TV Capture Devices

[PTsniper]

Ok,

I've been loking for devices to capture and record TV onto my computer, the only thing I want is to record a program, so I'm looking for something normal. And a miracle, I've found 4 or 5 devices where in Portugal. So my question is, can you guys help me to chose the best for me?

Thanks


The images:


and I've found a Pinnacle PCTV Analog Pro USB

And one last question: wouldn't one of these work for me:


Ok thanks a lot.


P.S. I had alredy a topic similar to this one, but I think the subject it's a little bit different so i decided to start this one, hope it's ok.
And sorry for the size of the post.

[yoda313]

Well dazzle and pinnacle are the only two I've heard of. The pictures in the middle do not display the company name.

I'd say flip a coin between dazzle and pinnacle. Both are real companies and have been around awhile if I remember right. You should get at least acceptable recordings. I have not personally used either brand but I would trust a bigger brand over a smaller no-name one more often than not.

Just make sure you get a return policy if you don't like the results you get.

[PTsniper]

Thanks a lot.

I gess i'm going to the Dazzle, just one question, in the box it says that it could convert that to PSP or MP3 video files, but if I want to put my recordings in a DVD maybe I would need another program right?

And the company of the pictures in the middle is Imon (i gess)

Thanks a lot.

[yoda313]

Imon??? Never heard of it.....

For dvd you need an AUTHORING program. Assuming you capture into mpg (avi needs to be converted to mpg before you can make a dvd). Programs like tmpgenc dvd author or ulead dvd moviestudio can author a dvd from a compatible mpg file. Chances are you'll get a stripped down SE version of a dvd authoring program with the capture device.

[PTsniper]

So waht you're saying is that it's better for the vid to stay in the computer?

[yoda313]

How do you mean?

The device will record it to the harddrive in one format or another. AVI and MPG are the two main file structures used in th industry.

In order to create a dvd that you can watch in any dvd player you have to use a dvd authoring program to create the proper structure and to burn the disc.

If you only want to watch it on the pc and not make dvds then you don't have to convert or burn anything.

Maybe if you tell us what your ultimate use of the device is then we can clarify it for you. Do you just want to be able to watch them on the computer or a dvd player?

[PTsniper]

Well I want to record A portuguese TV show. I alredy have a DVD recorder, but I'm planning to use this gadget when I'm out of home.

What I'm planning to do with the recordings I'll make with Dazzle is to pass them all to DVD's, to make an archive of the TV show.

I hope you can understand this. Sorry for my english

[jmkeuning]

The point is that you will want to know what format your chosen recorder creates. If the recorder creates a DVD compliant MPEG the DVD authoring program will not have to re-render the file in order for it to play on dvd. If the recorder records an AVI (for example) your authoring program will have to re-render. This just takes more time. If you just want to record some shows to watch later the format will not matter. When you make your DVDs it process might just take a bit longer.

[PTsniper]

Well, I gess I'll buy Dazzle and try it. And thanks a lot for your aswer, now I know that I can record to my pc and then to a DVD without losing the quality of the program.

Thanks a lot (to both of you)