Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

[waterinthefuel]

I have a rather nice Sony Hi-8 camcorder. If I could convert my videos from it to a digital format, I could send videos to friends and family. Anybody know if this can be done simply, and for free? My video card is a Nvidia 7900GS with an S-video plug. My camcorder has an S-video out plug, as well as the standard RCA type connections. I don't know if the one on the video card is an input or output though.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

I'm pretty sure that the s-video is an output. You'll need a video capture card (some are external) to do the conversion. I've converted cam tapes to digital format with an older Hauppauge TV card and burned them to cd/dvd.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

What Xcuseme said. Most newer TV Tuner cards also have a line in. Usually S-video. This will work for what you're trying to do.

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

I use a capture card and windows movie maker for my videos.I hear that there are some Super8 cams that can convert the Hi8 tapes and spit them out as digital files but I don't have anything that new that works so I am not sure.I have read about it but not all cams can do it I am told.
The capture card method is slow but Windows Movie Maker allows you to edit your vids and the end result produces a smaller file so the time is well spent IMHO.Ron G

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

The analog capture cards are encoders (taking analog signal and converting it to digital stream). The good cards use h/w based encoding which will offload the encoding load off your processor. With the included S/w you should be able to specify the final encoded format and quality which corresponds to the final size. If you need to re-encode or transcode, you will be waiting on your processor to do that.

While there are a ton of them out there, the happauge 150 is a good all around card that have the necessary inputs. There are other solutions that allow just composite in. The 150 can be had for $50-60.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

The Nvidia cards are S-video out. The TV tuner cards with a video input would work.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

Is this what I need? It's only 12 bucks!

http://www.alancomputech.com/wintv-44801.html

 

[Sorrento 25]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

Your best bet is probably the Canopus AVDC55 or AVDC110. One benefit is that the AVDC does the processing and not your PC. About 2 bills though...

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

For that much I could just get a new digital camcorder.

 

[Sorrento 25]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

Spose so... I guess it depends how much existing analog video you have that you would like to convert?

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Converting analog video to digital....HOW?

That card will do the job.You can buy them on ebay as well for cheap,there are always several listed there.Ron G