Hello,

I use my Sony Digital 8mm camcorder, as a realtime analogue-to-DV device.

( I hook up my VCR to the camcorder analogue IN port )

I then convert the DV (AVI) files, using tmpge to MPEG-2 format.

Good results, however it takes AGES to convert to mpeg-2.

I havent tried any of the realtime capture cards ( ie Instant USB etc) but from the specs and what Ive read, Im not sure if I will get the same quality that I do at the moment.

Suprisingly there hasnt been much talk of using Digital camcorders to convert from VCR etc.

The resulting AVI files are HUGE, but excellent quality. 99% identical to original source. you then need to convert them to mpeg format/s.

my question is:

When capturing ( transferring ) from the camcorder, which outputs the data in a AVI - DV format, is there any way that a software program could 'convert' that data into MPEG-2 ' instead ' ?

in real time ?

Ed.

PS: make sure you use Digital 8mm AND NOT digital DV camcorder, as they dont have analogue/DV circuits.

PSS: in the UK, mu camera had the analogue IN circuits disabled, I had to 'hack' it into working, by buying a software kit for it.