Cloner Aliance ViewLite AV stand alone capture device to digitize your home videos

[@ConsumerDV]

Both SD and HD captures are 30p only. The HD capture is stretched. Meh. Your Betacam capture is much better, but it has a weird cadence, for every 6 frames there are only 5 unique ones - was it a PAL Betacam, that your Cloner Pro converted into 60p? I wonder whether the Cloner Pro 4:3 capture is pillarboxed within 1920x1080, or is it something like 1440x1080?

[@12voltvids]

This one is 30p, my pro Bix is 60. The betacam is a pal model and the cloner is doing a pull down to 60p. This one does it at 25p for pal.

[@ConsumerDV]

​@@12voltvids Right. Who wants blended frames and halved temporal resolution? KZbin enabled 50p/60p in 2014 for crying out loud. As for the Cloner Pro, I would expect it to capture PAL as 50p.

[@12voltvids]

@@ConsumerDV the pro outputs at 60p. No setting to change. It's not a pillarbox 4:3 it is true 4:3. It is 16:9 or 4:3 selectable as well as 720p or 1080p selectable. HDCP, what's that?

[@Lirk88]

@@12voltvids Does deinterlace can be turned off on this device? Interlaced video source can be converted to 50p/60p with software deinterlace filters.

[@chriscutress1702]

Will this strip off the copy protect during a store bought VHS transfer to digital storage medium or is it just for home video transfer ? I have a lot of VHS tapes that I'd like to transfer to DVD before I dispose of them. Most are not available on DVD anymore.

[@12voltvids]

I believe I showed this. Where were you when i played Jurassic Park into it?

[@kylej.mcelravy]

My Cloner box seems to have a habit of timing out at random times and can't record material no more than five minutes. Don't know if my unit is defective or needs to be straightened out on the menu screen.

[@12voltvids]

No issues at all with my pro model. It records anything and everything.

[@alphabeets]

There are various data speed ratings for USB thumb sticks. Maybe try a faster one. It’s actually a number indicated on the USB thumb drive packaging. And make sure you format it to the recommended format.

[@12voltvids]

@@alphabeets this one is USB 3.1 writing speed is not an issue. It will do 80 easily. This device is 8

[@Dansbus1]

Handy little unit I must seek one out here in the uk.

[@12voltvids]

I will do a comparison on quality between this one and the pro version and my professional capture card.

[@Calvarydima]

One thing when this unit would be super popular is if it would be universal media player . With android like a smart tv that can read multiple formats from the mobile device like Apple TV This would be a killer device like a media center

[@jeremiefaucher-goulet3365]

What a coincidence.... I was watching that belt replacement video just before and it appears again in this one lol

[@alphabeets]

I’ve had two Cloner Box Pros and they both have a problem with the Left Right audio balance when using the multi pin adapter audio ins. One side is 6db louder than the other when viewed in my video editor software. When using the 1/8” audio in jack on the side of the box, the audio levels are matched. Anyone else have this problem?

[@12voltvids]

Have not had that problem. The sound card on my computer has that problem though. One side louder than the other so I have to bump the balance over a bit to level things up. My cloner pro has been great. It's an older model before all the HDCP crap went on it. I however will neither confirm or deny if it can record protected content. I can confirm however that this one does NOT record protected content and they are very clear on the operating manual to this.

[@alphabeets]

Yep, I bought mine after seeing your excellent review of it. I love it except for the audio level trouble. I’d love it if someone could record a mono test tone into it then view the levels in something like Final Cut or Resolve or Premier. I’m just wanting to know if this is common. I can’t believe both of my units had the same flaw.

[@alphabeets]

Me thinks I should NOT update the firmware in mine. Don’t want to lose certain recording features…

[@12voltvids]

@@alphabeets i can do that.

[@12voltvids]

@@alphabeets never update. Why do you think i still run win 7?

[@targetrender9529]

I just ordered the pro version. Do these devices strip copyright protection? Could you copy dvd/blu-ray with them?

[@12voltvids]

Mine does. Your mileage may vary. This one does not strip it. If the one you end up with dies never update the software of you may be crying.

