Capture Card suggestions for DigiTV (Sky+) wanted

[djtomkins]

Hi all. First post, so hope someone out there can help me.

I'm a UK user, and am trying to get a set up that allows me to get my Sky+ recordings firstly onto MPEG/AVI or similar, then on to DVD so that I can free up my Sky+ hard drive.

I've got my PC, installed a Pioneer DVR106D and Sky+ (obviously). I also have both Coax & SVideo + audio (via a scart convertor) outputs wired up from my digibox - I'm assuming that the SVideo route is better than coax (to keep picture quality - but am happy to take advice)

So - I've just got to get the right capture card. I've read the Capture Card pages but knowing my buying record, I'll get the one that doesn't have all the inputs/outputs that I need, and can't see any that explicitly note "S-video in" (an if I need it)

Happy to pay up to £200 or so to get the right one, but bviously the cheaper (with all the features) the better.

Thanks all in advance

djt

[Richard_G]

I have a terrestrial digital receiver connected to my pc so I can record to hard drive from that. I'm using an ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon 7500 card which is a video card with onboard TV tuner and composite and S-Video inputs. This might be overkill for you, particularly if you already have a decent quality video card. Most TV tuner cards have S-Video inputs (I don't think I've seen one that hasn't) so would do the job. All you need to make sure is that whatever you get is capable of full frame (720 x 576) full rate (25fps) PAL capture.

You might also consider something like the Canopus ADVC 100 that takes an analogue video source and converts it to Firewire so it arrives in your pc as DV standard avi. I have no experience of them but they seem to have plenty of fans on here (but they are expensive). DO NOT even think about anything that plugs into your USB port. Waste of time, effort and money.

[Will Hay]

I have the ADVC-100 and yes, it is expensive but IMO worth every penny.
I wass lucky I have a pal in Sebastopol Calif so he shipped it to me in England and I saved a pretty penny.
The ADVC-100 is flawless, and having had 18 months of (relative) success with my ATI card wish I'd bought this sooner.
It's flawless (as I say) and there's nothing that can compete with firewire transfer of footage. It's not capture and I don't care well finely-tuned your system is, how great you're source is and how you use the correct ATI MMC software, you can't beat the ADVC-100 for quality and ease of use.
Good look in your choice.
Will

[djtomkins]

Thanks Richard & Will

Will - so what do I need in addition to my current kit to make the Canopus work? note that my Sky+ box is 8m cable length away from my PC if I'm going to need v expensive cables.

Thanks in advance

[energy80s]

Yes, I would also recommend going the ADVC 50 / 100 route as it can produce excellent results, something that an ATI card can only dream of!!

[lynza]

Dunno about you guys, but i got meself cheap 30 quid Avermedia EZcapture BT878A based capture card.

I use good quality Svideo cable+Audio cables.
There was bit problem with grounding (difference in ground voltage of computer and +digibox, which was producing video noise), but it was solved.

Firstly i used PowerVCRII for rec'ing shows.
I didn't noticed acclaimed out-of-lipsync, but fact it records sound in 44.1khz was depressing.... Good MPEG2 quality and performance thou !!!!

I bought MainConcept mpeg2 encoder 1.4.1 and played with it a little bit, firstly i was getting awful results, but after about 10 captures/authour/burn to DVD/play on standalone player i found very good MC mpeg2 codec config, which allows me to capture VERY GOOD quality shows from Sky+ box without any dropped frames and hassle.

After, i use TMPGEnc DVD author, which is amazing little proggie.

If you need settings for MC mpeg2 - just ask...
BTW, with default MC mpeg2 coder setings, i.e. DVD PAL, i was getting LOTSA dropped frames at capture, picture was out of sync, field order was wrong etc.etc.etc. Now i have working config...

Cheers,
Paul

[Will Hay]

Thanks Richard & Will

Will - so what do I need in addition to my current kit to make the Canopus work? note that my Sky+ box is 8m cable length away from my PC if I'm going to need v expensive cables.

