Capturing Video - Need advice please

[Jenny]

Hi.

The video editing software I use does not directly support analogue capture cards (Vegas Video 3.0). The problem is I have an analogue video camera.
I'm pretty new to all this stuff.

It seems I have a couple options. Can you guys help me?

1. Get new software and buy an analogue capture card.
2. Get a DV camera where I can capture from TV using the DV in feature, using the DV camera as a pass through which is connected to my computer via a firewire cable.

Which option produces better quality?

Thanks guys.
Jenny

[scissors]

have a look in the capture cards section over there on the left.

remember you'll never get better than your source file, so expensive stuff may end up a waste of time.

[Jenny]

Hi.

scissors, you wrote:

remember you'll never get better than your source file.

What do you mean?

Jenny

[scissors]

what do i mean?

I mean your source material, ie your film is from analogue. So when you transfer it, it's not like doing digital to digital, which theoretically is lossless.

if you tape a tape at home each tape degrades.

so if you transfer analog to your pc and your only route onto the pc is via an analogue route (ie video in) then you will loose some quality.

also, how old is the camera? is the original that good (compared to a bang up to date digital)

-----------


if it helps i have an old ATI all in wonder (16 bit) which you'll get in the auctions around 20 ukp now.

I bought a great piece of shareware called avi_io (demo available) and i use the huffy LOSSLESS avi codec.

for the grand total of 40 ukp i can capture from my satellite/video etc a whole 90min film at 352x282 (vhs quality) and the lot comes to about 12Gig. I serve(send) that to an mpeg encoder to fit it on a cdr.

it's just one solution (maybe)[/quote]

[videoalaska]

Jenny,

Bite the bullet and get yourself into the DV Camera that has analog inputs. You have to look forward also. You can put a bunch of $$ into stop gaps, but these camera's are the future. I've been doing this for a couple of months now. And am glad I did. I captured all kinds of VHS tapes -> my new Digital Camera, but like someone here said "You'll never get better quality then the orginal". As you get things updated (all your old stuff digitized) then you'll have the chance to start out digitally!

Jim - Alaska

P.S. I bought a Canon ZR-20 & use a SIIG Firewire capture card.

[Jenny]

Hi.

scissors, you wrote:

also, how old is the camera? is the original that good (compared to a bang up to date digital)

The camera is about 1 ½ years old.
============
Sony
Handycam Vision
CCD-TRV98 NTSC
Video Hi8
============

As far as I know this is an analog camera. How can I find out if this is an analog camera for sure?


Thanks,
Jenny

[SingSing]

Jenny,

Bite the bullet and get yourself into the DV Camera that has analog inputs. You have to look forward also. You can put a bunch of $$ into stop gaps, but these camera's are the future. I've been doing this for a couple of months now. And am glad I did. I captured all kinds of VHS tapes -> my new Digital Camera, but like someone here said "You'll never get better quality then the orginal". As you get things updated (all your old stuff digitized) then you'll have the chance to start out digitally!

Jim - Alaska

P.S. I bought a Canon ZR-20 & use a SIIG Firewire capture card.

I did.

I used to take video with 8mm viewcam and video capture with ATI AIW.
I bought a Digital viewcam and transfer the AVI files. The AVI file are huge ( 1.76 G for 10 minutes ) and the mpeg2 conversion to SVCD is worst than analog video capture.

Sigh.....

[scissors]

i did say it would be no better than the source.

have you tried noise reduction filters.

I'm interested in the method you used.

[SingSing]

i did say it would be no better than the source.

have you tried noise reduction filters.

I'm interested in the method you used.

I used TMPGENC 12a with SVCD(NTSC) template,
and set thw search to high quality(slow).

There are two interleaving check box, I am doign experiment with.

[scissors]

i did say it would be no better than the source.

have you tried noise reduction filters.

I'm interested in the method you used.

I used TMPGENC 12a with SVCD(NTSC) template,
and set thw search to high quality(slow).

