Capture Cards

[jeffh123]

I am currently struggling very hard with this subject and have narrowed down my problems to my capture card (Pinnacle pctv rave) or maybe the drivers. yes I've tried the universal driver and am not too happy.

Looking at the web reviews of capture cards brings in a lot of conflcting evidence.

Who can recommend a good reasonably priced capture card that will capture MPEG2 etc at different resolutions, talk to video editing software and gives good quality results.

[gcgreen]

You will probably get several different opinions, but here is mine. I have been using the ATI AIW 8500 DV for about 8 months. I have captured in AVI and in MPEG1 & 2 with very few problems from VHS VCR, camcorder, and satellite TV. My system is a P4 3GHz with 1gig of ram running WinXP Pro. I have 3 hard drives in the system (80gig as base drive for programs, 120gig as encode drive, and two 200gig drives in a RAID configuration for capturing). This system is solely dedicated for capture and encodes. I get very few dropped frames. The capture software bundled with it is MultiMediaCenter (MMC). It has been buggy in the past, but the current version (8.7) has been stable for me.

My previous system was a P3 running WinXP Home with only 2 hard drives using the same capture card. Results were definitely subpar.

My main problem with the AIW card is that software upgrades can be a BIG hassle. Uninstalling old software drivers before installing new ones can be difficult and must be followed exactly to the letter.

It has been several months since I have researched other options, but overall I would recommend the AIW 8500DV. I would recommend lordsmurf.com for very good info on the ATI cards.

[lordsmurf]

I've used ATI cards for all kinds of things... no complaints to date..

[Leoslocks]

I was considering a top quality Hardware Real Time capture card like the Matrox rt.x100 but after further review, I would need a system like gcgreen's to insure compatability. Besides, my budget could not swing that card alone.

Then I started considering the ADVC100. By the time I got back to the Products Page, I thought the DVRaptor might be better. Hmmm, well maybe the DVStormPro2 would be good. Well yea, this is good stuff. Way better than my budget.

I am looking at the ACEDVio Ultra Bundle
ACEDVio with Adobe Premiere Pro, Audition, and Encore
Catalog No > 770-10116-400
MSRP > $599.00

When I get through looking at what will work for me, I go back to the tutorials and forum and try and build a stable method for capturing with my existing hardware. I am gaining experience, knowledge and a better understanding of capturing video. It still boils down to two problems.
I need to configure the system specificly for Video Editing and I need better hardware.

If I could swing a $375 option, I might get an AWI 9800 pro but the other hardware issues(on my machine) would still be there.

What to do. . .

[lordsmurf]

Rather than spending extra hundreds on a capture card to make it "work" with your system, why not spend some money on the system, and then get a slightly cheaper, yet equally reliable capture card?

There's nothing wrong with a ATI AIW 7500 card for $125, no need to spend money on the 9800 unless you just like playing games.

Then take that $300+ differences and fix your system hardware.

[Leoslocks]

There's nothing wrong with a ATI AIW 7500 card for $125, no need to spend money on the 9800 unless you just like playing games.

Then take that $300+ differences and fix your system hardware.

Good point. I could get an new Mobo with the extra cash. That alone (and a clean install) would cure most of my problems.

How about using an AIW PCI card in conjunction with the existing Ti4200? Nothing like making a bigger mess than I already have.

[jdizzy40]

WIN PVR 250. The best MPEG-2 card for the money.

[proxyx99]

Look at ADS Instant DVD with 1394 (or similar like Pinnacle). All you need is a cheap firewire card to complement it. You get DV AVI or Mpeg2 hardware capture. Very forgiving and easy on PC hardware (external). Plus portable (for instance you can throw it out the window without opening your PC case...!).
With ATI gets harder (gotta open the case) and after that you have nothing to drive your monitor. Think 1 year from now your purchase will be obsolete. We all be using mpeg 10 (or 9). We'll be sitting on our bags awaiting new subdivision to be finished on the Moon... or... maybe not.

[Leoslocks]

Hauppauge pvr 350uses the IVAC015 codec. What kind of quality does that produce? I can get Nero 6 to capture and burn DVD's but I am trying to get better quality.

WinTV-PVR-250 uses a new integrated MPEG1/MPEG2 encoder, the Conexant -016. . .
This sounds like a good setup but neither will do raw AVI capture.

