Capture in Windows 98

[winifreid]

I would like to capture and edit some old VHS-C videos I took overseas and then transfer them to CD.
Most important is to cut out all the shots I made when I forgot the camera was still on...
I would also like to add some subtitles, titles and transitions (in order of importance). I have read a ton of stuff about the subject, but still I am not sure what to do. I tried in the past to accomplish this with an old ATI AIW 128 Pro (8 meg pci) card, but never did a reasonable job. I ran into the 2 gig avi limit, video was jumpy, sound low and out of sync, blue lines across the bottom, system crashes……… I used either MMC ver 7.5 or Videowave ver 3.5 without much difference. I read where VDub needed a wrapper for this card so I never tried it.
So to my questions.
Will I get better/acceptable results with the Leadtek 2000XP? I ask because it is only about $50 at newegg. If not, is there a card for less than $70 that will do a better job? Can I do the editing I mentioned with either the included software or freeware or Videowave 3.5?
I would appreciate any advice.


Windows 98
1600+ Athlon XP
Iwill KK266 Motherboard (VIA KT 133 Chipset)
256 Meg PC 150 SDRAM
Leadtek Geforce 2 MX (32 meg) video card
40 gig 7200 rpm Maxtor hard drive
48-12-48 Lite-on CDRW

[holistic]

Welcome

First off ,take time to read the "HOW TO" guides they may answer your questions (or indeed give you more)

Read other users comments on capture cards.

Your 40Gb drive may be a little small for the task. Win 98 is not the best for video editing (i know thats where i started) due to FAT32 size restrictions. It may be over come using programs that 'span'.

Simple edits can be done in VirtualDub. You may also capture in VirtualDub (free). There are an abundance of filters on the web for this program also.

VHS-C is proberly best suited toward VCD. If you plan on putting this material to DVD one day then perhaps plan on saving 15 to 20 minute segments to CD in MPEG2 format (bitate 4500 ish) with 48kHz audio.

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[winifreid]

Thanks for the comments. I did read everything I could find when I was using the AIW. As I said, Vdub doesn't work with this card without a wrapper. Since the author indicated that the wrapper didn't always work, I didn't try it. I never tried a spanning program, but it seems that it would make it difficult to edit. Anyway, what I would really like to know is whether I would get better/acceptable results with the Leadtek versus the AIW. Does the Leadtek card use a better chipset?

[Craig Tucker]

I used to use an AIW 128 pro with win98 and capture with virtual dub, do yourself a favour and give it a try as this is probrably the best option available to you. It is excellent for capture and editing and can easily circumvent the 2/4GB filesize limit by splitting the capture up. If you need to install the wrapper then install it, but I did not think that was the case for W98, only for 2000 or XP.

I still use Virtual dub now, with an AIW 7500 and windows XP, don't think theres anything better for analogue capture, particularly for the price.

[winifreid]

Thanks
Why did you switch to the 7500?
It might be that my card is not the 128. Sorry. It was given to me without any documentation. The chip is a BT 829AXRF and a 3D Rage Pro. I don't know if this is different than the 128.
I tried Vdub, but the card did not show up. I read where a wrapper was required.

How much of a difference will I see with a Leadtek or a similiarly priced card?

If I did try the AIW again, should I use it as my video card and remove the geforce or just use the AIW as a capture card?

I have thought of trying Linux to overcome the file size limitaiton, but I am not sure if linux editing and capturing software is too difficult to use.

I suppose if I use a spanning program to capture in avi, I would have to edit each segment seperatly.

[Craig Tucker]

Thanks
Why did you switch to the 7500?

Better graphics performance

It might be that my card is not the 128. Sorry. It was given to me without any documentation. The chip is a BT 829AXRF and a 3D Rage Pro. I don't know if this is different than the 128.

Is this an AGP card, or PCI. If you were using it with another graphics card installed this may be why it was not recognised by your capture software, may have been a conflict with the other card.

I suppose if I use a spanning program to capture in avi, I would have to edit each segment seperatly.

No, you can edit the files in vdub as if they were one large file. You open the first file and all subsequent files are opened with it automatically on the same time line.

[winifreid]

It is a PCI card and it was the only video card in the machine. I was just wondering if there would be an advantage to using it with my geforce which is agp.

[winifreid]

Anybody? Will the Leadtek work much better than the AIW with my configuration? Will it work beter under linux?

[Craig Tucker]

It is a PCI card and it was the only video card in the machine. I was just wondering if there would be an advantage to using it with my geforce which is agp.

If the leadforce is AGP and the ATI is PCI then it is likely that the leadforce is newer and may have better graphics performance and more onboard memory, although this is not a certainty. Check out the specs of both cards online if you can to determine which will give you better graphics performance. I think the AIW's can be used with another graphics card, although this is obviously not what they were designed for.

[winifreid]

Has anyone happened to use both the Leadtek and AIW Pro (not the 128) in the same system? If so, did you get better capture from the Leadtek. If the Leadtek isn't going to be any better, then I won't waste my money trying it. I realize that other aspects of my system might be why I had bad results with the AIW (mainly the 98 OS). Hope someone can help.