Hardware and software, which captures video and audio?

[Ghtpua]

Hi,

I am using the DVC 80 right now, which is not very impressive, and a VCR even records a lot better.

What is a better hardware and software, which captures video and audio for TV, online, stereo, dvd/vcr player, video cameras, and so on? Do they have wireless hardwares also? Does it capture at least as well as a DVD play if not better?

Is there hardware and software to capture audio and video that will be able to pick codec that are smaller without having to record with to a large file then render it smaller? Which one would work better for hooking up a video camera to the hardware and having it work for an audio and video web cam? Could it be timed where you would be able to have it start recording, pause it and stop recording at a certian time like for recording cable, dish, ... from TV? Which one would work better for adding and changing and editing the video with recording, like if you wanted to make your own video, and so on? Which one would work better for recording from TV cable, that will be easy to cut out commercials, and so on? Which one would be better for recording from video tapes and DVDs to back up with a high quality picture in a DVD player?

Thank you.

[snafu099]

Everyone is going to have thier own preferances depending on how and what they are trying to achieve.

Myself, I am a lazy consumer, do not want to spend xhrs of time doing after capture stuff to finally get a dvd/vcd output. Computer friendly but not an expert.

Hardware or software capture encoding ??
software will give a greater amount of flexability overall but needs a power systen, more knowledge on your part to use that flexability. Cards can be very cheap. Final output is much more dependant on your knowledge of what you are doing.

hardware encoders (my preferance) do not require a power system. If usb type connection, then portable between systems. Consumer friendly as encoding is in general limited to mpg1 or mpg2 format. Still allow full range of bitrate to adjust quality/time requirements. Current software ability to edit mpg files, for me, is adequate for most consumer type use.

wireless. not sure of this built into the capture device itself, but I can connect my wireless xcam to the rca composite inputs of capture device, I am sure there are other devices to send wireless signals as well, just look around.

I currently have 3 capture devices in use.

1. Compro usb VideoMate Live. EXCELLENT, tv-tuner, fm radio, pvr software, vcr like scheduling. Remote control. Has worked great out of the box

2. ADS usb2 InstantDvd-2 EXCELLENT capture quality like the Videmate but lacks the tv-tuner and stuff. Current capwiz version (propriatory capture software) has a true Dirct-to Disc feature that is very nice and consumer orintated

Both of the above are hardware enconders, do not conflict with each other doing similtaneous captures, very low system overhead

3. Ledtek Winfast TV2000 xp-deluxe. software encoder with tv-tuner, fm radio, vcr like scheduleing. Very dependant on power system for quality output. Low cost. Used now only for those RARE occasions when I want to have a different format than mpg and don't want to spend the time re-coding from other devices.


Editing out commerical from tv capture is not a function of the capture device but with bundled/purcchased/free software. All three of the above came bundled with Ulead software that should be adiquate for "most" user needs. Advanced usage takes a little learning, like any other program.