would then either pause or switch modes on the ADVC, which would then stop running timecode)
or
b) Start VCR playing, turn on ADVC, turn on DVD recorder
(This assumes the DVD recorder sends nothing, so the ADVC powering up with signal present will continue running timecode)


As for the blue screen, if your VCR has an option not to display a blue screen when there's no signal on the tape, enable that. The ADVC will sense the loss of video sync and it'll stop running timecode, which should then stop the DVD recorder.

Usually really early VCRs (back when there were controls on the unit) and editing-type VCRs have an option not to display blue (or green, as is the case with some brands) screen.