Video capture hardware

[sleddog]

Who knows about video capture hardware? I'm looking to equip a machine for video editing. A primary function will be to capture video from VHS input and digitize it for later editing. Is anyone up to date on the latest hardware for this? The machine is still is the planning stages, so all video hardware is open for suggestions.

[Whyzman]

On advice of malcore I recently purchased one of these: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-122-132&DEPA=1

I haven't used it as yet since I'm still in the building stage. The reviews are awesome and the price right now is worthy of note!

[sleddog]

Thanks, looks interesting. A card like that is installed in addition to the standard video adapter, right? Are there questions of compatibility with video adapters? By the way, the budget allows for maybe twice that price ($54) if there are other suggestions.

[Sylvander]

I don’t have any of this hardware, but the latest issue [No.132 of 6-19 March 2003] of my PC magazine [see here http://www.computeractive.co.uk/] includes a detailed article on page 74.

UK INSTRUCTIONS
On hardware it says you will need:
1. A video cassette recorder.
2. A video capture card fitted to the PC.
3. An external capture device that can be connected to the PC.
4. A graphics card that includes a socket to connect a VCR, OR ALTERNATIVELY:
5. A TV tuner card.

You will also need:
6. Software such as “EditStudio” or “MyDVD” to capture the video and store it on the PC.
7. A CD-RW drive or recordable DVD drive to be able to transfer the captured video to a CD or DVD.
8. Enough hard disk space to store the captured video.

SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE
a. Connect VCR to the PC.
b. Use suitable software to capture the video footage.
c. Once video footage has been captured and transferred to a recordable CD or DVD, you can play it on any PC’s CD or DVD drive or a DVD player.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
a. The quality of the video footage on CD/DVD will only be as good as the quality of the tape. The resolution of tape is not as good as DVD, so you cannot improve a film [or audio] on tape to equal commercial DVD quality. You’ll need plenty of HDD space to store the video.
A VideoCD will store about one hour of video in MPEG-1 format; a recordable DVD will hold significantly more.

CAPTURING
a. An S-Video lead provides the highest quality connection, otherwise you’ll need an adapter to connect YOUR VCR’s SCART socket to red, white and yellow phono sockets on the PC’s capture card. Swich on the VCR and PC only after everything is connected.
b. Open the capturing programme.
c. Make sure the tape is in position and ready.
d. The programme will list the capture devices it has detected and allow a choice. It will list the capture card, not the VCR. An error message may appear after choosing, which explains that a preview is not available. Press play on the VCR if this happens.
e. Having chosen the video capture card [VCC] some editing prog’s display the amount of HDD space you have free and how much time can be captured. You may need to reduce the quality to get the video into the available space.
f. When ready to start press play on the VCR. A preview screen may appear. Switch on the speakers if there is no sound. Forward or rewind to find your start point. Click the capture or record button. Click stop [or a second click on capture] to end capture.
g. Name and save the file when the dialogue box appears.


PROBLEMS
a. Usually with analogue VCC’s. The VCC may not be compatible with editing Prog’s. If the VCC comes with software use that.
b. The video file may be difficult open in other prog’s.
c. The sound may be missing [if so then re-capture].
d. If the PC runs slow when capturing, try switching to the preview screen or reducing quality of capture.
e. Capturing digital [not analogue] is more reliable and successful. Connect the digital camcorder to a FireWire port with a suitable cable. The same capture steps are used.

[Whyzman]

Hey sled, came across this in my meanderings today...

http://radified.com/DV_NLE/dv_nle_1.htm

They have some great concise guides in some other arenas also...