We need a REAL time mpeg-2 capture card

[Adem]

Hello,

We are a computer company in Istanbul, Turkey. We’ve used Darvision’s Mpegator PCI capture card to make VCDs for five years. We intensively capture video cassettes (VHS-Hi8-VHS-C), which are people’s engagements, weddings, birthdays, tours and meetings, seminars etc. of companies.

Now, we want to buy a real time mpeg-2 PCI capture card. We don't want to wait for rendering. We want the card to capture mpeg-2 in real time without using system resources. The card we want should work even in PIII systems without dropping frames. We have nothing to do with effects, professional editing, menus, fonts, softwares. We will just capture from analog video sources (VHS- Hi8- VHS-C) in mpeg-2 format and then burn DVD videos. We want to pay money for the card itself not softwares.

Which cards do you recommend to us?

What do you think about these cards:
- Mpegator-2
- Mpegator-4
- Pinnacle Liquid Edition 6
- Matrox RT.X100

Thank you for your help,

Adem (adeministrator@hotmail.com)

[mats.hogberg]

Well, after using the Hauppage PVR 250 for almost a year, I've been banging its drum very load. It's really, really good, captures > max DVD bit rate in realtime, takes no system resources, and on the whole behaves without an issue. Captured mpg can be loaded up in any authoring package (TDA, DVD-Lab, & cetera) and authored. There is also presets for SVCD and VCD specs mpg captures, if that's your target.

/Mats

[pfh]

I thought the mpegator was real time? After seeing the prices I didn't pursue the merits of those cards. But they sound like high quality gear. Whats wrong with the one you have?

For P3 systems I'd agree with mats.hogberg.

The Canopus mpeg pro? Not pci though.

[Adem]

Dear Pfh,

The Mpegator we have is for mpeg-1 capturing. We need a mpeg-2 capture card. We wouldn't like to buy a card just it is expensive. Because sometimes expensive cards don't provide the expected quality. That's why, we want to buy a high-quality card with a reasonable price. Thank you.

[pfh]

Ah, I see.
Unfortunately haven't seen many reviews on the Darvision stuff- would be nice to hear some evaluations.

[The_Doman]

Well, after using the Hauppage PVR 250 for almost a year, I've been banging its drum very load.

Well, those Hauppauge cards may be nice to play with.
They can't be taken seriously for professional use.

http://www.shspvr.com/forum/

[mats.hogberg]

So, your suggestion for professional realtime to mpeg2 capture is, and the advantages are?
Of course there must be better stuff than a $120 card, but I'm curious of what features might be available in a high end device, that lacks in the lower en devices.

/Mats

[reboot]

Well, those Hauppauge cards may be nice to play with.
They can't be taken seriously for professional use.

One word: Bullshit

[stillmars321]

The new SONY DVD Direct captures from VCR/camcorder on the fly, encodes on the fly and burns to dvd on the fly, with basic menus.

Want fancier menus? export to your favorite authoring program. I recommend TMPG DVD AUTHOR

[trossin]

My vote is also for the Hauppage PVR 250. I've had it for over two years in a 0.6 GHz machine and it just works. Capture: Author: Burn. No re-encoding it just works. It even deals with crap snowy source from my attic antenna tuning into a station 60 miles away without audio sync problems. For "clean" sources like out of a VCR it also looks great.

[GKar]

I am using the Dazzle DVC II (Digital Video Creator 2), it does pretty well and you can pick one up on Ebay for about $30. It does CBR and VBR MPEG2's in real time. I used TmpGenc Author with it. The software sucks but you can go here for free capture utilities and other info: http://www.spawns.dk/svcd/

[spectroelectro]

Alas, the Dazzle real-time MPEG-2 capture cards have known problems which can be traced back to incorrect registry settings by the engineers. This has been discussed extensively on other forums and there are some fixes but the Dazzle cards remain problematic.

You might consider simply purchasing a DVD recorder like the JVC DRM10 or the Sanyo or the Pioneer. All 3 of these models do an excellent job of real-time MPEG-2 encoding; the JVC looks far and away the best, but you'll get excellent results from all 3 of these brands. Use a DVD-RW to record to, then pop out the disc and read it onto your computer hard drive and edit it with womble.

One advantage of a DVD recorder is that you can be editing MPEG-2 on the cmoptuer while capturing new MPEG-2 with the DVD recorder, which effectively doubles your throughput. This isn't possible with a real-time MPEG encoding computer card.

[Abond]

One advantage of a DVD recorder is that you can be editing MPEG-2 on the cmoptuer while capturing new MPEG-2 with the DVD recorder, which effectively doubles your throughput. This isn't possible with a real-time MPEG encoding computer card.

I am doing this always capturing with Hauppauge 250, as the card use very little CPU - so it is free for editing and even for encoding.

[The_Doman]

Well, those Hauppauge cards may be nice to play with.
They can't be taken seriously for professional use.

One word: Bullshit

If they can't make even a decent driver after HALF a year to fix major AUDIO and VIDEO problems for my PVR150,
I won't call that professional.

http://www.shspvr.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7843

[mats.hogberg]

No. I agree. That's why I wouldn't dream about suggesting the 150 card. It's a lemon. 250/350 isn't.