[@joey_after_midnight]

Anything modern that dares to include an S-Video input is worth a shot. I really liked the recommendation of Cloner Alliance Pro, its been a keeper. Thanks for the look inside. I was wondering what the Chips might be, video decoders tend to be off the shelf, h.264 encoders usually seem to be Fujitsu MB86H52 but slathered in Thermal compound and obscured by a heat wicking plate.But MacroSilicon MS1850 would not surprise me.

[@12voltvids]

The pro model is fantastic. It can record everything. No I won't be updating the firmware either as they will likely disable protected content capture which mine does. The view lite av will not capture protected content.

[@ThriftyAV]

ViewLite has a firmware upgrade. I plan to test out the firmware and post a video. I would like to include a little bit of this vid talking about this issue if you provide permission. If you grant permission, I will provide a reference to you in my description.

[@borakurt13]

How did you manage to record in 4:3 ratio? I have the same device but it only records in 16:9

[@12voltvids]

You need to select 640x480 in the record settings. Auto and 1080 will scale it to 16:9

[@jusadude7162]

It would be helpful to know the approximate cost (with the disclaimer its subject to change of course) so that I know if it’s even something I could buy. Thanks!

[@12voltvids]

There is an Amazon link in the description that takes you directly to the store. I believe it's 279 on Amazon Canada. Not cheap but it does a great job. I use mine constantly to archive. It's in operation right now actually.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

Interesting! That would be nice to copy videos to a USB stick or other storage media. Will it record tv programs off of the air? Is there something better for that that allows easy playback to the tv?

[@12voltvids]

It records what you give it with the av jacks in standard def. The pro box can go between cable box and tv and will record everything.

[@tdavieez]

Will this record from a uk sky set top box

[@12voltvids]

Yes it will record PAL signals. If you want to record the full HD from HDMI or component I would recommend the pro Box. I use to record everything and it works flawlessly. I don't know if newer firmware has disabled any features but the one i have has never failed to record. I have to be careful in the words I use so as not to violate any of youtubes guidelines with respect to protected content. So I can only say I can not confirm or deny the model I have can record protected content. All I am permitted to say is it has never failed to record anything I have thrown at it. This lite version however does not record protected content. The pro version no comment.

[@tdavieez]

@@12voltvids very helpful , thank you .

[@mhikeangat8330]

is this good for tapeless?hehe

[@12voltvids]

It looks very good when kept in standard definition. On this one I would not use the upscale to 1080 only because it stretches everything to fit 16:9 However in standard mode it captures 4 / 3 and it looks good I did a comparison between this unit my professional capture card and the alliance pro capturing a commercial tape period I showed it to a friend in a blind test so he did not know which one was which and asked him to pick which 1 looked the best and he couldn't pick 1 Uber the other they all look good. The pro model I had an outputting 1080P60 4/3 mode So all 3 looked the same there was no aspect difference. My friend was looking to buy one so he wanted to compare the pro model which costs quite a bit more with this version and because he couldn't see much of a difference between the 2 he picked this 1 of course we compared it to my $1400 professional capture device that outputs firewire to the computer and it also looked identical. In the end when you're capturing analog video they're all going to look pretty much the same because it's 480 interlaced video that you are capturing it doesn't matter how you upscale it or what you do to it it's still gonna be 480 you can upscale it to 4K if you want but the source is still 480 it is not going to improve on what is already there if you capture garbage video it's going to look like garbage if you capture good video it's going to look as good as any of the others. Now I'm not saying all captured devices are created equal if you go and use a $49 dazzle you may not get the results that you want because a lot of those are computer processor Dependent and if there's a bottle neck on USBA can have drop frames also many of them require a very stable video source but the standalone boxes do a remarkable job no computer required no time based correct required it's all built-in.

[@voenigs612]

Why do so many Canadians still have those old cameras? What century are you living in?

[@12voltvids]

People are sitting on lots of tapes made in the 80s to early 2000s. I moved away from tape as soon as sd based cameras rolled out.

