WHAT'S THE BEST CAPTURE CARD OUT THERE

[SLICK RICK]

Whats up everyone, I am looking to get a capture card in the near future(in the next month or so) and I did look at the user comments about capture cards listed on the left but I would like to have some updated and new comments. I am interested in getting one with a USB connection but PCI will do fine also. So comments on those would be greatly appreciated.

Does anyone use DAZZLE, PINNACLE, OR ADS TECHNOLOGIES with the USB connection, if so please post your opinion.

I am wanting to convert VHS to DVD and to transfer camera footage to DVD, because when I transfer the footage to my HD from the USB connection provided with my SONY DV camera the video looks like sh#$.

Computer:
Systemax
AMD Athlon XP 2000+
1.67 GHz
256 MB of Ram
60 GB internal HD
80 GB external HD
Windows XP Home Edition
Sony DRX-500ULX DVD Burner

THANKS EVERYONE,
SLICK RICK

[alenhard]

DV always looks crappy on your computer no matter what you capture with. Its the interlaced vs. noninterlaced problem. Have you burned anything yet to disc? What does it look like?

I love my Canopus ADVC-100. Your sony camera may be doing just fine, though. Again, just watching a captured scene on your computer will never be as good as the finished product will be. Consider it to be a "rough draft" of the final film (assuming you know how to edit and burn correctly, and that you are using decent programs for those tasks as well).

BTW, what program do you use to capture from your sony?

[SLICK RICK]

I am using Pixel Image Mixer 1.0 (the software that came with the camera). What program do you use to capture and also what program do you use to edit and burn.

THANKS ALOT,
SLICK RICK

[SLICK RICK]

I havent burned anything to DVD yet, but what you are saying is that even though the video transfered from camera to HD looks crappy, when I burn to DVD it will look better.

SLICK RICK

[alenhard]

Absolutely- burn it and see what it looks like. You might be pleasantly surprised. But this is assuming, again, that you are editing with a good program, etc.

I capture with the EZDV card that Canopus makes, so I don't know much about other capturing progs. I have heard excellent things about Scenalyzer Live and DVIO. They seem to be highly recommended.

[SLICK RICK]

alenhard,

What program do you edit with, and is that very important in the quality of the final video or is it just to cut out parts that you dont want.

SLICK RICK

[SLICK RICK]

Anyone have experience using a USB connected Capture Device such as DAZZLE, PINNACLE, or ADS TECHNOLOGIES if so, what are your opinions on these.

SLICK RICK

[SLICK RICK]

I have noticed that many people have viewed this topic but not many post yet, is it that not many people are doing vhs to DVD or camera footage to DVD.

SLICK RICK

[VideoTechMan]

For me, I dont use USB because the software I use only supports DV deck control. I use Adobe Premeire 6.5 and I have an Firewire card installed to control my DV deck. I have a Sony Digital8 Camcorder (for now anyway, i plan to save some money for a professional video camera) and i use the DV jack to connect to my computer. IMO its the easiest way to control the deck and capture the footage automatically. I also have the Panasonic AG-DV2000 deck i use as well to make masters and to transfer my VHS material in DV. Both only have DV jacks.

If you want to convert VHS to DV, the best way I recommend is to make a dub to the DV camcorder, and then get the computer to capture it....that way its already digitized. If you try to capture analog video through a capture card, the card or software has to compress and digitize the video which may result in some quality loss. I used to use Pinnacle a few years back when i had the DC30 Plus capture card, but now that i have gotten a professional DV deck, I went to firewire since i've been told its pretty fast.

Chris

[The village idiot]

Read my signature!

Get a copy of DVD Movie Factory. Then let it take your DV and convert to something like SVCD or VCD and try playing the disk to see how it looks. That way you are only wasting a cheap CD-R, not an expensive DVD-R. Then you can decide if you need a new capture device. I think DMF has a working demo. Once you know it is working, then you can look for some better software.

[txpharoah]

USB cards don't look good from my experience. Want a good card? Spend at least $200. That's the rule. You get what you pay for.

The ATI All In Wonder cards are great, and if all you plan to do is backup from VHS to DVD, it is all you will need. TMPGenc Plus is great to clean it up and encode it. And any authoring package, such as DVDIt!, will make your discs and burn. I only NEED to use these three items when I convert.

I only use other stuff when I hardcore edit (Adobe Premiere and Cleaner or Mainconcept).

You can capture straight to DVD-compliant MPEG2 with a ATI card. It will save hours and hours of needless encoding, as many cards can only grab DV or AVI formats.

[SLICK RICK]

Well thats about what I was looking to spend between 150$ and 200$.

THANKS,
SLICK RICK

[tempe]

I am using Pixel Image Mixer 1.0 (the software that came with the camera). What program do you use to capture and also what program do you use to edit and burn.

THANKS ALOT,
SLICK RICK

This is the first software I used for capturing and editing... My advise to SLICK RICK is, use other software but Pixela Image Mixer...

