Analog Video Capture Device--Help!

[pjc]

I receintly installed Windows XP SP2 in order to get Windows Movie Maker 2.1. Neat and easy to use.<br /><br />I need advice on analog video capture cards and software. I have an older Sharp Viewcam that I wish to load video into pc then burn both dvd and vcd media. I also import video clips from my Kodak digicam and edit into WMV movies. These play fine on any 'puter using Media Player. I intend to cnvert and burn these to cdr as a vcd.<br /><br />So far I am considering the Aver Ezmaker PCI card that is bundled with Ezdvd 4.0. Also am considering Dazzle 80 USB Capture divice, bundled with edit and burner software. <br /><br />I have been told that PCI is the way to go for speed due to direct connection with Front Side Buss.<br /><br />My 'puter specs: Compaq Presario 7000, 1.2 gig Athalon, 512 meg DDR memory, 266mhz fsb, usb 1.1 I believe and a firewire port. Would love to use the firewire port to interface with the capture device, but they seem pricy.<br /><br />Also, eventually I may install Sonic DVD software by Adaptec.<br /><br />Anyhoo, I like MM2.1 due to ease of use and features, and I believe that I can only import .avi and .mpeg video file to MM2.1.<br /><br />Any advice guys?

 

[Scooch_2]

Re: Analog Video Capture Device--Help!

I purchased the Avermedia PCI card a while ago and have done well with it. I am in the process of converting all of my home movies and burning them to DVD. Your PC may be a bit low on the specs side, but still should work. I have an AMD Athlon 2600 with 1GB of RAM and it still takes some serious time to render a DVD.<br /><br />I use NeoDVD that came with wither my video card or the capture card to capture the video and Ulead Movie Factory 3 to create the DVD (with the menus and chapters). <br /><br />I will eventually purchase a digital video camera, but for now, I'm using my older Sony video camera (its probably 6 years old).<br /><br />Let me know if you need any other details on my setup or some of the stuff I've learned in the few months I've been doing this. I'm still learning though....

 

[pjc]

Re: Analog Video Capture Device--Help!

Thanks Scooch_2. Tigerdirect has the Aver PCI card bundled with burner sofware for $30. Think I will go that route. Initialy I will be just doing vcd 'till I get some experience. Then Invest in a good double layer burner and so on to do DVD.<br /><br />Time is on my side because I can walk away while cds are written. Some day though will upgrade to a super 'puter, 800mhz buss, 3 gig processor, and so on.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Analog Video Capture Device--Help!

Pat<br />I've been there and done that.....<br />My advice to you would be:<br /><br />*Purchase a MiniDV camcorder and use the analog-DV function to do your conversion. They have a built in "time base correction" which will keep the video and audio in synch.<br />*Purchase a firewire card ($30) which often comes with a decent video editing software<br />*don't bother with the VCD format. DvD blanks are cheap now and the allowable resolution and menu structure is much better than VCD.<br />*Get a huge hard-drive (atleast 160gig)<br />*Get TMPGENC for compressing and get TMPGENC DVDauthor for authoring...<br /><br /><br />When all is said and done, you'll have a good product and a camcorder to use as well....<br /><br />Good luck!!

 

[SingleShot]

Re: Analog Video Capture Device--Help!

Studio 9 from pinnacle work great, been using it since version 4 came out some years ago. The Av version gives you the hardware for capturing any analogue device be it RCA or S-video. If you have a firewire port you can capture direct from any digital device. Has great effects and handles all the formats for burning ect....<br /><br />JK

 

[pjc]

Re: Analog Video Capture Device--Help!

Update: thanks for all the input!!!!<br /><br />This is what I did.<br /><br />Since I needed to move into the 21st century and buy a dvd player, I bought a dvd player/recorder combo. With this I can record all my archived as well as new home vidieos from the camcorder. I can also record any stuff on Direct TV or on air programing. I can also play vcd, svcd, and dvd discs that I burn. These discs will have vidieo as well as digital photo content that I assembled in Windblows Movie Maker 2.2.<br /><br />I found a neat utility called "Super DVD Creator", $30 for download (demoed free trial verson first) that imports .wmv (win movie vid files,)files and converts file and burns to cd rom in my case for the vcd discs. Very cool and <br />cheap.<br /><br />Now, I have about 150+ meg of family digiphotos to build into slide shows. Whats real neat to me about win movie maker is that I can insert audio files and graphic transitions into slide shows. AND the fact that movie maker is FREE courtesy of Bil Gates winXP.<br /><br />The bottom line is that I would have spent about $150 or so to add components and software to my 'puter and tied it up building and burning dvd collection from home vids. Decision was to use that money along with $$$ allocated to buy dvd player and buy the player/recorder combo.<br /><br />Sweet!!!!!!!