Capturing from Analog source using HP 'Connectivity'

[gumboots3]

Hi All,

I recently bought an HP Media Center PC m7470n, which has a 'connectivity center' and is built to be a good machine for video capture and editing, etc. Along with a TV tuner in the back, the front panel connectivity center has the following input jacks: S-Video, Composite (YWR), mic, Firewire, and 2 USBs.

So, one would think that since it has analog jacks, that whatever is under the hood is prepared to convert an analog signal into digital, thus eliminating the need for an external converter, or the installation of a capture card.

So, for the life of me, I cannot seem to get any program, built-in or third party, to recognize an analog signal coming into the machine. I'd like to use Vegas 6 to capture, as I've done with DV cameras through Firewire. But how can I get Vegas, or any other program (Windows media center??) to notice that I've got a VCR or a High-8 camera hooked up with composite cables??

I'm pretty new to the analog stuff, so I know I'm missing something basic here. What gives?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[olyteddy]

Does the tuner work? If not, perhaps it just has the jacks and you need to stuff one of those mini pci capture cards in it to work.

[gumboots3]

I've never actually used the tuner, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. The computer is built for this kind of stuff - I just can't figure it out! No one is familiar with this "Windows Media Center?"

[thecoalman]

to notice that I've got a VCR or a High-8 camera hooked up with composite cables??

I don't know anything about the peculiarities of media center but the basic procedure for all capture programs is this, you have to slelect the device you want to capture with. It may already be selected if you only have one. In most capture programs you should at the very least have a preview window which will be blank if there is no signal, guees it's possible there could not be preview if there is nosignal but that's been my experience... Do you get this far?

The next step for analog capture is to select the type of input. Either composite, s-video or coax. Of course what selections you have depends on the device. If you get the blank preview window this is probably what you have not done.