[@stefancarlberg7806]

NIce & Intressting video there . I have digitized alot with clearclick 2.0 units . And it have been "ok" so to say . This one if it can upscale VHS to 1080 descent it shuld be very intressting option to get . A funny thing with the clearclick 2.0 is i bought 3 off them and another here in EU under another brand . The first i bought you had 2 different reselution options the other 3 dosent have that . Kinda strange but i guess as i understand it its differnt firmware versions on them to i dont have 2 that have the same even if i bought 3 off them from same Ebay seller . And those firmware do effect the quality . . its my 1 st i bought that works the best and only one i use . Only thing i miss on this cloner alliance is 4:3 ratio . that shuld do that automatic at thats a shame imo . Another funny thing is i had for a while a NTSC Hi8 Hitachi with color screen i copy those to SVHS NTSC . And that is the worst copys off enything i have filmed . dark less colors kinda grey:ish so to say . So i do not agree with the NTSC vs PAL . I even had laserdics and VHS with original starwars on NTSC tapes it always was less life more dull on any video & TV & Computer i have tryed . Still have a SVHS ET NTSC that i use to copy those few NTSC tapes i have . I m absolutly not an expert in any way . I have just used all from Panasonic M10 VHS hifi camera first i got was in 1991 and have get cameras like SVHS DV up to 4K today . so its fun digitize old stuff just want as good as possible and a little better then Clearclick . I m thinking about try go thru my LG VHS / DVD recorder that upscales , not to playback from just send the signal thru it and find some good with screen 1080P recorder plug it from the HDMI out . maybe a good idea ? Thanks for a great video Sir :) add more samples from VHS to upscaled 1080P etc :)

[@12voltvids]

On this one if you select 1080 upscale it stretches to 16x9. If you choose 640x480 it keeps in 4:3 format. The pro version you can up scale to 1080p60 and keep aspect correct and it will also capture hd from component, hdmi and RGB

[@coondogtheman]

I've been thinking of getting a device like this but I want to get one that has good quality and works. I have two of the USB based capture devices but the video quality of them is terrible. I like the idea of a stand alone device and no need of a PC.

[@12voltvids]

This works pretty good. The pro version delivers a better picture. Things to remember. Home video was 720 x 480 inteaced. No matter what you do it is always a 480 line picture. When you up scale you stretch the picture and guess what should be inserted. It will never be a HD picture. Awhile back I did a demo video where I did a comparison between my 1200 capture card, my hauppague capture card and cloner alliance pro. I'll probably do another one and compare the same footage on this one and the pro version as well as other capture cards. I'll do some test signals and test footage off a laserdisk test disk so all can be evaluated with same footage under equal conditions.

[@coondogtheman]

@@12voltvids Cool. I've seen the little ClearClick ones on amazon but all of these devices are expensive. It's a bummer that the one you showed doesn't record macrovision content. I have tons of movie tapes that aren't on DVD or Blu-ray that I'd like to record to digital. Some are recorded off of TV.

[@Dr.-Smart]

those units are crap .. especially the framerates and software stability and compression is crap , sometimes even the audio is not alighned to the video aswell

[@12voltvids]

My pro unit has had no issues at all and I use it every day.

[@lezbriddon]

I dont think there crap they have a use, admittedly its a one trick pony, but its not worth more than 89.99 but theres oldies with money to throw to keep the camcorder tapes alive, on computers they need grandkids to operate...

[@12voltvids]

@@lezbriddon this one certainly has a lower bit rate. It's only 8mbps. The pro model is 18mbps which delivers a noticable improvement as demonstrated in the betacam capture and the tv commercial at the end. The audio capture sounded great. Sure it's mp3 but more than high enough bit rate. Myself I don't have much use for this for video capture as I have the pro model which is much better but to record audio from an old tape this is ideal.

[@Calvarydima]

If you plug your super broadcast camera to a modern lcd tv trough this device you will not see anything new compared to just plugging it directly via rca analog

[@Monitoring_Everything]

I like the Pro

[@12voltvids]

The pro model is a totally different device with many more capabilities. This has some nice features however like the ability to save on native resolution. The pro outputs either 720 or 1080. This one can output 480 (576 pal) or 1080. For someone wanting to work at original resolution and upscale in PC this would be a good option and the audio recording feature is great.