I am in the market for a DV capture/edit/output card for semi-pro productions and was wondering which one is the best. I have been considering Canopus' DVRaptor and DVRex, Pinnacle's DV300, DPS's Spark plus, and the MotoDV card. I could go as high as $3000 on a card, but if a lower cost semi-pro solution is available I would sooner go with that (I have also been looking at NewTek's Video Toaster for NT that will be coming out soon). My system is a PII 300 MHz, 256 MB computer (I would also need to get a SCSI drive system). If anyone has any helpful info on these cards or others, especially concerning their video quality, reliability, and ease of use, I would be very interested in hearing about it.

Thanks, Phil

-- Phil (philmes@rocketmail.com), May 02, 1999

Answers

If you want something that works the first time right out of the box and is extremely stable get a Canopus DVRex or Raptor. I have had a Rex for 6 months. It has never had a problem or a crash. How many people can make that claim? The Raptor is DV only. The REX can use DV or Analog footage. The rexedit software is extremely fast but simple. (Only available with Rex) Check out the dvrex users group web site http://g-zero.net/dvrex/bforum or visit the Canopus site.

-- Jim Bridge (jwbridge@ix.netcom.com), May 05, 1999.

Canopus DVRex M1 all the way. It is totally reliable. I have used mine almost flawlessly for 6 months. You cannot go wrong with this card period.

-- Brad Parsons (videomag@dtgnet.com), May 27, 1999.

Check DV500, it's a step ahead of the rest and worth it !

-- Tony B (tony_bennett@yahoo.com), January 21, 2000.

CANOPUS DV RAPTOR INEXPENSIVE AND RUNS GREAT WITH NO PROBLEMS BEST THING I EVER BOUGHT

-- CHRIS (CD_BOYER@HOTMAIL.COM), June 06, 2000.