Thanks in advance

My system is different but the simple premise is that you run a set of composite leads from the scart of the digibox (via a scart to composite adapter), and just plug the composite leads into the front of the ADVC-100.
You can get a 10m firewire cable so can position the ADVC-100 virtually next to the TV/digibox and simply run the firewire cable the 8m to yoru computer.
Rob (reghedus) on this forum does exactly this, his captures are superb.
Will

[Richard_G]

so what do I need in addition to my current kit to make the Canopus work?

A firewire card - about £25. The Canopus coverts the analogue video into DV standard avi, exactly the same as what comes out of a digital camcorder. You don't capture the video, you simply copy the file to your hard drive (even though the file is being created in real time).

I only ever use my All in Wonder for real time capture from the DVB decoder these days, for everything else I use a Sony Digital camcorder as an analogue to DV converter and transfer the file through Firewire. The camcorder is doing exactly the same as the Canopus does.

[djtomkins]

....for everything else I use a Sony Digital camcorder as an analogue to DV converter and transfer the file through Firewire. The camcorder is doing exactly the same as the Canopus does.

Interesting..... so does this mean that if I were to buy a Sony Digital Camcorder like yours, this will could pass through convert my Sky+ progs to firewire conversion, or would this only be for any recordings actually on the Camcorder itself?

[JumpinJackFlash]

Hi,

I've got my Sky Digibox hooked into the Canopus via scart and av leads in a scart adaptor, though I think I'm gonna connect it to the scart on the VCR instead as that'll get the Digibox output as well as tape and DVD output.

I just got it today and am very impressed. No dropped frames and in perfect sync. If there is a scart or S-Video on your box (the Sky+ is essentially a TIVO isn't it?) you'll be good to go.

The cheapest I could find the unit was just under £243 inc postage from http://www.sirentechnology.co.uk and they throw in gold plated leads and a scart adaptor. Then I had to get a firewire card (under £15 from ebay and a 3m firewire lead (£12 ebay). More than I planned to spend, but it was well worth it.

If you can afford it, I'd definately go for the Canopus! I'm currently watching Sky News on the comp and it looks amazing!! You can capture with Windows Movie Maker, but Media Studio is a bit better. That captures in svcd too but looks a bit crap. A plain DV through the digibox, then converted to svcd or dvd and the quality will knock your socks off.

ETA: Just noticed you'll need at least 8m firewire cable - only ones I've seen over the standard 4.5m is here: http://www.lindy.com/uk/productfolder/03/30875/index.php

However you shouldn't need that long. Your connectors from the digibox into the canopus, would knock off a bit of length. You might get lucky and just manage on a 5m one. Good luck!

[Richard_G]

Interesting..... so does this mean that if I were to buy a Sony Digital Camcorder like yours, this will could pass through convert my Sky+ progs to firewire conversion, or would this only be for any recordings actually on the Camcorder itself?

In a word, Yes. Some of the Sony Digital 8 range of camcorders have DV and analogue in enabled (the DCR-TRV330e, 620e, 820e, 828e and 830e), most others can have it enabled by a variety of means. I use a thing called a Digi-8 Widget from datavision (see www.datavision.co.uk and select Widget Finder). As Digital 8 records DV format video to tapes that are physically identical to earlier 8mm and Hi8 tapes, these can also be played back and output to the pc in DV format using Firewire. Any analogue video source can be connected to the analogue in on the camcorder and can be either recorded to tape or converted on-the-fly to DV (passthrough) and sent straight to the pc.

I use an old DCR-TR8000e with a Digi-8 Widget to transfer video from tapes recorded on older camcorders, transfer video from VHS and Laserdisc (using passthrough) and I also use it as a portable video recorder to record from any other analogue video source.

If you have a need for a camcorder, this might be the way to go. If you haven't, the ADVC-100 will be your cheaper option (datavision have them at £199 + vat). However, you may be able to get a suitable camcorder secondhand for the right money from somewhere like ebay (if you like to live dangerously) or Jessops (if you prefer something with a warranty!). Just make sure the one you get will do what you want it to do.