video capture

[nubbin]

Anyone got any advice on capturing viddeo from an analogue video camera? I have bought a Belkin USB capture device and I can get picture and sound of sorts, but it's all very broken up, stopping and starting etc. I've used Windows Movie Maker, bacuase the supplied MGI Video software doesn't capture at all. Any thoughts anyone?

[meeja]

USB capture cards tend not to give good results due to the data transfer rates.

Are you using USB 2.0, or 1.1?

Also, how powerful is the PC you are using?

To get high quality 25 fps capture at 768x640, you need a pretty decent PC.....

[ErnestM]

You need something like one of these:

www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage_n.asp?Product_ID=1426&Langue_ID=7

However, I would suggest that USB is not the way to go, nor are analog cameras. Your best bet is a Firewire (IEEE1394) based digital video camera.

Also - for optimum results - import your video as DVI (I import at 720x480) and then re-encode to a different format after editing (MS Movie Maker 2, Premier, Pinnacle, etc). The raw DVI is more flexible and takes up a lot of space, but you can always delete it when your movie is complete...

Hope this helps

ErnestM

[nubbin]

Thanks Ernest - I asm only doing it to transfer some older analogue video to DVD -I've got a firewire set up as it is.

[EdT]

IF you've got a firewire card already youre halfway there (just the expensive half left...) What you now need is a DV camera with AV in. I use a little Sony; I plug VHS or whatever into the AV-in and the Sony produces DV out that goes straight into the PC. doddle!

Ed

[simpo two]

You could get a DVD Recorder and record it straight onto DVD in realtime, no computer required. What format is the original on? VHS, Hi-8 etc...

[dannyboyo]

I've got an old ATI All-in-Wonder card (32Mb) in a Pentium III 1Ghz PC, and it can capture full screen analogue without any problems at 25fps.

You could probably pickup and old all-in-wonder card for next to nothing now, mines about 3 or 4 years old and only cost me £100 back then!.

There's one here or here for example!!!

>> Edited by dannyboyo on Monday 2nd February 10:54