ADS Technologies Pyro Digital Video 1394 Card

I bought this card thinking I could simply plug it in my pci slot and update driver and install software plug it into my DV Sony Camcorder and WOW can download all my home movies. Well to my suprise as soon as I installed it (which of course is a breeeeeze - come on its just a PCI card) I lost sound. I currently run Creative Audigy Platinum 2 with external output as well. I was kinda shocked after thinking about it - why in the hell do I need this card? It is just a card that gives you firewire capability? Digital 100%? Well it's a firewire port so anything Firewire is going to be this way (that's why Apple developed it in the first place). The box says external ports have less quality but of course they are talking about USB ports which are a JOKE when referring to video editing (those are just for idiots ). I have since unintalled the card and my sound started working again. Which I must say I have a MONSTER system to large to mention now, I built it myself - just to give you an idea of where I am coming from. So after saying all of this I must say the card so good for the price - but if you want to kill two birds with one stone try to get an external output center that accepts 1394 ports and buy a dv/1394 cable (like the one that comes with this package) and you would be doing yourself a favor. What about the software you need you say? HA - As you've probably read here, you will need to get better software anyways - unless your just starting out. The main reason I would say this is a very good card for what is does is because of the price/quality ratio you get for it. I'm not rating a 4 because of my problems with it - just think a PCI slot is a value not to used litely! And if you are buying this card then you are more likely to be other things internal for your computer. Have fun if you buy you probably won't be that bad off, just think of other options (and of course they always questionable compatibilty questions which you only know once you buy it).

It's hard to believe this FireWire card is less than $50, and comes with PC Magazine's top-rated consumer video editor: Ulead VideoStudio. I've used a lot of video editors and it has the best combination of power and usability.

For the price, i was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this little package. I have a relatively old computer - p3 500 w/ 192mb ram, and a 16mb voodoo3 video card - all on windows 98.
The card installation was a breeze, and the installed software was great. I had my first movie made in two days.
I've used this for a month now w/ no complaints. Highly recommend it.

To anyone who thinks that this card allows you to capture analog video from your VCR, DVD or TV, think again! This is simply a Firewire interface for your PC; it does not have analog inputs for audio/video and does not perform analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion.

The card installed and works fine. The software on the otherhand is useless. I mistakenly believed the reviews I read here and other places, including CNET and even the articles on ADS's site. I'm not sure what sort of editing these people are used to but NLE software should do far more than allow for single track sound editing and confine users to basic cutting tools with very little control of the video clips. Horrible, useless software package. I regret being cheap. Spend the money for a good Firewire card that comes with useful software, like Premiere.