"real time" MPEG encoding - hardware or software?

[AlfB]

I am interested in capture cards with hardware encoding. If I do a search for MPEG "real time" encoding, I get several cards that I am sure are really software based. I'm sure it can be debated as to which can be included in the definition "real time", but I have a slower computer and wish to make SVCDs and am pretty sure I need to have have hardware based encoding. I have a Celeron 950 based computer. So, how can I find cards that offer hardware based encoding? Anyone have suggested ones that reasonably low priced (<$150)? Thanks for the help.

[skateni]

I am interested in capture cards with hardware encoding. If I do a search for MPEG "real time" encoding, I get several cards that I am sure are really software based. I'm sure it can be debated as to which can be included in the definition "real time", but I have a slower computer and wish to make SVCDs and am pretty sure I need to have have hardware based encoding. I have a Celeron 950 based computer. So, how can I find cards that offer hardware based encoding? Anyone have suggested ones that reasonably low priced (<$150)? Thanks for the help.

Most "cheap" cards are software based. You can hardly find a hardware based encoding for that amount of money ( even if you did, the quality will not be up to par ). It's better to capture it in DV AVI and later use software based encoding. You could try the http://www.datavideo-tek.com/content/product_info/dvformatconverters/dac100/dac100_page.htm which is the same as the CANOPUS AVDC-100 ( but abt $100 bucks cheaper ). Your comp shouldn't have a problem capturing the video ( make sure you get a big fast hard disk just for your capture and a decent firewire card ).

Then use some of software-based encoders ( TMPGenc or CCE ) to do your SVCDs. You can let it run overnite to encode. You said you don't plan to do editing, but trust me, you'd end up wanting to edit your video captures ( like trimming ya videos, taking out commercials etc etc )

[SHS]

skateni you have good ponit there but not everybody want tie up there computer all day & all night with one clip.
"trimming videos, taking out commercials etc etc" well I have eazy way around this it called chapters as in skip that ad hehehe.
WinTV-PVR 250 will fit the bill just fine link below this mesage.

[weeebl]

MPG encoding doesn't take that long. From a format like huffyuv, probably the best lossless codec, it doesn't take nearly as long as Divx to MPG. You can also capture to Mpg1/2 through software; I have a 950 and 512 megs of ram and I can capture easily to MPG via software(see my guide).

[Jester700]

Most "cheap" cards are software based. You can hardly find a hardware based encoding for that amount of money ( even if you did, the quality will not be up to par ). It's better to capture it in DV AVI and later use software based encoding. You could try the http://www.datavideo-tek.com/content/product_info/dvformatconverters/dac100/dac100_page.htm which is the same as the CANOPUS AVDC-100 ( but abt $100 bucks cheaper ). Your comp shouldn't have a problem capturing the video ( make sure you get a big fast hard disk just for your capture and a decent firewire card ).

Then use some of software-based encoders ( TMPGenc or CCE ) to do your SVCDs. You can let it run overnite to encode. You said you don't plan to do editing, but trust me, you'd end up wanting to edit your video captures ( like trimming ya videos, taking out commercials etc etc )

The iTVc15 cards available for <$150 will do a better job than the software encoding progs I've tried. The Hauppauge 250 is even available for $100 and IS a hardware card.