need suggestions on card (in line with what I'm looking for)

[manticor2003]

Hi, first-timer here with some questions I hope to get some help with.

What I'm looking for is a card that will let me use codecs, set resolutions etc unrestricted. Currently I have a Pinnacle Studio Deluxe that I was suckered into getting (mostly because I didn't know a thing about the difference between DV cards and regular cards), and as you all most likely know it's "locked" when it comes to analogue captures, which is a shame because it does a good job, with no frame losses etc (which is my #1 hate-thing when doing captures). Suggestions on getting around the pathetic "lock" are most welcomed by the way, even though I've come to accept the fact that there most likely is no way around it..

So, basically, I'm looking for card that will let me do hardware based analogue VHS captures in 640x480 @ 25fps (PAL) using a MJPEG codec without experiencing general frame losses or frame losses due to a poor original source (like tape distortion, bad sync and so on).

ATI All-in-Wonder 8500DV, Hauppauge PVR-350 and Pinnacle DC 10 are all cards that I have heard others using, but the type of feedback I'm looking for have usually been lacking.

So, perhaps someone here can "fill in the blanks" regarding the cards above (or others that might come to mind)? I've been pretty close to getting either the Hauppauge PVR-250 or PVR-350 a couple of times, but the sales people there weren't able to tell me the differences between the cards and answer my questions in a satisfactionary way.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm getting extremely tired of my Studio Deluxe (and Pinnacle in general), and any help/suggestions regarding what card I should get are much appreciated.


Thanks,

/manticor2003

[Luis Neves]

Can´t you use other software to capture with your card? I have a Pinnacle PCTV, the original software is also limited for capturing, but with alternative software (I use Virtualdub) I can capture up to 720x576, using the Huffyuv codec. And this is the most unexpensive card from Pinnacle...

[donpedro]

Ther is a good deal going on in CC for Hauppauge PVR-250 $99 after MIR.

What do you mean by "locked" ?

[donpedro]

I've been pretty close to getting either the Hauppauge PVR-250 or PVR-350 a couple of times, but the sales people there weren't able to tell me the differences between the cards and answer my questions in a satisfactionary way.

http://www.hauppauge.com/html/products.htm#pvr

and

http://www.hauppauge.com/html/chart.htm

or maybe

http://www.shspvr.com/forum/

[manticor2003]

Sorry for being so late in replying.

When I say "locked", I mean that the Pinnacle Studio Deluxe card (since it's a DV card) isn't found by VirtualDub - or any other third-party application - which leaves me stuck with Pinnacle's own software (which won't allow me to change capture resolution, what codec to use and so on).

[donpedro]

I don't have any experience with Studio Deluxe card, but my understanding is that it have Analog and DV card. Not just DV. DV (or firewire card) should only copy data from DV camcorder. I don't think that any firewire card will let you change codec. What you need to try is to use Analog inputs to see if you can change codec and resolution.

[manticor2003]

The Studio Deluxe comes with a break-out box that composite inputs can be plugged into, allowing me to do captures from VHS. When it comes to capturing without frame losses and so on, the Studio Deluxe is great, but, however, the card isn't detected in, say, VirtualDub, and only works in Studio 7 that comes with the card which doesn't allow me to change capture resolution nor capture codec for analogue captures.


The following is what I posted on another forum (outside of vcdhelp.com) - it might clear things up a bit regarding what I'm looking for;


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have the following criterias regarding the card I'm looking for - It has to...

1. Work with software that enables you to capture material to a resolution of your choice, like 640x480

2. Work with software that enables you to capture using a codec, preferrably a MJPEG one, like the codec from PICvideo, of your choice

3. Do true hardware dumps from VHS without frame losses due to old tape, distortions or poor sync signal


I have no interest in putting stuff on DVD - I only produce clips to be published on the internet, in 384x288 MPEG-1 format - which is why I have the requirements above. The Pinnacle Studio Deluxe card I currently have does a great job on #3 in the list above, but since it's primarily a DV card - and from bloody Pinnacle - it doesn't work with third-party software like VirtualDub (which otherwise would have let me capture stuff with point #1 & #2 'enabled' as well I think) because Pinnacle doesn't produce drivers.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, perhaps it's a bit easier to get into my situation now. Any suggestions on what card I should get (I've been looking into the Winnov Videum 1000 card for example, though it seems it's a bit hard getting ahold of here in Sweden) is most appreciated.

[donpedro]

Again, I don't have experience with Studio Deluxe card, but when I use cpature in Studio DV card and Studio 7 or 8, there was an option to capture in preview quality. The purpose of this feature is different but you might be able to use it for capture in different codec and resolution and then just copy files from whatever temp place they put it into. Try it and let me know if you can use it.

[manticor2003]

Hmm, haven't thought about that - could be worth checking out; thanks.

If I know Pinnacle right, however, I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't make any difference

[fingernailX]

Pinnacle drivers for XP (at least for DC10) are WDM only. VirtualDub or Vidcap will not work even with the vfw-wdm wrapper. Try using AMCap http://www.pinnaclesys.com/support/display.asp?FileID=910&ProductID=438

instead.

[fingernailX]

Another thought. If your Studio Deluxe Card is just a PCTV card with a Firewire port tacked on then you may be able to use the btwincap drivers from sourceforge http://btwincap.sourceforge.net/

The PCTV has the highly desirable BT8X8 chipset which when combined with these open source drivers and huffyuv and a PIII 500 will cap full D1 and then you can reencode with the encoder of your choice (CCE, TMPGENC, MainConcept). So if your board has this chipset - kick pinnacle to the curb and use these drivers. You can even capture in Virtualdub with these drivers. With 2ghz you can cap to MainConcept DV codec on the fly from S or composite in - very nice and handy for mixing old and new camcorder footgage