S-video

[tony123]

Should I use the s-video that comes with the video card or get something better? Are they all the same or are there different brands and makes that are better?

[Innershield]

The one that came with it will be just fine, although I am sure somebody will disagree.

[theDruid]

are you talking about the s-video cable?

what are you using it for? TV-out or capture?

what are you plugging the other end into? a VCR? with an s-video socket? or are you using an adaptor?

cheers,
mcdruid.

[tony123]

yeah- the s-video cable. I have a ATI card with a s-video tv-out. I use the cable that came with it for tv-out and capturing off dvd and satellite tv. I was wondering if all s-video cable transmit the same number of lines of resolution. I think it's 480?

[theDruid]

I suspect people will tell you that a better quality cable would give you better analog captures - although I would say the difference would be greater if the cable is a very long one (which it's probably not if it came with the card).

I'm no expert on this, but I don't think a different cable would change things as regards resolution. There might be less noise with a high-quality cable, but I think that would be the only difference.

Finally, I'm not sure why you use analog capture from DVD - do you have a DVD-ROM drive in your PC?

cheers,
mcdruid.

[tony123]

I don't have a dvd-r. I capture off my standalone dvd player S-video out. It only has composite and s-video out.

[SLK001]

Component video output is the best, followed by S-Video output, followed by composite video.

[tony123]

I don't think there are any tv-cards with component video-in?

[SLK001]

I don't think there are any tv-cards with component video-in?

Try some high-end cards.

[theDruid]

I would spend the money on a DVD-ROM drive before thinking about a high end video card for analog capture from a DVD standalone player!

cheers,
mcdruid.

[tony123]

What is the DVD rom drive for?

[ZippyP.]

What is the DVD rom drive for?

It's like a CD-rom drive but it also plays DVD's on your computer. DVD's ripped from the disk to your hard drive are much better quality than capturing. It's also faster, copies in just a few minutes.

[tony123]

Is that legal?

[ZippyP.]

Is that legal?

If you own the DVD it is. It's called "Fair use" and you can do what you want with it if you've paid for it.

[tony123]

Does "fair use" apply to video capture of tv shows?
I see alot of sites with video clips and I've often wondered if it is legal to have them available for anyone to download.

[ZippyP.]

Fair use applies to TV shows that you time shift i.e. record now and watch later. It doesn't apply to shows that you record and share with others via the web or any other means.

[tony123]

Does that mean it's illegal to share taped shows on VHS with your friends? For example, you taped the Superbowl but your friend had to work and could not watch it. He borrows the tape and watches it at another time. No money was made. You did not charge a penny for borrowing the tape. Is that still considered illegal and copyright infringement?

[Poppa_Meth]

technically yes thats probably illegal, but no one could ever prove that the person who has the tape isn't the one that recorded it so its generally not worth worrying about.

[tony123]

But a show like the Superbowl was broadcast over free tv, not cable or ppv. The NFL, to the best of my knowledge, does not sell DVD of entire superbowl games. So in essence, lending a VHS or video capture copy of the superbowl would not hurt the NFL's sales.

[Donny661]

Copyright law is not usually based on common sense, especially the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA), which deals with digital content. There are old DOS video games that are not made or sold anymore (sometimes called abandonware), but it is still illegal to download them because there is a copyright still held. It has nothing to do with money lost by a company.

[ZippyP.]

But a show like the Superbowl was broadcast over free tv, not cable or ppv. The NFL, to the best of my knowledge, does not sell DVD of entire superbowl games. So in essence, lending a VHS or video capture copy of the superbowl would not hurt the NFL's sales.

I agree no one would be hurt but don't they always say at the end of Monday night football, "Any use of this broadcast without prior permission is strictly prohibited."

[tony123]

Ok- another example: music videos. There are a ton of video captures of music videos all over the web, newsgroups, and p2p networks. Is it illegal to capture and share them online? Is it illegal to download them?

[ZippyP.]

The songs themselves are copyrighted material but I suppose it depends on what you're using them for. If you're trying to make money then they'll come after you, if you're just sharing them then I don't think they care. After all they're looking to get as much exposure as they can.

[tony123]

Free exposure is good. It saves the record companies lots of money on promotion and advertising. I guess that is why they dont go after video captures because eventhough it contains the song, it is not the actual mp3.

