Capture on HP Pavilion dv4000 via s-video?

[kyleabaker]

Hey all,
I did a simple search and couldn't find what I was looking for. I'm trying to figure out how I can use the s-video port on my HP Pavilion dv4000 laptop to record video? I have a bunch of very important family vacations, etc. on vhs tapes that I plan on converting to dvd. I recently purchased Snapstream BeyondTV but it can't find a video source? I know that I do not have a Tuner card in my laptop, but is there anyway I can get the video to come through my s-video port and work?

Thanks in advanced to any help!

[FulciLives]

I went to the HP site and typed in your model number and found the PDF manual for it. According to the manual the S-VIDEO port is for OUTPUT only.

This model has no video input capabilities.

However you can buy an external USB 2.0 device or a FIREWIRE (IEEE 1394) device for capture purposes.

The two most popular would be the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2 and the Canopus ADVC-110. The Hauppauge is a hardware MPEG capture device. It can capture to any form of MPEG-1/MPEG-2 including MPEG-2 DVD spec. The Canopus is a hardware DV AVI capture device. It only captures in DV AVI format.

Either of these would work with your laptop and beware that DV AVI can make really large files (1 hour is about 13GB) whereas MPEG-2 DVD spec files will be about 4.4GB per hour and it is even possible (based on settings) to get 2 or 3 hours to be 4.4GB total.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
BeyondTV will work with the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2.

[JohnnyMalaria]

According to the manual, it is S-video out only.

EDIT - I was reading the manual while FulciLives posted (I have a slow-poke connection!)

[FulciLives]

According to the manual, it is S-video out only.

EDIT - I was reading the manual while FulciLives posted (I have a slow-poke connection!)

Gotcha !!! :P

Anyways if I were kyleabaker I would get the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2. I know that Circuit City usually carries this as does I think CompUSA. As for ordering it on-line I would suggest using NEWEGG.COM

Here is a link to NEWEGG.COM for the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2: CLICK HERE

Please note that there are two versions. The one I linked to is the "normal" model but there is also a MCE version made to work exclusively with WinXP MCE. I do think the "normal" model also will work with WinXP MCE but I'm not 100% certain of that.

For more info see the Hauppauge website and/or the SHS website:

1.) Hauppauge website
2.) SHS website

Good Luck !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[kyleabaker]

Thanks to both of you! I'm looking into this WinTV PVR item that you suggested. Looks like it will work great. Thanks!

[FulciLives]

Thanks to both of you! I'm looking into this WinTV PVR item that you suggested. Looks like it will work great. Thanks!

I meant to mention this before but be careful and make sure you get the WinTV PVR USB2 and not the WinTV USB2 (which is a totally different POS).

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[kyleabaker]

ok, I'm searching around comparing prices. Newegg is where i bought basically all of the parts for my desktop machine. Great place. So I'll let you know how the purchase and setup goes when I get it. Thanks!

[FulciLives]

ok, I'm searching around comparing prices. Newegg is where i bought basically all of the parts for my desktop machine. Great place. So I'll let you know how the purchase and setup goes when I get it. Thanks!

I'm sure it will work well for you but don't forget that the SHS website (I gave the link in another post earlier in this thread) is also a great resource of information and troubleshooting.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman