Need advise on a good capture card.

[BuckMaster]

Im wanting to convert some VHS tapes to DVD-R.
For the price range the TV LEADTEK WINFAST "DELUXE" TV2000XP TV/FM MULTIMEDIA CARD $57.00 shipped looks like my best choice from reviews here. Im not worried about the TV/FM tuner part is this still my best choice for this price range?

Also why is it the dazzles cost so much more then capure cards? Is the picture quality any differant or is because a capture card takes much longer because its using more of your CPU cycles? Were the dazzle does all the work for you maybe?

Thanks!

[yg1968]

A good capture card would be the Canopus ADVC-100 or the Canopus ADVC-50.

If you prefer the quicker (but which will give you lesser quality) mpeg cards, perhaps the Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250 or the PVR-350.

These cards are probably more than you intended to spend but my experience with cheaper cards hasn't been very good.

P.S. A more expensive solution is to get a digital camcorder with a passthrough feature (most Sonys and Canons) and a firewire card. This is the solution that I have opted for and I haven't regretted it.

[Supreme2k]

DEFINITELY go for it! That is a great card for your purposes (and MUCH more). I've used it to put all of my old analog tapes on DVD and SVCD. You may pay a low price, but you get an excellent product.

I also have a ADVC-50. That's also an excellent card, but I use that for my business, where I have to edit and add special effects. You can do the same thing with the Leadtek card, but I have a dedicated machine for my business (tax write-off )


The Dazzles cost more because of the encoding chip. I've tried the DVC-200, and it wasn't any better than the Leadtek.

[BuckMaster]

Thanks guys for the replys!

[woeifeng]

HOw about the Snazzi III PCI card ?

[LSchafroth]

I got a Pinnacle PCTV card for $29 after rebates. This card does not have Stereo, but I'm converting old 8mm stuff in mono anyway.

I threw away the software that comes with it. I use IuVCR (registered $25) to capture since VirtualDub will not work with my XP Pro. IuVCR will easily capture at 720x480 with no loss of frames. I can read email, and do other things during a capture and it never loses a frame. (PIII650@911Mhz).

I use TMPGEnc, but am looking at teh new CCE Basic. I haven't registered TMPGEnc so I'm not sure what way to go.

I've have great results with this very inexpensive card.

Lannie

[joeshmoe2000]

Hey, Im 13 and i installed it in 10 minuites
capture files are a bit high and there is a line of distortion at the top but TMPGEnc can kill both of those at about 55min per 30min of video(thats on a 1GHZ you probably have something faster) great bargin, the ulead stuff itself is worth twice the cost.
GO FOR IT!!!!!
Joeshmoe