Which USB capture device for recording movies from TV?

[Bencuri]

I would like to record some films, etc. from the TV, and I have just found it is possible to do that with these AV in USB out devices. There are some quite cheap ones like Easycap, but I am not sure if they can record in acceptable quality. Which device would you recommend that could record a film in acceptable quality? I only have laptops at home, so buying video cards is not an option for me. Only this seems to be the only solution.

[jagabo]

What do you mean "from TV"? A cable box? Satellite box? Over the air with an antenna?

[Bencuri]

We have a Cable box (I guess that it what we have, we got that when the cable brodcast adapted the digital technology, and they brought it so we can watch things from the digital stream), and it has a Scart out. At the moment A Scart-RCA adapter is plugged in it, and thus goes the signal to the projector through its RCA in.

Our box only have SCART out. No other.

Anyway I could connect the device to the TV's SCART out, too.


I forgot to mention that I am in PAL region, so the USB device should support that format.

[jagabo]

I'm not sure about the exact details in Hungary, but...

A capture device with a QAM tuner should be able to capture un-encrypted channels from your cable provider (no cable box needed). But if Hungary is anything like the USA most QAM channels will be encrypted. QAM capture is essentially a digital download -- the digital stream from the cable company is saved in a TS (usually) container. Any capture device with an analog cable tuner should be able to capture any analog channels you have left on the system (no cable box needed). If your cable company has gone all digital that won't work. Any capture device with an analog tuner should be able to capture composite or s-video output from the cable box (via the SCART output).

[Bencuri]

And which brands do you recommend? Mostly I can read reviews that this device is not that good, that device is not that good. Is there a USB capture device that can record in a way like when you recorded a film to VHS tape in the old days? Nothing serious, I just want to save some good movies that I cannot find online anyway, in a quality that makes it fun to watch it later and not struggle.

[Trippedout]

well you could allways give freesat a go like haveing vcr back again and you can record to memory stick put in pc -laptop and edit now if you could only stream back to tv from pc and you can plug in external hdd to usb port but needs to be formated to fat32 and away you go there are more expencive kit that will allow you to pick up things like lovefilm netflicks film365 on demand so on devolping day by day all the best.



http://www.screwfix.com/p/hd-complete-satellite-kit/98603

[jagabo]

I don't keep track of what's available now so can't really advise you on specific USB2 capture devices.

[usually_quiet]

I would like to record some films, etc. from the TV, and I have just found it is possible to do that with these AV in USB out devices. There are some quite cheap ones like Easycap, but I am not sure if they can record in acceptable quality. Which device would you recommend that could record a film in acceptable quality? I only have laptops at home, so buying video cards is not an option for me. Only this seems to be the only solution.

Its hard to know what is available in Hungary without living there. All I can do is provide general information about the type of USB device that you need, based on how you want to capture.

If you want to make scheduled recordings similar to what a VCR allowed using a PC, then you need a USB device which comes with PVR software or can work with PVR software from other parties. These devices almost always include an analog tuner. Filling in your computer details, especially the OS would be helpful to get more specific recommendations, because some devices and PVR software only work with a particular OS.

Windows Media Center is problably the best-known third-party PVR software that supports analog capture, but it has requirements that must be met for analog capture. It requires analog capture devices to include an analog tuner. The few pure analog capture devices that are exceptions to this rule are USB HD capture devices with plug-ins that make it appear that the output from their hardware encoder comes from a digital tuner, and Vista's and Windows 7's Media Center are the only version of Media Center that support them. The other requirement for analog capture is that you must install a compatible IR receiver/IR Blaster to control the set-top box.

If you can start and stop the capture manually, it is easier to find a USB capture device for that. Most come with capture software provided by the manufacturer, which is often not very good. However, if the capture device does not encode using hardware, there is usually other capture software that works too. An inexpensive EasyCap is not the best choice, unless that is all you can get.

[jagabo]

The Hauppauge USB2 devices are probably a safe bet.

[usually_quiet]

The Hauppauge USB2 devices are probably a safe bet.

The Hauppauge USB Live 2 comes with WinTV 7. WinTV 7 does provides PVR functionality with Hauppauge's TV tuners, but I don't know if the PVR functions are available for the USB Live 2. This device uses software for encoding and does work with third-party capture software without PVR functionality.

Looking at Hauppauge's UK website, the WinTV-T Video Edition/WinTV-HVR-900 and WinTV-HVR-1900 have analog tuners and analog capture capability. They would work with the Vista and Windows 7 versions of Media Center, as well as WinTV 7.

Terratec is popular in much of the EU, but I don't know much about their product line.

[Bencuri]

You can recommend any brand, I can order them from abroad. I also noticed that Hauppauge thing, it got 4 stars out of 4 at amazon.

[usually_quiet]

You can recommend any brand, I can order them from abroad. I also noticed that Hauppauge thing, it got 4 stars out of 4 at amazon.

If you mean the USB Live 2, it is supposed to be a good capture device. It does work with its own WinTV 7 software, and some non-PVR capture software, such as Magix Video Easy and Virtualdub, which allow users to manually start and stop the capture. ...but since it doesn't include an analog tuner or an IR blaster, the WinTV 7 software it comes with may not allow you to set timers and make recordings with it like a VCR.

