Video Capture - Recommend a website/forum??

[DigitalDon]

OK this isn't audio. Well kinda since I want to add my own audio to the video. Can anyone recommend a good website, forum or video capture card (PCI) to load analog video from my SVHS camcorder (analog video in or S-Video in) into my computer. Don't want to spend more than $100 on the capture card and don't need TV tuner, etc. All the Pinnacle stuff is out due to consistently bad reviews. Any recommendations/tips/pointers would be greatly appreciated.

DD

 

[DigitalDon]

I promise this is the only bump

 

[Ford Van]

I looked around a LOT for a video capture card in that price range. I got a Camera Mate or some shit like that.

Truthfully, the video quality is marginal! Also, you are going to have a lot of problems with audio from your video syncing, as they are recorded as two seperate things.

Think of your capture cards as a A/D converter (well, actually, it IS!), but with the quality being even MORE crucial to the final output. In reality, you will need to spend around 4X as much as your budget allows to get a decent quality capture card.

If you had a digital video camera, things would be really different though. They generally interface via firewire.

 

[TimOBrien]

I've been converting all my old VHS tapes and camcorder movies over to DVD using these:

Plextor ConvertX USB2 video converter (uses hardware MPEG conversion)
Captures analog video directly to MPEG2 using USB2 with zero problems
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Category=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

Sony Vegas Movie Studio + DVD Architect - $90 or less
GREAT editing software and DVDArchitect is FANTASTIC for making menu'ed DVDs!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...-1888200-0959337?v=glance&s=software&n=507846

Lite-On 16x DVD burner - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106988


------------ These really work great to make printed DVDs: ---------------------------------

Taiyo Yuden Inkjet-printable DVDs - 35cents each
http://www.supermediastore.com/taiyo-yuden-white-inkjet-printable-8x-dvd-r-media.html

Epson R200 inkjet printer (prints on CDs/DVDs) <$90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16828103160

 

[brzilian]

Don't be cheap, it will only bite you in the ass later.

Buy a device that captures via Firewire to the miniDV format. Other formats (MPEG, VMV, DivX) are delivery only formats and are too compressed for editing. ADS makes the Pyro which retails for $199 and comes with Adobe Premiere Elements.

 

[DigitalDon]

Thanks for the info guys. I like what I read when researching both the (1) Plextor/Sony Vegas Studio combination and the (2) ADS Pyro A/V Link/Adobe Premiere Element combination. I'm also considering the Plextor PX-AV100U USB ($48) and Sony Vegas Movie Studio + DVD Platinum Edition ($99). Both prices are after rebates if anyone is interested. Tough decision but the firewire ADS Pyro is looking good. I'm not sure what the differences would be between the Adobe and Sony software. Still researching.........

DD