Does capturing from an HDTV source mean i'm getting HD video?

[snafubaby]

The title of the thread says it all. Does capturing from an HDTV, or HD converter, mean i am capturing HD video, or would the capture device itself determine if it's HD video or not? Please advise.

[Nelson37]

Well, yes and no. Poorly worded question.

Are you capturing HD if the input is HD? Yes, that is what you are doing.

Is the output file you end up with HD? This is the question you should have asked, and yes, it is dependent upon whether the device is capable or not.

There is an in-between, in that an HD source captured at SD resolution will usually be of much better quality than an SD source captured at SD resolution.

Also, what you mean by HD Converter is totally unclear. Do you mean a digital tuner with analog outputs? In that case, you are NOT capturing HD as the signal is already converted when it leaves the box.

[usually_quiet]

The source, converter, and capture device all play a part. HDTVs in the US aren't made output video to other devices, so forget about that.

1. The signal received by the HD converter must be HD to begin with.

2. The HD converter must output HD in a form that can be captured. Converter boxes that were elegible for purchase using a government-issued coupon won't output HD. This means it is necessary to have an HD cable box, HD satellite box, or HD-capable ATSC converter box set up to output in an HD resolution using component out. Of course HDMI can also transmit HD video, but HDMI capture devices won't record when HDCP is present and HDCP strippers don't seem to be available anymore.

3. The capture device must be able to capture HD as HD and have component in ports. Only a handful of consumer devices can fulfill these requirements.

[edDV]

"HDTV source" needs definition.

- HDTV set? Those don't have outputs.
- ATSC tuner?
- Cable/Sat box?
- other?

[snafubaby]

hi. It is a converter box that were the type from the government-issued coupons, when HD content came around a year or so ago. It has the audio and video RCA jacks on it, so i receive the signal with my video capture device. The captured footage was awesome looking, but now i know i need a Dazzle, or one of those HD capture devices, so i can post footage on youtube AS HD content. I appreciate all the answered questions.

[jagabo]

Composite video (yellow RCA jack) and s-video (4 pin DIN) are standard definition only.

[yoda313]

If you want hd from aerial sources you should get an inexpensive capture card with an hd tuner. Than you can save the transport stream and convert the actual hd footage to a youtube format without losing hd.

Basically as long as it says it has an atsc tuner in it that is all you need along with an antenna. Probably best to use a powered antenna for that.

[usually_quiet]

hi. It is a converter box that were the type from the government-issued coupons, when HD content came around a year or so ago. It has the audio and video RCA jacks on it, so i receive the signal with my video capture device. The captured footage was awesome looking, but now i know i need a Dazzle, or one of those HD capture devices, so i can post footage on youtube AS HD content. I appreciate all the answered questions.

You are mistaken on all counts regarding this project.

There are converter boxes that output HD video, but none of them could be purchased with a coupon. In order to qualify for the coupon program, converter boxes had to be limited to SD output. Many of the coupon-elegible boxes can provide anamorphic 16:9, but it is SD not HD. Dazzle only captures SD, by the way.

...and don't bother posting TV captures on YouTube. It is against YouTube's rules to post material that someone else owns the rights to, and it all will eventually be taken down.

[edDV]

The purpose of the "coupon" ATSC tuners was to keep standard def analog TV sets working after the digital conversion. These tuners take in ATSC standard def and high def digital broadcasts and output as standard def analog NTSC (composite or S-Video). Only a few of these had S-Video. Also ATSC AC3 digital audio was converted to an analog stereo mix (RCA White/Red).

The resulting NTSC video can look good but it is only analog NTSC.