Capture Question

[911thor]

Maybe a stupid question, is it possible to have the same clarity with 320 x 240 as to 640 x 480 ? I ask this question because, I have two capture programs and one only capture in 320 x 240 size and the other can capture 640 x 480. Problem is, I have to convert or render one (640 x 480) when making SVCD. Can someone clear this up for me. What is the best way to capture an Analog video to be made into a SVCD? or should I make it an VCD? Help...!

[ImaWeTodd]

I believe:

This depends upon your source and your output format. Capture is just a step in the middle.

For example, svhs and broadcastTV (i believe) have a better "resolution" than vhs. VHS is ~ 352x240. So if you go from VHS to SVCD (480x480), you would not get any more detail than going to VCD (352x240) regardless of capture of 352x240 or 640x480.

Now you stated that your options are 320x240 and 640x480. So in this case, you loose something going from 352 to 320.

To continue the argument, some feel you should capture at the highest resolution possible and convert down. The thinking goes that going from analogue wave, more lines give a better sample (or something like that). Some say this is bunk, and you can't get more lines where there are none.

I don't know what is right, but I DO KNOW that I get better results if I capture at the highest possible frame size. This may be because my cheap hardware does a poor job at capturing at some resolutions and ok at others.

To conclude: Run some short tests on some source with details (like credit text), and you will know what works best for your setup.

By the way, what hardware do you have? Maybe you can find a better program.

This should also probably be in the capture forum.