There are two interleaving check box, I am doign experiment with.

does 12a have motion estimation? i use 12c (don't see as latest is any better)

interleave or interlace? under the advanced tab of the settings there is a noise reduction tick box. if you double click noise reduction you get to set up the filter.

you can adjust all these filters.

[spidey]

Vegas 3.0 does support analog video capture (or at least my version of 3.0 does), so if you don't want to buy a digital camcorder with av inpputs and have a card you should be all set.


Knowledge Base: Vegas: Capturing Video
Applies To: VideoFactory(all versions), Vegas Video

Item #: 1307

Summary: Sonic Foundry Video Capture supported cards.

Solution: Sonic Foundry Video Capture supports all OHCI-compliant IEEE-1394 DV capture cards, and MJPEG cards supported through DirectShow. Your 1394 (capture) card and camera must be OHCI compliant IEEE-1394 DV in order to take full advantage of Video Capture.
Using an OHCI compliant IEEE-1394 DV capture card along with compatible decks and cameras, you can capture and print to tape video. In addition, DV capture cards which are OHCI-compliant IEEE-1394 will allow software control (device control) of DV camcorders.

If you have an MJPEG card that is DirectShow compatible, you can capture video with Sonic Foundry Video Capture. Software control (device control) of the camcorder is not supported with analog capture cards. If you have one of these cards, you will need to capture video using your card's utility, then output it into a format supported by VideoFactory or Vegas Video 2.0.

Please note that the documentation you receive with your video capture card must specifically state "OHCI compliant IEEE-1394 DV" compliance in order to work correctly. Check with the manufacturer to find out about compliance.

We have a longstanding policy of NOT recommending specific hardware. We do offer this advice for those wishing to purchase/upgrade/troubleshoot:

There are numerous OHCI compliant IEEE-1394 DV cards available for less than $100. In many cases, it may be worth purchasing one of these to ensure compliance. There is NO difference in quality between these low cost cards when transferring digital information. Many older "DV cards" are simply not "OHCI compliant IEEE-1394 DV".
An extensive pdf document containing detailed information about using OHCI-compliant IEEE-1394DV devices with our software can be found here.

Author: Sonic Foundry

[Jenny]

Hi spidey.
Thanks for the info :-)

Please note that the documentation you receive with your video capture card must specifically state "OHCI compliant IEEE-1394 DV" compliance in order to work correctly.

The above says DV. What if I have an analog camera, and a capture card with the above spec - will I be OK?

Software control (device control) of the camcorder is not supported with analog capture cards.

Does this mean I can't control my actual analog camera in real time, using the VV 3.0 software?

Thanks again.
Jenny

[bertmartin]

With DV cameras you interface via a firewire which is a two way interface. The capture software can control your camera in most cases. Start, pause, and stop it. But when you capture analog by whatever means you must start and stop it manually just like you do when you playback on you TV. But, once the video is captured Vegas Video will edit it. It's digital after being captured. I use the Canopus ADVC analog to digital converter but when I capture I have to manually hit the play button on my analog camera. No big deal. VV will still capture. You don't need another editor. Basically, you have to decide how to convert the analog. You have several choices: Buy a new video card with an analog capture feature, buy an external converter like Canopus or Dazzle, buy a DV camera with analog inputs, or buy an internal analog capture card. I don't like internal capture cards. I had a Pinnacle DC10 but went to the Canopus external converter because of all the problems. Other folks have had better luck I'm sure, but that my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Jenny]

Hi bertmartin.
Thanks for the info.

You have several choices:
Buy a new video card with an analog capture feature,
buy an external converter like Canopus or Dazzle,
buy a DV camera with analog inputs,
or buy an internal analog capture card.

When you write 'external converter' what do you mean?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is how I have it figured out:

Analog camera --> External Converter --> Firewire Card (internal I'm assuming)

Does that seem right?


I guess the best way to go would be the Firewire route, wouldn't it? That gives me the option of getting a digital camera in the future and not having to buy a new card.


Do you think Firewire Cards will get any faster in the future?


Thanks so much :-)
Jenny