I would need the WinTV-PVR-pci SP to get the AVI capture function and I am back up to $250. Some things affect my online decisions also. The Hauppauge site seems so cheesy for a graphics vendor. Visit Matrox or Canopus and see the difference.

I tried the Pinnacle 8 Deluxe setup and failed misserably. The ADS card looks nice though. You guys make this seem so easy.

[supanewb]

I would definitely not recommend Adaptec's VideOH! PCI card. The card may be fine, but I'll never know. I cant find any software that will capture into avi. The software packaged with it sucks (mydvd) and I downloaded sage recorder as recommended elsewhere, but it encodes on the fly too. I am so disappointed with the quality and bitter I might add! I can't fork out more cash on another card.

[lordsmurf]

There's nothing wrong with a ATI AIW 7500 card for $125, no need to spend money on the 9800 unless you just like playing games.

Then take that $300+ differences and fix your system hardware.

Good point. I could get an new Mobo with the extra cash. That alone (and a clean install) would cure most of my problems.

How about using an AIW PCI card in conjunction with the existing Ti4200? Nothing like making a bigger mess than I already have.

I have two cards in one of my systems. It works fine. May need to change the primary in the BIOS for capturing, back to the other for other things, but since a reboot is suggested before capturing anyway, shouldn't be an inconvenience.

I've got a 7200 PCI, and it's used in conjunction with a GForce2 AGP, though I use the GF2 less and less.

[Leoslocks]

Sorry about hijacking your thread jeffh123

Thanks for the info on the PCI dual card situation. I am still looking for a sound card locally. I expect to find some bargains this weekend or next (thanksgiving sales). I checked out CompUSA this afternoon but no AIW 7500's on the shelf. I think I could get a 9600 AIW for $219, an ATI ALL IN WONDER 9000 PRO 64MB DDR AGP RETAIL for $149 or an ATI All-In-Wonder VE 64MB DDR PCI RETAIL for $105. I think the VE is a 7500 set up for TV in. This might be the setup for me.

[xsbs52x]

man, i havnt posted here in a while...anyway, i have an ATI AIW 9000 Pro. It cost me about $200 but i think the price dropped to around $160. I really love it. It does everything i need. i have a p4, 1.6 ghz, 512 megs of ram, and two 40 gig drives. i get virtually no dropped frames. i would also suggest looking into a hauppaugge card. they are very good, too.

[GKar]

***Warning Warning Dazzle DVC II user Present!!!***

I'm throwing my hat in for the Dazzle DVC II here as it has served me faithfully and I am happy I bought it (only using TWNH 1958 for capture and TmpGenc Author tho). It has saved me countless hours converting AVI's by doing excellent MPEG2 captures for VHS and Sat TV. I bought it for under $100 on Ebay used and have had it for over 6 months (quirky but good, needs it's own IRQ, drivers don't always install right). I give it 4/5 stars (due to weird drivers and software 3 stars, hardware is 5 stars).

[proxyx99]

Can't give the URL but there is a v.good review of encoders and in particular Dazzle DVC II for v.good video quality and low low price.
Software is a total mess though. Check Google for video encoders rating/benchmark. You'll find it there.
Strangly newer devices are not that much better as one would expect.
Now most are leaning towards DV AVI as software encoders like MC 1.4 are v. close to realtime with excel. quality due to high processors speed.
Throw 1-2 more GHz on the CPU (4-5 GHz alltogether) and hardware encoders will have no buyers.
More and more are buying Video -> DV converters.... Can't beat flexibility in editing.

[elmotheteapot]

Got an all in wonder miles better than my Hauppage Win Tv. Atis are great cards, if youre prepared to spend a little more take a look a t a brand called canopus

[proxyx99]

an ATI ALL IN WONDER 9000 PRO 64MB DDR AGP RETAIL for $149

that is a good suggestion. I have AT 9000 PRO (not the AIW version) and it's been excellent. I doubt if there are any significant upgrades in terms of encoding capabilities between this one and 9600 (if any!). Most upgrades are in the video handling not encoding. So 9000 Pro AIW would be my favourite. As per many posts here try to avoid the VE model at any cost.

So either AIW 9000 pro or external like ADS or Pinnacle (there are more like that as well) seems to be the way to go. Don't make it too complicated for yourself. You are not building a studio, are you?

