Best way to capture video

[msf]

I want to make DVDs to play on TV.

I have: MAC, Canopus 55, HD/DVR Cable Box (from Cablevision), HD Projector, FCP, DVDStudio Pro, Toast, Lots of External HDrives....

My DVR/Cable Box has 1 component out, it goes to projector.
DVR/Cable Box has composite a/v (or S-video) out which, presumeably, goes into the Conopus inputs....Canopus works nicely with FCP so far.

Questions:

Did I screw up by getting Canopus 55 and not the more expensive one - at the time all I knew was that it was good enough for VHS capturing.
Is the 55 'good enough' to capture miniDV and digital cable or should I have bought a 'better one'?
Can I capture high-def? Does hi-def 'go through' composite outputs?
If so, what do I "lose" in terms of quality vs component?

Compared to my only experience thus far which is to use FCP to edit, export in MPEG-2 (A.pack), and DVDSP to burn dvd (but it was all analog)

What do I need to be aware of for miniDV, DVR (TV) material in Hi-Def, not high-def, minidv, etc...

Any caveats on:

My equipment
Software settings
HDef pitfalls
Aspect Ratio's
Compression issues

Thanks,

Mark

[redwudz]

The ADVC 55 should be fine for VHS or converting to DV video. If you have a mini-DV camcorder you should be able to hook it directly into the computer with a Firewire cable, assuming it has a Firewire output.

HD is a different problem. The s-video is not HD, though the component probably is.

Hi-definition takes a lot of space, and you would need a HD video PCI card, one with component inputs in your case. I don't know if there are any out there.

There may be some other Mac users with some experience with HD. I use a PC with a DVICO HDTV tuner card for over the air HDTV, then a video card with a DVI to component adapter to my projector.

[msf]

thank you....so if my Canopus (or video card) doesnt have anything other than yellow, rfed, and white (and Svideo) then there is no Hdef going to my PC or mac, right/