ADS Tech DVD Xpress DX2 Video Converter Reviews

• Too many bugs

  
  By AT1GC869XC7E on 2006-06-14
  The "Audio-Lock technology" they mention on the box apparently only works for about 45 minutes at a time. I ran into audio sync issues multiple times, including one time while capturing direct to DVD and wasting a disc. I have been through six or seven different capture devices and have only come across three that kept the audio and video in sync. Out of those three, only one worked in a way that didn't create files too large, worked consistently, and still looked good. The Pinnacle USB Moviebox B gets good reviews from me, though it does have some drawbacks, as well. Read reviews on it if interested.
  
  To me, this is an average capture device.
  
  Pros: Small file size due to fairly good variable bit rate encoding, 90% of the video looks good, good if only capturing small segments at a time.
  
  Cons: Audio/Video sync issues as discussed above. 10% of video becomes pixelated when switching from a slow motion scene to a fast motion scene because the variable bit rate encoding has a split second delay in realizing the bit rate needs to increase.
  
  

• worked better than expected

  
  By A1MM44V5V77HVT on 2007-03-29
  I purchased this item to record old VHS tapes that I wanted to copy into digital format before they got any older. The software and hardware worked great without any technical issues. The video quality was very good. Highly recommend to convert VHS tapes to DVD.
  
  

• Almost Perfect

  
  By A2H6F2TLGS8F29 on 2006-07-05
  I own previous model instant DVD so I already knew what this one about and how to work on it great. And it getting better in design and size. I choose this one most of reason that I need one hardware decoder to record media into Divx format. Here I got is almost perfect. Because it's somehow conflict with Divx program. I think later it will be fixed by update. Now I no more save my DVD in big MPEG2 file but Divx smaller and similiar quality media. Great product and easy no brain operating. Otherwise, it has improved feathers and function. work smoothly. From my experience, it's still better to record media into PC hard drive first. And use Roxio or other similiar program to make a DVD disc.
  
  

• NO VISTA DRIVER! - Stay away company doesn't support

  
  By A1L3S3F4ATC8NG on 2008-01-28
  When I bought this product I did so on the basis of a Vista beta driver posted on their website - dated 5/2007. Incredibly, 4 months have passed since I purchased and the same non-functional beta driver is still the only thing posted. Install this driver and the product will not install every time.
  
  I have emailed the company with no satisfactory response. If you ever intend to go beyond XP avoid this company at all cost. Their other products too because they still list this product as current yet do not support it. A very bad sign for the integrity of a company.
  
  AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE AVOID BEWARE
  
  

• DVD Xpress DX2

  
  By A1N8DVEMRMQXT6 on 2006-10-09
  This product worked perfectly transferring to the computer and then using the included software to put several home movies on one DVD. It also worked perfectly to transfer directly from VHSC tapes to DVD without transferring to computer. Very simple set up and instructions. The quality of the transferred videos was excellent! You can also clip out parts of video seamlessly if you transfer to computer first very simply. With the included software, you can do or add just about anything, music, frames, voice, etc. No problems with the box getting hot or malfunctioning after over 4 hours of continuous use.
  
  
• Easy to Use Video Transfer!
  By A136HV2FWL0ZD8 on 2007-03-22
  I have no experience with video editing at all. I bought this product to transfer video from my Hi8 camcorder to my computer so I could burn it to DVD. With very little effort I transfered video from multiple tapes and made a dvd movie with titles and effects perfectly on the first try.
  
  For fellow computer challenged people like myself this is a great product! I don't know how the software and features stack up against others, but if you want to make good quality, professional-looking DVDs without having to try to learn a complicated program and system, this product is a great choice!
  
  
• Capture Device
  By A2JO4RSH9W4NLF on 2007-05-29
  This didn't work at all well. It froze up my computer every couple minutes. What video was transferred was jerky. Sound was out of sync. I ended up returning this product. It's not worth bothering with.
  
