ADS Technologies API-400 Pyro ProDV 1394 Card

Rating:
Summary: Installation a breeze on Windows 2000
Review: I actually bought the Platinum version that is bundled with the full version of Premiere after doing research on the best firewire PC cards. I had Windows NT, so with nothing out there that would work under that, I upgraded to 2000 and installed this card. Everything worked like a charm. I'm not a novice when it comes to installing hardware, but I'm not an expert either. If you have Windows 98 - XP, you should have no trouble with the installation.

For my next machine that I want to build and move my editing stuff to, I'll simply buy the card without the bundle and have firewire ports on both machines. I am very happy with this card.

Rating:
Summary: It's Great
Review: I got this Firewire card in ADS's PYRO ProDV Professional Digital Video Editing Suite and it works like a charm. The installation was a breeze. You only needed some computer literacy to install it. Just plop it in and install the drivers and thats it. I would highly recommend this product for ease of use and flexability.

Rating:
Summary: Effective software, although it can be tempermental
Review: Running Windows98 SE, I've learned to re-boot every hour-or-so while editing video. The application and the operating system become more unstable the longer an editing session goes.

Other than that drawback, the software is very effective for an amateur video-editor like myself.

Rating:
Summary: Follow Up
Review: The software included in this bundle is very powerful. Check it out for yourself at their website. Media Studio Pro 6.0 (no LE!) alone runs at $400+++. Also, a professional animation program is included (Martin Hash's Animation Master). Which allows you to insert a 3-D character into video or a complete 3-D anamation such as the movie "Shrek". The hardware is comparable to Pinnacle's. An amature might consider this bundle too complicated. The majority of editing is done in Media Studio Pro. Where there is an Audio Editor, Video Editor, Video Paint and CG Infinity (text program). This Suite is extremely powerful and is practically ment for a professional. Only Dazzle*'s DV.NOW (which both includes Adobe Premiere)is comparable to this suite. I had found one bundle that exceeds this bundle. It is Dazzle*'s DV.NOW AV. Dazzle*'s DV.NOW AV has the capability to convert directly from your computer to a VCR (also vis versa) and from a IEEE 1394 to your VCR (even without computer) or computer (again also vis versa). This ADS PYRO bundle is meant for an experienced person in computers. Pinnacle's bundle is meant more for the average consumer. Take your pick. [One final note: a very powerful computer is needed for video caturing and editing, such as i recomend 700 Mhz+, 256 MB RAM+, 20 GB+ free for the catured video alone.]