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Dazzle

A Dazzle video recorder with its audio, video, and S-Video slots
Manufacturer	Dazzle Multimedia (1997–1999) SCM Microsystems (1999–2003) Pinnacle Systems (2003–present
Introduced	December 1997 (1997-12)
Type	Video recorder

The Dazzle is a family of external video capture devices that allow people to record video from analog composite video sources (DVD player, VCR, etc.) over USB (originally parallel). Most models are also capable of recording analog stereo audio.

Setup

There are two different ways one can connect components to the Dazzle. One way is to connect a VCR or video game console directly into the unit with RCA composite cables or with an S-video cable. Another way is to use three composite splitters to split the AV signal, sending one into the Dazzle, and another to a TV. This method is popular for recording from video game consoles, since it provides a real time feed into a TV (used as a preview monitor) while simultaneously capturing the footage.

History

The Dazzle line of video recorders was introduced in 1997 by L.A. Vision, Inc., a Silicon Valley start-up founded by Paul Jain, who had previously founded a string of graphics card companies including Paradise Systems, Video Seven, and Media Vision. The initial line of Dazzle recorders used an MPEG-1 encoder/decoder chip by C-Cube Microsystems to digitize the analog input, interfacing with the computer via a parallel port cable. The maximum resolution and frame rate that the Dazzle could encode video at was 352×240 pixels at 30 fps. L.A. Vision had inked their deal with C-Cube in September 1997; within two months, the Dazzle line was available on the market, by which point the company had renamed themselves to Dazzle Multimedia. Dazzle Multimedia also sold an internal, PCI-card version of the Dazzle, under the name Snazzi. Dazzle Multimedia was acquired in majority by SCM Microsystems, a German-American technology company, in 1999.

The first Dazzle recorder to support USB was the Digital Video Creator (DVC) 50 and 80 models, first released in March 2001. The DVC 80 was capable of recording both video and audio via RCA and S-video, while the more inexpensive DVC 50 was capable of recording only video. Owing to their USB 1.1-spec connector, these Dazzle video recorders captured video at much lower resolutions than contemporary offerings which used FireWire, although they were still capable of capturing video at a stable 30 fps.

In October 2003, Pinnacle Systems acquired the rights to manufacture and market Dazzle hardware from SCM Microsystems. Pinnacle was in turn acquired by Avid Technology in 2005. The Dazzle was then sold under both the Avid and Pinnacle names across various products. In the late 2000s, Avid updated the Dazzle line to support USB 2.0, allowing it to capture at native NTSC video resolutions.

In 2012, Alludo (formerly Corel) acquired Pinnacle from Avid. As of April 2022, Alludo continues to sell products under the Dazzle family.

Hardware overview

In this table the different Dazzle hardware devices are listed by their number.

In general a device was always sold under the same name and packaging. Not the DVC 100, many versions of the device and the packaging existed. Only the 'Dazzle DVD Recorder HD' is sold today and has different internal hardware than the DVC 100, but also outputs uncompressed video.

Further reading

• Ozer, Jan (April 7, 1998). "Dawn of a New Video Age". PC Magazine. 17 (7). Ziff-Davis: 47 – via Google Books.

References

1. Erica, Sadun (2006). Digital Video Essentials: Shoot, Transfer, Edit, Share. Wiley. p. 92. ISBN 9780470113196 – via Google Books.
2. ^ Brock, Terry (December 12, 1997). "New products have brought down the cost of multimedia". Dallas Business Journal. American City Business Journals: 6B – via ProQuest.
3. ^ Greenberg, Herb (September 5, 1997). "What's Behind C-Cube's New 'Partnership' With LA Vision?". San Francisco Chronicle: B1 – via ProQuest.
4. Clark, Don (November 12, 1992). "Media Vision's shares soar on first trading day". San Francisco Chronicle: C1 – via ProQuest.
5. McMakin, Matt (March 1998). "Capture digital video with a magic little box". Presentations. 12 (3). Bill Communications: 53–54 – via ProQuest.
6. Wright, Maury (January 15, 1998). "Digital-camera interfaces lead to ubiquitous deployment". EDN. 43 (2). Reed Publishing: 63–73 – via ProQuest.
7. Marsh, Peter (August 3, 1999). "European plays to his international strengths". Financial Times: 13 – via ProQuest.
8. ^ Fountain, Henry (March 8, 2001). "For Analog Camcorder Owners, Easy Way to Convert to Digital". The New York Times: 3. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015 – via ProQuest.
9. Staff writer (April 2, 2001). "Dazzle Video connectors line expands". TWICE. 16 (8). Cahners Business Information: 36 – via ProQuest.
10. Stevenson, Douglas (October 2002). "Choosing a DV capture card: essential hardware options". Camcorder & Computer Video. 18 (10). Miller Magazines: 50 et seq – via Gale.
11. Franks, D. Eric (June 2004). "Tech support: Most editing software will allow you to mix NTSC and PAL footage with MPEG video, still photos and stranger things". Videomaker. 18 (12): 9 – via Gale.
12. Block, Debbie Galante (October 2003). "Pinnacle keeps Dazzle products alive". EMedia. 16 (10). Online, Inc.: 14–16 – via ProQuest.
13. Staff writer (March 22, 2005). "Avid to Purchase Pinnacle Systems For $422.3 Million". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company: B5 – via ProQuest.
14. ^ May, Scott A. (December 9, 2008). "Gizmo takes fuss out of making DVDs". Columbia Daily Tribune: 1 – via ProQuest.
15. Jacobi, Jon L. (April 2011). "Digitize Your Analog Life". PC World. 29 (4). IDG Publications: 71 et seq – via Gale.
16. Stafford, Alan (November 2012). "Pinnacle Studio 16: The Ultimate Video Editor?". PC World. 30 (11). IDG Publications: 50 – via ProQuest.
17. Velazco, Chris (April 1, 2022). "What's the best way to share my old home videos?". The Washington Post – via ProQuest.

• Digital audio recording
• Digital video recorders
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