  
• Poor quality and DivX problems...returned unit
  By A67RLELZ07MI7 on 2006-08-01
  I was very excited about this unit when I ordered it, but the pixelation was very bad due to the variable bit rate (VBR) encoding, and the DivX recording feature didn't actually work most of the time. (A blank screen or a green screen was the result.) Unfortunately, given these problems, I returned the unit. I think I'm going to look at an older ADS unit without the VBR feature to ensure quality, and then do any DivX transfers by software. It seems that the fewer variables involved may make for a higher quality image. Too bad...this one really had a lot of potential.
  
  
• VHS TO DVD AND IPOD
  By ARN1FU4L0BSJX on 2006-11-06
  VHS to DVD disc is just one easy setup. I set mine to record and recode just before I go to sleep. When I wake up a finished disc awaits. With the software tools that are provided you can sharpen and correct VHS that has degraded and bring back life as when it was first transfered to tape. I have taken many VHS tapes that were never released as DVD and now have the start of a great library. Editing is a little tricky until you get the hang of it. The product works well. IPOD old music videos and movies for a real treat. Sound is perfect.
  
  
• Didn't work for me.
  By A1FCGTJGZURAML on 2007-11-24
  I purchased the ADS Tech DVD Xpress DX2 Video Converter for my Sony Windows XP PC. When I tried to load the driver, Windows XP gave me a warning that the driver was not certified for Windows XP. I took the risk and continued anyway. The next thing I knew my DVD-RW and audio stopped working. I was able to get the DVD working again, but the sound is still not working. I obviously can't recommend this converter based on my experience.
  
  
• Do Not Buy If You Have Windows Vista
  By A4FK1NW4KFB9S on 2008-01-10
  This device was made for Windows XP and I have Windows Vista. Initially when I tried to set it up and convert my videos, when I clicked "Record", my computer automatically shut down, and did this repeatedly everytime I tried to start over. So I called up AdTech's support center and the guy told me that he would have to email me instructions to download some sort of program that would make it work with Vista. Well, their downloads do not come with a "Driver Device" for Vista which you need. As it turns out, AdTech has these downloads that allegdely make the device work with Vista, but they don't have a download for a Vista compatible "Driver Device", and they don't know when they will have one........So the whole thing is pointless. So now I'm going to have to return this item since it is completely uncompatible with Vista and find something else.
  
  
• DVD Express Unit
  By A3VS4TY7QDH74W on 2006-10-26
  I have lots of analog video tapes from the 80's and onwards. This device works very well in transferring them. The video & audio are in perfect sync.
  
  Pro: Very good device, very easy to use and install. You need a very powerful processor to work it right. Also, as I discovered and mentioned in the manual. You must connect this device into the primary USB port. I have a hub where I first connected but the light was not coming on and the computer did not recognize the device. I opened the computer and made sure that it is connected directly into the USB attached to the motherboard and it worked very well. The customer service is responsive but they will not work with you on your specific computer issues.
  
  Cons: This device is processor intensive. You MUST have the latest processor running at 3.XX Mhz or above and turn off all other ancillary programs while you are converting. I encountered no problems when I followed the above guidelines. The minimum requirments listed by the manufacture is probably absolute minimum.
  
  It is a very good product and very easy to use. I love it.
  
  
• easy to hook up and use
  By A1ZLL5F60OC16D on 2006-11-04
  With my Pentium 4, Windows XP system this was extremely easy to use and did not present any technical glitches. Very pleased.
  
  
• Works perfectly in Windows XP SP2
  By A24HSE8WYQEIXW on 2007-03-27
  I have used this since I bought it in December of 06 and haven't had a single problem with it. Works as advertised and very well. I didn't install the ULead software, (used Pinnacle instead), and my VHS movies burned onto DVD look and sound great! Unfortunately I have upgraded to Vista and there are no Vista drivers for this unit, (XP drivers will not work). ADS Tech support says there will eventually be Vista drivers but they can't say when ......Problems with coding? Anyway I have nothing but good things to say about this device, only wish I could use it in Vista (that's why 4 stars instead of 5).
  
  
• Still trying
  By ANAI3XTLT0OX5 on 2007-02-26
  Although a month and a spindle of disks have been trashed, I don't have it working yet. I've just sent it back to ADS for repair. Seems that it starts okay in direct tape to disk but freezes on a video frame while the counter and audio continue working. At that time, the green capture light of the DX2 stops flashing and becomes steady and the DVD recorder stops burning. A program upgrade was installed, but the problem continued. Several calls to ADS Tech, when I could get them on the phone, offered the upgrade and blamed the problem on memory, but my 512 RAM had nothing else running except Norton Internet Security. So it went back for whatever ADS/Tech5 can find wrong with it. I haven't given up hope, yet!
  