[Leoslocks]

Not building a studio. I have about 8 Svhs tapes I want to burn to DVD. Right now the unresolved issues with capture on the nVidia card are getting harder to nail down. I still need to put a sound card in and disable onboard audio, try just 2 dimm slots populated with memory, and maybe a clean install. I have been looking at Raid cards by Promise. . . the good affordable solutions require a 2.2 compliant PCI bus. This Soyo is 2.1 compliant.
I may just get an NF7-S rev2 board and then start over learning to capture. Still, I would need a second computer to render to MPG2. I could not afford to tie the house computer down for days.

Here is a nice page for comparing the Ati cards side by side.
http://apps.ati.com/ATIcompare/

The Aiw 9600 Pro offer a few benefits above the faster clocked memory.
Hardware MPEG Encode Assist
DUAL VGA
FULLSTREAM™ Divix

And one negative , No DVI .

[racerxnet]

Leoslocks

Hi Leo,

I'm still wondering why you are interested in disabling the onboard CMI 8738 chipset? I doubt it is the cause of your problems. I run the same chipset without problems. Your ram should be in slots 1 and 3. Your best bet is to purchase a 3ware Raid card. The onboard RAID is fine as I have posted some numbers to you regarding the 20265 onboard raid. Your ATA 133 Highpoint raid is good and wonder what you are gaining by running the Promise raid card? Promise controllers are cheap and slow and I am sure your can purchase one on Ebay for about $10.00.

My suggestion is to go to AMDMD forum and click on the Soyo link to learn how to set up your MB. There are plenty of capable people who will help in resolving the issues you have.

[Dr. Swirl]

ATI 8500 DV has my vote. Lots of support available, if needed, too!

[Leoslocks]

Thanks fo rthe input and continuied response racerxnet
. The onboard Cmedia sound is enabled and working.

Here is where the diagnosis is on the Capture Issues.

[Desired End Result] DVD from Svhs tapes(70 minutes approximately).

The Capture Sequence
Svideo in to Ti4200
iuVCR capture as AVI to Onboard Raid (40 gig )
720 x480 UYVY(only option)
Compression HUFFyuv v2.1.1

I can capture without dropping frames(To the Raid Array). I have tried capturing in segments. Each half inning gets names accordingly. iuVCR gets furballed about 2 innings into the capture sequence. I am trying to capture around two bad spots on this particular tape. I capture and check and then delete and recapture the same scene until Iam satisfied. It seems that the drive gets fragmented and looses its ability to capture without dropping frames. This computer is set up to do the household/business chores and not Video Capture. The next time one of the IBM Deathstar drives go down, I will Install the OS on the ide channel and set up the Highpoint Raid controller with two 60 gig Seagate IV's.
Another issue is the render times. I anticipate having 13 gig to render for each 70 minute tape.

As for a sound card, I would not mind having front pannel inputs for audio and firewire.

I am capeable of setting up this computer to be better suited for Video Capture. I am not prepared to take it down and rebuild it at this time. What I would be gaining with a Promise, Adapetc or any raid card would be a large dedicated capture drive removed from the OS.

[Leoslocks]

OK, I opened the case and removed the 256 chip form the 2 slot. 0 problems finishing the capture of the last 4 innings. The total size is 25.4 meg and leaves me with 8 gig free space on the OS hard drive. Now on to Edit/Render.

I have spend some time at the Soyo Mobo forums but the issue with all three ram slots was not resolved in any of the posts I read. The fact that the board has this issue is a testamony that there is no mature hardware on the market anymore. Everything is rushed to production before it is ready. I purchased this mobo late in its production thinking I would get a CE revision northbridge enabling the use of 333mhz processors. Didn't happen . . .

I have never bought anything on Ebay. I did do some searching for raid cards. The only $10 and under cards are Silicone Logic cards made in china. Add $8 for shipping.
I did see some older 3ware cards for roughly $35 to $40 including shipping. After researching 3ware, I realize they are quite the nice Raid company, still none of their new cars support any Soyo board.
I could get an Adaptec 1200A for about $35 shipped . . . It is $58 new at newegg.

I definately need a Raid card if I want to use this machine for Video.

[proxyx99]

Looks like you want to crucify yourself. If you can capture to fullframe AVI with no dropped frames your HD is plenty fast. Dont make it complicated. Who says you need a dedicated drive? How about directory? not enough? Save your space. If you need RAID for bus speed thats OK but dedicated drive? Mpegs are just files like any other. Defrag your drive from time to time and you're fine. A simple issue is growing on you like a fungus. Don''t let it happen.