Guide for choosing a video capture card?

[pahidla]

Hi,

Newbie here, who wants to digitize his VHS memories. I can't seem to find a guide on choosing the right video card.

I basically want to know:

1. Do I want MPEG4? (I'm sure "it depends", but still...)
2. Do I want hardware MPEG4 (Does the question even make sense?)
3. Does the brand matter and how much money do I want to spend? (I don't want anything fancy, just basic good quality capture.)
3a. Anything a priori wrong with something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=185&item=3688500074&rd=1

or this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3759&item=5109103139&rd=1

And finally,

4. Any compatibility with software issues?

Thanks so much,

Pahidla

[yoda313]

Hello,
If you want to do mpeg4 (ie divx) choose a card that records in avi format (like ati and others). If you want mpeg only for dvd/vcd use a mpeg encoder card like hauppauge. Do some research on prices at the major stores and you should find what you want from $50USd and up.

Also make sure you have plenty of harddrive space for authoring files and the proper input slots (such as pci for capture cards/firewire, or usb2.0).

Kevin

[pahidla]

Thank you. Would still be curious to hear answers to my other questions.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, I can record mpeg4 to DVD, no?

[snafu099]

I basically want to know:

1. Do I want MPEG4? (I'm sure "it depends", but still...)
Yes, if you also get the other options


2. Do I want hardware MPEG4 (Does the question even make sense?)
Hardware encoders reduce the load on your system, however they may be harder to "update" than software

3. Does the brand matter and how much money do I want to spend? (I don't want anything fancy, just basic good quality capture.)
Brand always matters even if it is same hardware repackaged/named. Curren and future support/updates. That is not to say a cheap price means a poor product. Buying a "new" to market product of any kind can be risky, but someone has to try it, then write a rewiew

3a. Anything a priori wrong with something like this:
sorry do not know the term

Your 3 mhz system should have the power to do software encoding without a problem so hardware/software is not a main issue for YOU

I understand mpg4 has been included in new dvd standards, so future standalones should play it ok

I doubt there is a definitive answer to "what is the best" as each user needs are different and new devices keep comming to market.

[yoda313]

Hello,

snafu099- Your 3 mhz system should have the power to do software encoding without a problem so hardware/software is not a main issue for YOU

Small typo there. pahidla has a 3 GHZ system. BIG difference. I don't think the pc is an original 8088 intel chip. Hopefully any of those left are resting peacefully in a museum somewhere.

Kevin

[pahidla]

Thanks much!

One more question. Does each card come with its own capturing software or there's generic software?

Thank!

[fmctm1sw]

Thanks much!

One more question. Does each card come with its own capturing software or there's generic software?

Thank!

My wintv card came with a capture app. You'll find, by and large, that bundled software isn't the greatest of stuff. If you are going to get into VHS conversions, you may want to check out lordsmurf's site. There are numerous hardware issues you'll want to hash out before you get a couple hundred bucks into and and discover you need something else.