[danno78]

If your CATV provider is http://digi.tv/ then then best quality advice is to buy a DVB-C tv tuner. Most of them are with USB interface. With a DVB-C tuner is possible to capture unencrypted channels at the quality that the provider sent. You can`t view/record the encpypted channels (HBO, Cinemax, DigiFilm, Discovery pack) because even you buy a DVB-C tuner with CAM and CI the company refuse to pair your device with their card. I have a Terratec H5 and DIGI CATV provider and can I see and record more than 100 digital channels, some are in HD like DigiSport and Nat Geo. Hauppage also have DVB-C tuners.
The other big CATV provider (UPC / Liberty Global) in Romania encrypt all channel and a DVB-C tuner is useless. Anyway, the CATV provider also send analog signal and the unencrypted channels can be see with a classic tv tuner. Both CATV are also in Hungary and I assume that the policy is the same in your country.

[Bencuri]

If your CATV provider is http://digi.tv/ then then best quality advice is to buy a DVB-C tv tuner. Most of them are with USB interface. With a DVB-C tuner is possible to capture unencrypted channels at the quality that the provider sent. You can`t view/record the encpypted channels (HBO, Cinemax, DigiFilm, Discovery pack) because even you buy a DVB-C tuner with CAM and CI the company refuse to pair your device with their card. I have a Terratec H5 and DIGI CATV provider and can I see and record more than 100 digital channels, some are in HD like DigiSport and Nat Geo. Hauppage also have DVB-C tuners.
The other big CATV provider (UPC / Liberty Global) in Romania encrypt all channel and a DVB-C tuner is useless. Anyway, the CATV provider also send analog signal and the unencrypted channels can be see with a classic tv tuner. Both CATV are also in Hungary and I assume that the policy is the same in your country.

Thank you!

But I don't understand yet why encryption is concerned? After the signal leaves the box and enters the TV, it will not be encrypted any more. I just connect the USB device to the TV AV out, and record the decrypted signal. Isn't that good?

[danno78]

Any tv tuner will capture from TV out, no DVB-C tuner needed. TV receive unencrypted analog signal. In this way you capture analog signal. The quality depend: how good is signal, the capture tuner, and the capture route. All channel can be recorded.

DVB-C tuners can do digital capture without any loss of quality. All DVB-C tuners capture the same quality. Only unencrypted channel can see and record and it work only with DIGI CATV provider. Also a DVB-C tuner is more expensive. To check if you channel is free take out the card from cable box. The encrypted channels don`t work without the card.

Take a look how good is a digital capture:

SD channel
https://rapidshare.com/files/4258875765/Doktor%20Addison%20-%204%20STORY%20TV%202012-0...2014-35-31.mpg

HD channel:
https://rapidshare.com/files/811147646/In%20situatie%20critica%20%20-%20Nat%20Geo%20HD...%2014-48-21.ts

[Bencuri]

Thanks, I will check these.

But if I consider that the image I see on the analog TV is acceptable, can we say that an SD capture with a good device will also be good? I suspect the samse signal that goes to the TV will go the USB device, so it should be satisfying then, right?

Anyway I will check this box we have at home how it works, but as I remember it doesn't have any digital output.We are at the provider UPC anyway. Not DigiTV or else.

[jagabo]

I just connect the USB device to the TV AV out, and record the decrypted signal

Does your TV have an A/V output? That's very rare.

[Trippedout]

yes that would be very unusual i have a panasonic with very good conectivety but it donset have video out but has audio but no video have you heard the buzz about New Humax HDR-1000S Freetime PVR sounds very interesting

[danno78]

Here UPC encrypt all channel so DVB-C tuner will not help.
I can`t recommend any USB device because I dont have any that will tune analog RF unit. I can`t say which one is better. Take note that many USB tuners are only DVB-T and these can`t capture from RF, composite or S-Video. Be sure that the tuner can tune analog RF signal and/or have composite/s-video connection.

ASUS MY CINEMA-U3100MINI_PLUS/T/RC
support only DVB-T and lack analog inputs. This one is not for you
http://www.asus.com/Multimedia/TV_Tuner/My_CinemaU3100MINI_PLUSTRC/#overview

KWORLD UB405-A
can tune analog RF signal. You need a splitter or take out the cable that enter in cable box and insert in tv tuner. I assume that UPC still send analog channels along with digital channels. Premium channels are not available in analog form so if want to capture these, then the only way is to capture from TV with a tuner composite/s-video inputs. This model lack composite/s-video connections.
http://global.kworld-global.com/main/prod_in.aspx?mnuid=1248&modid=6&prodid=392&flag=1

KWORLD UB424-D
can tune analog RF signal and support composite/s-video connections. This one can capture from TV scart connecter with an SCART to RCA adaptor
http://global.kworld-global.com/main/prod_in.aspx?mnuid=1248&modid=6&prodid=391

[danno78]

I just connect the USB device to the TV AV out, and record the decrypted signal

Does your TV have an A/V output? That's very rare.

