cost of equip to capture tv shows?

[trunksu]

i want to record some tv show to my comp. how much will it cost? how's the quality. does it require a lot of work. i just need a overview before i jump on to this. thanks.

[SatStorm]

Hi, you are from USA so I guess that you are NTSC

Well, you have 2 choices:

1- A DVD Standalone Recorder. Cheap, very good results and you don't need to learn all this voodoo magic to do your job. The negative side, is that you won't be able to burn more than 2 hours per disc, with good picture quality (on a typical 4.7GB disc).

2 - Since you are NTSC, a ATI card (latest models). It is an all in one solution, offering solutions that works best for the Americans. With your PC specifications, you are just OK for it.


Beyond that, the alternatives are countless so the variations. The results with those alternatives are better, but it is the hard way and it needs lot of time (to learn how to do things and the whole proccess needs time...)

[nelson133]

Be sure to check out the CanopusADVC100. It's a box that coverts analogue to digital and dumps it to the hard drive. You would also require a capture program (there are several free ones) to convert it to .avi and your choice of software turn tha .avi files into dvds. The Canopus box is easy to use and works everytime, something that cannot be said for the ATI cards, at least not for everyone. Do a search on the Canopus box and check out the section on capture cards. Nyah Levi

[overloaded_ide]

Truely depends on what you plan to do. What's the reason to have them on the computer?

If you just want the TV shows on the computer, the fastest and easiest way would be get a set top standalone recorder. Use one that writes RW disks then stick those into the computer DVD drive and copy to the hardrive. After you have done that, erase the disks and record over them with the next shows.

Tons of ways to capture to the computer, I use a ATI AIW card and love it myself, but it takes time to learn what you are doing and reading some guides here ect.. to get the best results. Same with any other methode of PC capture really.

The standalone recorders are coming down in price fast, some at or under $200 now. I don't know anything about them though as far as quality. I think most do great at 1 or 2 hour mode per disk and most people don't seem to like the quality for longer time modes like 3-6 hrs very often.

If you use one and RW disks, then a few disks should do you well if your going to copy to pc, erase, reburn same disk using 2 hr mode.

Mostly you need to give more details what your planning to do and also do lots of research here for various ways to do things.

i want to record some tv show to my comp. how much will it cost? how's the quality. does it require a lot of work.

Not picking on you, but that doesn't give enough info to really help much.
Kinda like I want to buy another Motorcycle
So many types and sizes and various drive methodes like chains, shaft, belts, just saying I plan to buy one does not give you information to help me find one.

[trunksu]

that was very informative. thanks. like at sharetv files are around 200mb. that what i want. i want it to be in avi so i can easily edit the show also.

[thecoalman]

If your looking for a low cost card try the Leadtek 2000XP deluxe edition. Has everthing included that you will need to get started. TV/FM tuner, s-video, analog, software, even comes with a antenna and remote control. Quality of the capture is not top of the line but is decent. All for about $50 the last time I looked. The software included with the card would cost you more than that if you paid retail.