Looking for capture card opinions

[devnulllore]

I am sure this has been asked a zillion times, but, please humor me.... :^P

Just looking to capture VHS and stuff from my analog cam corder. I had the Creative Labs Video Blaster movie maker and that thing was a piece of S**T.

I would like some kind of card I can use rather than USB device, although if it will work then a USB device will surfice.

Thanks,

~dev

[crystaldon]

You sound like me. All I wanted to do was to clean out my basement, when I came across a couple of boxes of old tapes and decided to convert them to cd's. Now I have a capture system and I'm reading about everything imaginable (region codes, macrovision, video format alphabet soup, pixel definitions, you name it). Good thing I find this stuff interesting!!

But to answer your question, if ALL(!!!) you want to do is simple analog captures and put them onto cd's, then the simplest, cheapest answer (I've found in this forum) is to get the pv-51, as recommended by a fellow named Kittleson. Price range is under $100 and it does vcd (mpeg1 quality). It has a couple of software issues, but they sound real simple to resolve. Ps - If you pick this one, make sure to get the right model (I'm pretty sure it's the 51). They have another model that has poorer reviews.

Also be sure to check out your player to verify that it will play vcd's. Mine does, but only if they're burned onto cdrw media (Panasonic dvdrv30)

But, of couse, if you want to do just a little more then the reading starts. Good luck.

[devnulllore]

Ok, can you tell me who makes it and where I can find it online?

Thanks,

[crystaldon]

Sure, by the way, the fellows name is Skittlesen (Steve Kittlesen?). His link to the board review is:
http://steve.kittelsen.com/pv231/

and the link to the manufacturer is:
http://www.provideo.com.tw/

And another post I found is: (but this one is about the pv233, not the 231)
http://forum.vcdhelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=90167&highlight=pv231

and where to buy it, I have no clue!!

Happy hunting.

[Tommyknocker]

Dev:
If all you want to do is capture video, suggest you use the search engine at left (Webshopping). I see a couple of capture cards below $100.00, along with where to order them from. And while you are at it, I suggest you download NanoDVR from Nanocosmo. Capture at MPeg-1. Really saves on disk space. too. And finally, the articles on this site are informative and the Gurus are friendly as well. they help me all the time.

[fravel]

The difference between the PV-231 and the PV-233 is that the later has a TV Tuner. I have a PV-231 and it works great for mpeg1 capturing. You can get it at Akida Computer for around US$85, see the link and others at:

http://steve.kittelsen.com/pv231/

Also, there you can get registry settings and more info.
Good Luck!

[subclubkid]

I use the Ads Usb Instant DVD and I love it,I dont know why people knock usb cards

[vhelp]

subcludkid,

There's nothing wrong with USB. Until people understand that. . .

Again, here is how it goes:
Video source --> to USB card w/ Hardwared MPEG1/2 chip --> to PC
Here, the video stream goes to the USB's hardware MPEG chip, gets all
processed in MPEG video streams it to over your USB port, but only in
much small amounts of data, vs. an whole AVI stream's data being transfered
via USB ports.

So... we don't want:
Video source --> to USB --> to PC --> and back to USB unit
with this notion, one would assume that the video stream is too much
bandwith for the USB, and that would be correct. But, see above.

-vhelp

[Barnabas]

Here is a link on eBay for a Provideo pv-233 card if it hasn't been sold yet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2037663390

I own that card myself, and it's a GREAT card for the money.

Ok, can you tell me who makes it and where I can find it online?

Thanks,

[crystaldon]

That link is for the pc233, not the 231. I seem to remember that there were some issues with the 233(??). Which one are you using the 231 or the 233? If the 233, then I assume that it's working ok?

By the way, I'm using the Visiontek xtasy everything (which I got through ebay for $92, including shipping). I'm having a problem getting the composite-out to work, but the rest of the system works great. Anyone have any suggestions on my system?

[Barnabas]

I have tested both the ProVideo PV-231 and the PV-233 cards, as well as the ADS Instant DVD, and the Creative Labs Digital VCR. There are no "issues" that I am aware of with the PV-233. The Winbond chipset is the exact same for the 231 and 233, and Steve's registry tweaks work exactly the same on the 233 as they do on the 231. The differences between the two cards are as follows:

The PV-231 has no tuner, has 2 composite video inputs and 1 S-Video input and 1 audio input. The software for the 231 has no scheduling option available.

The PV-233 has 1 composite and 1 S-video input, 1 audio input, 1 RF cable or TV input, 1 audio output, and 1 IR sensor input, and also comes with a wireless remote control. Can also be set to record unattended.

The performance/quality is exactly the same between the 231 and 233. Other then the differences mentioned above, the only other difference between the two cards is that with the 233, you must connect it's audio-out to a line-in on your sound card if you want to hear the sound as it's being recorded, however the sound is recorded by the 233 via it's audio input, so even if you don't use the audio-out, the audio is still recorded by the card, you just won't hear it until you play back your capture.

[crystaldon]

As I recall, it had something to do with the tuner. Something about it being good, but the reviewer thought it would be better, being that the 231 was so good. But hey, who am I to complain, I have a different brand altogether.

[Barnabas]

The tuner on the PV-233 is as good as any of the tuners out there, but there is no way capture's made from a tuner will be as as good as those made from the S-Video or Composite video inputs. Anyone serious about capturing should should be using the Video inputs, but users on most cable systems are stuck with RF input. This may not be true for digital cable systems, but I don't know as I capture from Satellite.

[Satan's Cheerleader]

provideo will sell you the pv233/pv231 directly.

[Barnabas]

But it costs about $45 shipping from TW now. No savings at all when the shipping costs are calculated, and personally I would rather buy from someone in my country if possible.