Best Capture Card for Hi-8 to VCD with Slow (450 MHz) PC?

[jsw]

I am interested in transferring my Hi-8 video tapes to VCD. My pc unfortunately, is only 450 MHz.

1. What would be the best type/brand/model capture card to successfully capture my Hi-8 camcorder output to my pc without dropping frames? The card reviews don't explicitly tqalk abnout this. I have been going through the comments, but it is hard to find a case exactly similar to mine.

2. What is the best work flow for doing this?

Thanks,
Joe

[macleod]

I'm gonna make the assumption that you do not plan on updating your computer, sooooo.

Pretty much you want to leave out any type of capture card that requires software type compression (using your computer to compress and convert the data. I have heard, although never used this new thing called terapin (or something like that). People on this forum that use it rave about the quality,etc. Quality is a subjective term, but it sounds like the people that are using it are happy with the results.

I personally wouldnt recommend getting a video or capture card to hook up to your computer. There is a site www.divx-digest.com that has a link on the left hand side which talks about the basics of digital capture, etc. This article will do a much better job of explaining what you are in for and why than I could do. I have heard of the ads (or something like that) that is a hardware based compression (doesnt rely on your processor muscle). I've heard good and bad things about the dazzle product (high end, not the dvc-50 or 80 wallyworld stuff).

You may get away with low end captures with software based compression in the 700 arena. I am sure that there will be a post very shortly from someone that has a 450 that does 704x580 (or whatever) dvd captures with a 8000 bit rate. I , personally, dont think you are going to get near the quality using a slow computer with software based compression. Check out that article, it should help you out quite a bit.