Canopus / Grass Valley Bidirectional Analog/Digital Video Conversion ADVC110

Pros: - Works as designed.
- Connecting via Firewire with an Apple makes operation simple and effective.
- Video and audio results are excellent.
- Can be powered via Firewire bus (great for portability).

Cons: - Can get rather "warm" if used for long periods of time.
- AC Power adapter must be purchased separately.

Overall Review: - Would purchase this unit again, without question.

Pros: 1) Is readily able to handle analog to digital video conversion.
2) Allows input as well as output of signals
3) Firewire connection allows continuous signal feed
4) Once I figured out the rather quirky sequence of powering up/plugging in and setting the input signal, it worked fine.
5) Is compatible with Adobe Premier Elements 2.0 (the editing program I use) without needing to configure my software

Cons: 1) Locks up the entire system or may not allow signal capture when another firewire port is occupied
2) I had to use an additional power source and set the digital/analog switch prior to plugging in the firewire cable, otherwise it indicates both signals and locks up
3) Not as user friendly as I hoped...requires a specific (though not indicated) sequence of powering up and plugging in.
4) The user's manual states that suifficient power is drawn from the firewire connection, but when I tried that, the unit defaulted to digital signal in, rather than the analog signal in that I required. I had to buy a separate power adapter to allow the setting of the analog in prior to plugging into the firewire port
5) The lock-up of this unit when another device is plugged into a firewire port makes it so that I cannot capture the signal on my external harddrive. Instead I have to capture the signal to the internal hard drive and then, later transfer it to my external drive...a pain

Overall Review: I think that this unit does an admirable job of video capture and conversion, but there are several bugs that need to be worked out in order for this unit to be considered truly "User-friendly."

Overall I'd give it 5 stars for capabilities, but it loses 2 stars for all the hassles and headaches I had to work through to get this unit to function properly with my system (Dell XPS 400 w/2GB RAM, 300 GB firewire connected external hard drive, and Premier Elements 2.0 video editing program).

The reason I was eventually able to get this unit to work with my system was because I have helpful IT folks where I work. Thay saved the day for me.