Getting Confused with Formats

[KindaMagic]

Can someone please advise me on the definitions and compatabilities of the various (and numerous) video formats?

Here's the problem: I have numerous Hi-8 tapes I've taken that I would like to edit and create VHS tapes (PAL) and VCDs with.

I bought the Dazzle card/editing kit (DVC2) which seemd to capture OK but the editor managed to blue-screen Win2000. After installing Dazzle's 2 upgrades it still didn't work and their support people seemd to have one piece of advice only: reinstall, if that fails, reinstall, if that fails, reinstall ... (you get the picture). So I returned it to the store.

I haven't found another Win2000 compatable card with (I'm in the UK) that will capture Hi-8, let me edit and then output to VCR. So I thought, maybe get a USB capture card, like WinTV (don't know which one - any suggestions?) which will capture to AVI, and Pinnacle DV Plus which has editing software, and will allow me to output to VCR (and create VCDs). Also, when I get a digital camera (hopefully soon), I will be already be set-up to capture with the Pinnacle card.

Is this a good plan? (Opinions please - anyone had similar problem?)

I gather that what defines the quality is a combination of the resolution (eg. 640 x 480) and the fps (is that frames per second or fields per second? I've seen both). Or am I simplifying it too much?

So what specification of AVI should I aim for, and how can I convert it to MPEG2 for editing? Or will the Pinnacle software be able to do this?

Someone told me that USB isn't fast enough to be able to capture any decent quality, so I should get a PCI capture card - is that so?

And what formats (incl. fps and res. if applicable) do I need be able to output to in order to get reasonably decent quality PAL VHS tapes and VCDs?

The trouble is that everywhere I've been, the shop assistants know absolutely NOTHING!! They think they've done their job if they read out loud what you you've just read yourself from the packaging!

Thank you very much in advance for you time, it's much appreciated; and please excuse my newbie-ignorance...!

KM

[Shabubu]

I'm UK aswell, notice how PCWorld employ morons

Ok I'll try and answer:

Quality, as you said, is resoulution and fps. Fps here is frames per second. Basically if you can find a card that can cap 50fields per second or 25 frames per second, at a res of about 640x576 (your pal) then your happy.

All the cards I looked at said they didn't win2k, basically I guessed then got drivers from the Website, I'm using a WinTV PVR. But i realize now your probably better off going for the cheaper version.

Your seems good (the wintv and dazzle), though if you've got the slots i'd get both internal.

If your getting a digital camera it might be worth just getting the dazzle, and use you digital camera as a "capture card". Look for a cam that can do pass thru (i think all sony's can).