If has more SCART then may be possible that the TV loop back the signal on the second SCART. SCART have both, input and output. Anyway there are passive SCART splitter.
http://www.diskdepot.co.uk/acatalog/belkin-pure-av-3-way-passive-scart-block-model-av2...-belkin114.htm

[usually_quiet]

I looked at Terratec's website. There were two products that caught my eye, the Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD and Terratec G3,

The Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD has a DVB-C tuner an analog tuner and analog capture capability. It comes with its own PVR software, and works with Windows Media Center (Windows 7 and Windows Vista).

The Terratec G3 is a pure capture device with a SCART input, which is unusual. It is expensive but probably very good, judging by the reviews I found. It comes with the cables for all its connections. I tried a retail version of the Magix Video Easy capture and editing software packaged with it. The software is easy to use and works well, but has no PVR capability.

[Bencuri]

I just connect the USB device to the TV AV out, and record the decrypted signal

Does your TV have an A/V output? That's very rare.

I am not 100% sure now, but as I remember from out of the 2 scart and 1 AV plugs, 1 could project the signals outward. But anyway, there is a line going to the projector from the box, I can just plug that to that USB device and it will be okay. It is an AV cable Video line, analoge, coming from the box, I guess it is the decrypted signal.

[Bencuri]

I looked at Terratec's website. There were two products that caught my eye, the Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD and Terratec G3,

The Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD has a DVB-C tuner an analog tuner and analog capture capability. It comes with its own PVR software, and works with Windows Media Center (Windows 7 and Windows Vista).

The Terratec G3 is a pure capture device with a SCART input, which is unusual. It is expensive but probably very good, judging by the reviews I found. It comes with the cables for all its connections. I tried a retail version of the Magix Video Easy capture and editing software packaged with it. The software is easy to use and works well, but has no PVR capability.

Do you think that Cinergy Video HD stick is acceptable? That is available here in my country at an acceptable price.

[usually_quiet]

I looked at Terratec's website. There were two products that caught my eye, the Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD and Terratec G3,

The Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD has a DVB-C tuner an analog tuner and analog capture capability. It comes with its own PVR software, and works with Windows Media Center (Windows 7 and Windows Vista).

The Terratec G3 is a pure capture device with a SCART input, which is unusual. It is expensive but probably very good, judging by the reviews I found. It comes with the cables for all its connections. I tried a retail version of the Magix Video Easy capture and editing software packaged with it. The software is easy to use and works well, but has no PVR capability.

Do you think that Cinergy Video HD stick is acceptable? That is available here in my country at an acceptable price.

Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD seems like a good product, but perhaps danno78 can tell you more. Terratec doesn't sell TV tuners in North America, so I have no personal experience with their TV tuner products.

I could only find a few reviews for the Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD, but they were favorable. The PVR software it comes with apparently isn't as good as Media Center, but it worked for the reviewer. MAGIX Video Easy is a good, easy to use video editor with the ability to capture manually.

The Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD doesn't provide a SCART connection. As I recall, it is important to have the right SCART adapter to use for analog capture devices without a SCART connection. danno78 and some others from the EU will have to help you with that since SCART is not used in N. America.

[usually_quiet]

I made a mistake with the Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD. Looking at its specs again, it doesn't support DVB-C, only DVB-T, analog TV and analog capture. Sorry for the confusion.

[danno78]

Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD is similar with DIAMOND ATI Theater™ HD 750 USB TV Tuner. Both share the same hardware. I have a PCI-e card based on same chip, ATI Theater HD750. Mine card has Arcsoft Total Media as PVR. Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD come with other software and remote control but the quality of recordings should be the same because mpeg encoder come from ATI.
The hardware is good I don`t know about software. If the price is fair then go ahead with Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD.

[danno78]

I made a mistake with the Terratec Cinergy T Stick Video HD. Looking at its specs again, it doesn't support DVB-C, only DVB-T, analog TV and analog capture. Sorry for the confusion.

I think that his CATV provider encrypt all DVB-C channels, so is not possible for him to use an DVB-C tv tuner. Your recommendation is ok.

[Bencuri]

Okay I will go for that Terratec stick. It has a very charming price, the Haupauge is more expensive. And then we'll see. Thank you for your suggestions!

[Bencuri]

I have a new question that has arisen during I have been waiting for this stick. If you want to record video signal from the computer, can you do that with these Terratec sticks? My laptops have VGA and HDMI out. How do they refer to those signals in product specs? How can I see whether a stick support those signals or not?

[usually_quiet]

I have a new question that has arisen during I have been waiting for this stick. If you want to record video signal from the computer, can you do that with these Terratec sticks? My laptops have VGA and HDMI out. How do they refer to those signals in product specs? How can I see whether a stick support those signals or not?

The TV stick only allows you to capture from a standard definition analog source. You would need an HDMI to composite or S-Video converter or VGA to composite or S-Video converter connected between the computer and the TV Stick. You would also need 2 computers, one to play the video and one to record it. However, even if it works, you may not be pleased with the quality of the resulting captures. Computer screens typically do not look good when downconverted to 720x576 resolution and interlaced.