Video Capture

[KnightRider2000]

Im new in this, and i was wondering if you need a High Quality Capture Card to capture video from a VHS by Composite In. Or with a AVER TV STUDIO Card its enough. Then which is a good software to capture in AVI cuz im using Ulead Video Studio 7 with no problems at all but i dont know if there is any other software outside with better quality results. Then is posible to get the same quality of a VHS in a VCD?. Thanks

[txpharoah]

VHS and VCD quality are not the same. In theory yes, in practice no. VCD is less.

An AverTV card is not very good. I'm sure I'll get arguments, but good cards cost more than $200. Ulead is also not great software, made for consumers, and not many options for consistent high quality.

The guide below on VHS->DVD conversion may help you understand a bit about video and TV, but its made for the ATI AIW card.

[KnightRider2000]

Thanks, so you recomend me a better capture card? you think im gonna get better capture quality? im thinking in the ADAPTEC VIDEO OHPCI but what about the software? cuz i was trying with Virtual Dub but i think is a problem with the WDM drivers cuz every time i try to capture i got a problem with something about a VIOLATION or something like that and if a capture in Compatibility mode i get a green frame in the top of the screen so i dont know what can i do ? thanks

[Rich927]

Might want to look at Pinnacle's Analog capture card bundled with Studio 7 or 8 software. Cost $129.00(on sale at Best Buy for $99.00). Captures analog at 640X480 I belive. The software is good. It got a Best Buy rating from PC World magazine. VideoStudio is a good program also. Has a lot of features that some other programs don't have. You can add Huffy to it. A lot of factors determine what your quality will be. Go with what works best for you.

[housepig]

Knightrider -

it depends on what you want to do, and how much you want to spend.

Yes, you can spend tons of money for professional results. Do you want to make this a business, or do you make enough money that you can throw pro-level money at a hobby? Then go for broke.

If you want to produce decent results that basically take your material off of VHS and onto a digital format, and you don't want to devote your life to doing it, the Aver card is fine. The included app (NeoDVD) is not bad, it's a little too much hand-holding for me, but you can use other sofware with it, I've had good results with VirtualVCR.

The problem inherent in the question is that it gives rise to the same kinds of arguments you hear about stereo systems - some people want an inexpensive setup to listen to cd's, and some people want to spend $1,500 on a cartridge for their $4,000 turntable to listen to their DMM vinyl on their $12,000 speakers.... which is fine, except then they get snotty about how their way is the only way.

God bless 'em, they keep this economy alive.

Go for the Aver first and get all your rebates - if you really don't get the quality and ease of use you want, you're out $10...

- housepig