  
• Inadequate software support
  By AL1REXVAQ0UQ7 on 2007-03-10
  I have not been successful in my attempts to copy, edit and transfer movies from my VCR to a DVD. The primary problem is inadequate instructions for Ulead VideoStudio 9 bundled with DVDXpressDX2. I have not received a reply to a query sent to Ulead VideoStudio 9.
  
  
• It does just what it claims to do ...
  By A1XXIUD2G4O45N on 2007-11-24
  I wanted a simple HW and SW set up to convert UK, German and US VHS videos to DVDs. This is exactly what the DX2 does. Two enhancements I would like : (1) The resulting DVD should not be region dependent and play on any DVD player but all formats I produced play on a computer. (2) The ADS converter for creating CDs from LPs can be set up to stop recording once the LP has reached the end. A similar function for the DX2 would help.
  
  
• Great for the price
  By A3P1H4UQ8BHBTB on 2007-12-26
  The DVD Xpress DX2 does a great job of converting VHS tapes into digital files. I didn't try using a cam corder or anything else. The composite video and audio cords are included. The directions are terrible, they don't show you how to set up anything. But, you put the USB end into your computer, and the 3 cords go from the Audio/Video OUT input on your VCR into the DVD Xpress device. The only bad part was with some of my tapes it would leave messed up crazy lines at the very bottom and the very top, but it was hardly noticeable (maybe about a quarter of an inch at most). However, with some of the other tapes I did, I didn't have this issue. I never experienced sound getting out of sync (and yes, I recorded my high school basketball and baseball games which were well over an hour). The also nice thing that I figured out is that you can use it as a DVR basically. Through my VCR I could feed in live tv and record that which was pretty sweet. As far as quality goes, it's only as good as your tapes. I didn't really notice any degration of quality, but I'm no video expert.
  
  
• DON'T EVEN BOTHER
  By A37H2SPYTUPC2E on 2008-03-27
  I purchaed this item with the hopes that I could follow the extra instructions to make it work with my Windows Vista. I followed all their instructions to the tee and it still doesn't work. I'm shipping it back right away after spending nearly a day trying to get it to work. And, when you call their tech support unit - forget it! They sound like it's an effort to answer or help you.
  
  
• Surprised!
  By A18U1Q6TTGTWK8 on 2006-07-12
  Was shocked to find out that the actual item was that fragile...but its a very usful device and so simple to operate.
  
  
• You better have the power for this unit to work right.
  By A1BBBC5J6T3FRK on 2006-09-11
  I tryed to use this on an older p4 1500 megahz and had a few glitiches during the recording (loss of frames).
  Then I broke out the wifes new laptop and had no problem at all.
  The S video from my old High 8 Video Cam came out perfect. Sound was perfect too.
  The point is you MUST have the power. I do not care what the manufacture put on the box.
  I would have given it 5 stars if the recomended computer requirements matched what I had to use to get the results.
  
  
  
• It doesn't work at all.
  By A196DQIXNI1Z2J on 2006-10-13
  I connected all the cables as instructed, but it doesn't work, the light is not on.
  So I return it to Amazon.
  
  
• Stable, but for the S-video
  By A10MO1KUVU3LLH on 2006-11-04
  I bought this to record Tivo DVR stuff to DVD. Only mpeg capture device I have tried that gives a good quality picture. Any other device I tried only worked converting to avi's, if at all. Ulead's software is stable, and it's not a trial version. If I use S-video instead of composite video, computer locks up (but that may be a problem on my end). There are 2 different capture methods (Capwiz and Ulead's Video Studio). Sound was a bit behind using Capwiz, use VS instead. Would be nice to be able to set bitrate rather than be stuck with variable, but now I am just nitpicking.
  
  
• Adstech DVDXpress DX2
  By ATG0G6TKEA1NL on 2007-07-29
  Pros- Good quality product and good results capturing VHS to HDD.
  