[tazzila]

I agree stay from dazzle they make a crappy product. You will encounter many problems from the dazzle products. I have learned this from first hand experaince. I too have to say use the Canopus ADVC-100 it kicks ass. I have been using mine for over 18 months with out a glitch. I am running windows xp I have two WD 80 HD. One is just for video capture and editing. I capture thru the advc into a PCI Firewire card and use Studio 7 for my editing program. The advc is around $275.00 studio 7 is around 75-100.00. This is well worth the hassle free use. No dropped frames no audio synce concerns. Read the reviews on the advc-100 and judge for yourself.

[SLICK RICK]

THANKS FOR THE REPLIES,

SLICK RICK

[jsnkc]

Any video capture device that you have to hook up through a USB port is crap, don't waste your money, if you want to get high quality video look into the Canopus line ADVC-50, ADVC-100 etc... They will give you great picture quality from Analog sources.

[SLICK RICK]

Thanks for the info, I will stick away from USB.

I APPRECIATE THE REPLIES,
SLICK RICK

[tazzila]

ADVC-100 Thats all you need to know and buy! :jester:

[tempe]

SLICK RICK,

You said that you are using SONY DV. I believed your SONY DV has DV OUT. The cheapest way to go for capturing is using firewire. Firewire card is cheap. You can use one of the easiest capturing and editing tool, which is Ulead Video Studio. I believed it is not so expensive too. VS7 has a capability to burn straight to your CD/DVD burner. But, if you want to have more adventure, let TMPGenc do the encoding and VCDEasy do the burning.

[SLICK RICK]

Thanks for the info, Tempe.

SLICK RICK

[tazzila]

That is true but alot of wear and tear on the camera just a thought. I know i would not use mine for that

[tempe]

That is true but alot of wear and tear on the camera just a thought. I know i would not use mine for that

tazzila,

Can the ADVC-100 play the tape by it's own without connecting the camcoder to it? If it is still need the camcoder to be connected to it, what is the extra advantage having ADVC-100 instead of connecting camcoder directly to the PC?

[tazzila]

His orginal post he wants to transfer vhs to dvd. I would not recommend that type of heavy use with a DV movie camera. If he was to want to transfer his dv from his camara only then yes that would be fine, but since he also wants to do vhs I would say get the ADVC-100. It will input compsite in S-video in and DV in as well as all these are out puts as well. You can take your finished product burn it to a dvd,vcd,svcd and back to vhs as well. VHS you ask yep its great for making home videos for people who only have a vcr still. As before get the most for your money get the ADVC-100 and you will not regreat it. Don't buy it and I am sure you will wish you did. Like I said before read the reviews in the capture card section on the left side of the screen. It has the highest rating and almost if not the most users comments. Like I said it is # 1

[tempe]

Thx, now I get what you meant...

[Fishingeek]

You won't be dissapointed. The ADVC-100 is the only way to go!

[LetsRip]

Slick Rick,

Does your Sony DV camcorder have the pass-through feature? If so, you have it made!

I have the Sony D8 (TRV-740), and use the pass-through feature all the time, converting VHS analog input to DV-out -- the camcorder merely acts as an on-the-fly conversion device. The results are very similar, if not the same quality, as those touted by the Canopus ADVC-100. I have yet to lose a single frame transferring to DV-AVI! You will have to disable the camera control features in some apps when using pass-through mode, but I haven't found this to be too much of a problem. My own opinion -- stay away from direct analog capturing using a PC video/audio card (as alluded by another post regarding the ATI card). The processes of editing, authoring, and burning are already cumbersome enough! If your Sony DV camcorder doesn't support pass-through, then I would agree that the ADVC-100 is probably the next best choice.

Also, it is VERY important to use the iLink (1394) and NOT the USB connection on the camcorder, to avoid dropped frames and other time-critical issues. I have the ADS Pyro ProDVD package for the iLink connection, which came bundled with Ulead Workshop & MediaStudio. You can get the ADS Pyro card by itself for less than $50 -- it is very solid.

Good luck, and hope you have the pass-through...

[SLICK RICK]

LetsRip,

Sorry, but the model # on mine is DCR-TRV140, I must have the one at the bottom of the chain, I bought it for about $500 at BestBuy about a year ago. I'll have to check the manual about that pass through feature you are talking about. I am going to look into getting that ADS Pyro card, sounds like a good deal.

THANKS FOR THE INFO,
SLICK RICK

[rayban]

Slick Rick,

My own opinion -- stay away from direct analog capturing using a PC video/audio card (as alluded by another post regarding the ATI card). The processes of editing, authoring, and burning are already cumbersome enough! If your Sony DV camcorder doesn't support pass-through, then I would agree that the ADVC-100 is probably the next best choice.

I am also in the process of doing digital video editing. I have an ATI AIW 128 Pro card and will plan on doing conversions of my vhs and 8mm tapes over to DVD. What kind of quality would an AIW card vs the Canopus ADVC have? Would there be a noticeable difference?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[gimp]

Canopus DVStorm 2 is what i use for capturing. Better then anything i've used so far!!!

[jdjbuffalo]

Definately go with the ADVC-100. I looked around for a long time (about 6 months ago) and it is the best out there (for under $1000). I have been using it without any problems. It is worth your money to buy it.