Newbie Question: "DV Converter" Capture Cards

[MJS]

The "Capture Card" webpage currently lists 340 capture cards, only 18 of which are shown to have the "DV Converter" feature. If I want a capture card that will convert analogue VHS video to mpeg to make VCD's, must I purchase one of those 18 cards? Many of the other cards have "MPEG1 hardware capturing" and "MPEG2 hardware capturing" but appear to lack the "DV Converter" feature. Do these cards have capabilities similar to the 18 "DV Converter" cards but just lack the words "DV Converter" in their descriptive text? What special capabilities do the 18 "DV Converter" cards have that are lacking in the others?

Thanks,

MJS

[deguthrie]

OK, I don't have posts yet so bear that in mind. The DV capture cards will most likely give you and AVI file which is the DV format. You will not get MPEG1 or MPEG2 out of those DV capture cards. To get MPEG1 or MPEG2 you will either have to render the AVI file capatured using the DV card with a program like TMPEGencoder, or you will have to use a capture card with software encoder that will produce a MPEG1 or MPEG2, like for example an ATI All-in-Wonder (there are many others). ALso, you said you want to create VCD's those are in MPEG1 format, I wouldn't waste my time making a VCD, at least create a SVCD using the MPEG2 format.

Read the guides and find out the difference between VCD, SVCD, and DVD and the differences between DV, MPEG1 and MPEG2. This is a great site to find out everything you need. I prefer to capture in DV format using Canopus AVCD-100 and convert the AVI to MPEG2 using TMPEG conversion program. I have an ATI All-in Wonder, but was not satisfied with the results, too many jerky spots.