  Cons- $20 cheaper at Walmart. NOT Vista Ready. Took weeks of tinkering to get the Vista Beta Drivers to work. Bundlesd Ulead video editing software won't run on Vista.
  
  
  
  
• Vista Problems - Doesn't Work For Me
  By A2M0A0TM0VXT3B on 2008-01-01
  Won't work. Maybe it's Vista, maybe not. I have a brand new machine with killer specs, so it's not a tech problem, other than Vista. Weird error messages don't make sense. Says the driver is out of date which is weird since I JUST BOUGHT IT. Don't buy it.
  
  
• Unit provides very wierd results
  By A2R5F37T38Z20W on 2008-09-10
  I purchased the ADS Tech DVD Xpress DX2 Video Converter for my hp Pavilion Windows XP SP3 PC. I have the earlier version (DVD Express) which works very well. Downloaded the software with no problems. Checked the UBS connection through my Windows XP device manager, all was fine. Everthing worked well (REVIEW,sound was fine). When I tried to use the CapWiz 'RECORD' button, Revcived an unexpected ULead MPEG Error. I tried to contact ADS support but could not get any answer to my requests. It ssems the ADS company was sold recently and current tech support is no-operative. I finally found, by accident, a 1-800 number at the new company and it turned out that it was the new ADS tech support. After relating my problem to them I was rudely informed that I was on my own. I have returned the product. I obviously can't recommend this converter based on my experience.
  
  
• Nice box for the money
  By A1FP4JY9XA04K3 on 2006-11-10
  Bought this to free up my DVR - turn recorded movies into DVD's etc. It works pretty well, accurate capture, easy to use. Not crazy about the Software that's included. Capwiz is OK, but limited, Ulead Video studio is clunky and sometime awkward to use, although between the two you can do just abou anything you need to. It works BEST, if you record the HD version of shows. Even if you don't have an HD TV, the converted image is much better.
  
  
• Poor unstable performance
  By A2GZZ8587ASERI on 2007-09-26
  ADS Tech DVD Xpress DX2 Video Converter
  
  Amazon sells this device with very positive feedbacks posted. I have completely different experience. This is poorly designed item with very unstable and poor performance. It started to show its colors just being unpacked from the box. When contacted original manufacturer (ADS) they recommended to download new software that made this unit completely non operational.
  Conclusion: Bad product and poor return policy from distributor (Electronica Direct). Would not recommend to anyone.
  
  
  
• Ads works great
  By A226OCZQYLOU4K on 2007-11-24
  The capture device works great and the Ulead video editor works well also
  The biggest problem is the lack of documentation. It is basically trial and error.
  
  
• Goodbye VHS; it works!
  By A37LDBD7QFDM5E on 2007-12-21
  This device did a great job of capturing my VHS tapes. The required cables are included (VHS player to converter, converter to PC USB). It took about 20 minutes to install the software, so I was capturing my movies within 30 minutes. The capture is so simple you wont need the directions. Once I had captured my tapes to the PC the prcoess slowed down considerably. The Showbiz DVD editor included in the package does an adequate job, but poor instructions, so you'll have to learn by trial and error (their website is NO help). It took me all day to edit and create my first movie with titles and thumbnails. Once I completed my changes, it took about an hour to "create" the movie with the Showbiz software (I strongly suggest writing the movie to your hard drive before writing to DVD). I could now view my finished movie on my PC, but the DVD I created would not play in my DVD player. I eventually used Nero to burn the DVDs, copying the entire project folder (including Arcsoft and Video_TS folders) to the blank DVD. Now, on day three, I can capture and create a VHS tape to DVD in about 4 hours total.
  
  Pros:
  - nice quality on VHS capture (my tapes were from the 80's)
  - everything is included (converter, cables, editing software)
  - cost was approx. what I was going to pay a professional to convert 2 tapes
  
  Cons:
  - editing software is not user friendly, poor instructions, help window is a joke
  - no help on error messages, I eventually learned to not use commas in project names
  - I could not burn my DVD with included software, had to use Nero (probably can be done, I didn't figure out how)
  
  Great tool for doing the job yourself, but don't underestimate the time it will require to convert your tapes.
  
  
  

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