[SatStorm]

This is a compilcated and delicate mater you know...

- You have the right to record TV shows, music videos, cartoons, or whatever, for a later view from you. But you can watch it only once... Then, you have to delete it

- You can record any TV and Radio transmission, except the PPV ones, on analogue tapes (VHS, SVHS, Beta, whatever...), PC computers (mpeg 4, rm, etc ...) or Digital media (DVHS, DVD-Ram, DVD+/-RW), only for personal use. You can't rent, sell, borrow or any kind of trade those things. Also, you can't watch it with your wife, kids, parents, and your shadow....

BUT:

1. You record something to a DVD-R disc from TV / Radio today. You store it -without watching it- for exactly 20 years. Then, you can do anything you wish with it. It isn't under copyright if it comes from this kind of source (radio / TV) after 20 years. This also counts for a Cinema Film you bought 20 years ago. It is then yours without copyright material.
(why you think those 10 and 20 year editions exist on such films? To expant their copyright for another 10 years...)

2. You can pay someone to record for you something from Radio & TV. This is a service, and you stricly pay for the service. You may also pay for the media it is used for the action (the vhs tape, the DVDR disc, maybe the PC if he don't have one...).
For him of course, since at the time this is his job, he has to look if the job is done correct. He has to look if the machines works, the picture is stable, etc. Like say the cameraman of a movie, is doing his job, he is not watching the movie before its release. Also, he can't copy for himself of anyone this recording, since this is only for you (and remember: only to watch it once, or wait 20 years so to watch it unlimited times!).

Music Videos are promos. Once they called them Promo Clips. So:
You can't collect them to watch them in private if they are less than 20 years old. Same restrictions as the ones I describe and same rights.
BUT:
If you have an entertainment bussiness like taverns, Clubs, Discoteques, Pubs, Bars, Restoraunt, etc and you pay for music, you have the right to collect and show videoclips in public, since this is promoting.
A limitation, is that you don't have the right to air videoclips from artists currently on a different label. For example, if you have videos from "MC Stupid" before joining his current label, you can't air them. It is a promotion of an old deal, so it is disinforming

I know plenty things for this subject, but I don't have the time to sit down and write all of them.
The truth is that a new law gonna pass in the close future: Brain Copyright laws. For example, you have the right to watch anything, but you have to forget it in "fair use time", let say 10 minutes later... Otherwise, you are illegal and you have to pay back the copyright holders by working for them for your rest 7 lifes!

[lordsmurf]

This is a compilcated and delicate mater you know...

- You have the right to record TV shows, music videos, cartoons, or whatever, for a later view from you. But you can watch it only once... Then, you have to delete it

What? Nah, I've never heard that.

[SatStorm]

It is an "extreme" explanation of the law

In real life, you can buy DVDR standalone recorders to record whatever you wish from TV for anylong you wish. So, in real life, all those are bullshit.
But when lawers are used on trials, extreme explanations like the ones provided here, can be easily used...

There are some lawer student forums, having virtual trials on subjects like those. There are virtual judges, criminals, etc. Those forums are really good places to learn about extreme explanations!

[tony123]

I think that based on the explanations above, it is legal to capture, host and download music videos.

For example, Joe Schmo has a video capture card and captures music videos off MTV. He then decides to host them on his own website. He asks for donations from the visitors/downloaders to help pay for the cost of hosting and essentially, capturing the videos because it's a service he is providing. It's very much like a bar, tavern, club, etc. He is promoting the music video, the artist, the record company and MTV. And this costs the artist, record company, and MTV absolutely nothing. Everybody wins.

[SatStorm]

This is the principle behind all those video clip sites, but when a video has a logo, like capturing from MTV etc, then this is copyright of the channel. So it needs 20 years to became free...

Only if you have direct from a record label the promo video (those promo vhs they sending on most channels are typical examples) and you have some kind of agreement with them you can do this on the net.

[tony123]

20 years is a long time
I guess that means anything captured off tv and hosted online is illegal unless you have permission from the channel. That would mean 99% of websites are violating copyright laws. Even the ones that host really short clips or still captures. Is that why there aren't any multimedia available for download on this site?