Are all firewire cards created equal? What makes some good, bad, ugly?

[Cybordolphin]

Looking for a firewire card to install in a computer to be used for amatuer video editing.
Don't want to spend much if possible. Is their a big difference in quality.... end result? What is an inexpensive video editing software?

I found a DLink PCI 3 port card for around $38 delivered.

Thanks.

 

[Pariah]

Any firewire card you buy no matter how cheap or expensive will produce identical looking transfers as everything is digital. What you pay extra for is the software, realtime effects and other features. Pinnacle System's StudioDV for about a $100 is a very good beginner's kit that comes with everything you'll need to get the basics down before you move on to bigger and better.

 

[jimmygates]

I don't know if it was the same card you are talking about Pariah but I bought a cheap PCI DV card from Pinnacle Systems thinking it was a good deal. Turns out the card wasn't supported by Adobe Premier 5.0... Had to use Video Studio to edit the footage



-jimbo

 

[Pariah]

Yea, that's the same card. Why would you spend $100 on a card and then $600 on a software suite...? Especially when you can buy cards bundles with Premiere for less than the cost of Premiere. Premiere 5 was not designed for DV, you need to have the RT version bundled with DV cards for compatability. Premiere 6 has very good support.

 

[jimmygates]

Pariah: Ah..I see your point...but than agan I didn't pay for the software


I heard Adobe Premiere 6.0 supports the card so I think it would be a good choice.



-jimbo

 

[dowxp]

i used premiere 6 with a WD 1394 card. works fine.

 

[Cybordolphin]

So.... the trick might be to find one that supports Adobe Premier?
What does one look for in the spec sheet? Is there a specific chip or design that makes one card work with Adobe?

Would not mind finding a FREE copy of that software.....lol.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Apparently, one of the few thigns that really matter (or so I'he heard) is that the card should have a Texas Instrument chip...

Other than that, yes, you need Premiere 6 AND Windows 98 SE (or above) for some of them.