/Mats

[SHS]

I going have disagree for now.
To make long story short not everbody get the audio problem I'm 99% sure it had to do with all the diff external receiver which are not 100% the same like when I just swicth from Dishnetwork to TimeWaner Cable one thing I saw rigth way is vol loudness is so diff from each channel unlike Dish box gofig now that very odd.

[aaronrus]

Dear Pfh,

The Mpegator we have is for mpeg-1 capturing. We need a mpeg-2 capture card. We wouldn't like to buy a card just it is expensive. Because sometimes expensive cards don't provide the expected quality. That's why, we want to buy a high-quality card with a reasonable price. Thank you.

do you guys alreadyhave a time base corrector in your studio? i personally have seen the Canopus MPEG Pro MVR in action, and I have to say it produces a phenominal picture.. you can get it on ebay for a 'Buy It Now" price of $424 american dollars. it does both NTSC and PAL.

[jdizzy40]

I have had 3 PVR 250's for over 2 years and they are virtual workhorses. Recently purchased the 500MCE (Dual Tuners) and install went without a hitch. Running Beyond TV. Kicks the crap out of any TIVO bought unit.

[reboot]

@ The_Doman, notice nobody here mentioned the PVR-150?
You brought it up.
The aforementioned 250/350/500 series have no troubles, thanks to the dual chip setup.
It's the single chip 150's that suck.
Tag on GB-PVR, Mediaportal (or if you insist on paying for software) Sage or Beyond, and you CAN work on one mpg, while recording another, as well as anything else you wish to do.
I play Doom3 while recording shows, sometimes 2 at once with dual 250's.

Kicks the crap out of any TIVO bought unit.

[SHS]

reboot it has nothing to do with the new single chip CX2584x which dosen't have build in ADC it has to do with this audio chip they use know as Wolfson WM8775

[reboot]

Thanks for clarifying. I just haven't recommended the 150 to anyone, because of one issue or another.

[pippas]

We have nothing to do with effects, professional editing, menus, fonts, softwares. We will just capture from analog video sources (VHS- Hi8- VHS-C) in mpeg-2 format and then burn DVD videos.

Buy a DVD recorder!

[aaronrus]

We have nothing to do with effects, professional editing, menus, fonts, softwares. We will just capture from analog video sources (VHS- Hi8- VHS-C) in mpeg-2 format and then burn DVD videos.

Buy a DVD recorder!

why, so you can have shitty menues?

[GeorgeW]

I like the idea of a standalone dvd recorder with a builtin TBC to help with "problem" source videos.

I also own an ADSTech Instant DVD USB 2.0 unit -- captures up to 15mbps via USB2 (but to be DVD Compliant, you will need to lower that bitrate). When you have a clean video source, this unit delivers excellent results. When your source has dropouts (like old VHS tapes), you could run into problems (dropped frames where the dropout occurs).

It does give you the ability to apply some color/picture enhancements (brightness, saturation, temporal/spatial filtering, etc...).

The Next Generation is about to hit the streets (Instant DVD 3.0), and there are some new features that might make it an even more attractive option:
. capture dolby digital audio
· Wide Screen Signal detection for 16:9 preview and capture
· Advanced audio control with record and playback audio level controls
· Audio-only capture in .wav and .mp3 formats
· Capture directly from DV camcorders to a DVD disc in real time
· Enhanced DV device control (control camcorder play, stop, rewind, FF with CapWiz)
· Support for DivXÒ video capture

[aaronrus]

The Next Generation is about to hit the streets (Instant DVD 3.0), and there are some new features that might make it an even more attractive option:
. capture dolby digital audio
· Wide Screen Signal detection for 16:9 preview and capture
· Advanced audio control with record and playback audio level controls
· Audio-only capture in .wav and .mp3 formats
· Capture directly from DV camcorders to a DVD disc in real time
· Enhanced DV device control (control camcorder play, stop, rewind, FF with CapWiz)
· Support for DivXÒ video capture

Got a link to it on the web?

[pippas]

We have nothing to do with effects, professional editing, menus, fonts, softwares. We will just capture from analog video sources (VHS- Hi8- VHS-C) in mpeg-2 format and then burn DVD videos.

Buy a DVD recorder!

why, so you can have shitty menues?

Adem did write "We have nothing to do with....menus...." !

[aaronrus]

The Next Generation is about to hit the streets (Instant DVD 3.0), and there are some new features that might make it an even more attractive option:
. capture dolby digital audio
· Wide Screen Signal detection for 16:9 preview and capture
· Advanced audio control with record and playback audio level controls
· Audio-only capture in .wav and .mp3 formats
· Capture directly from DV camcorders to a DVD disc in real time
· Enhanced DV device control (control camcorder play, stop, rewind, FF with CapWiz)
· Support for DivXÒ video capture

Got a link to it on the web?

[Adem]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP !

We've bought a PVR 250 (we couldn't find PVR 350).

We started to use it for Mpeg-1 capture first. I must say that it can capture in real time and it has a clear capture. The only disadvantage of it is the "PAUSE" function. When I click "pause" it waits about 10 seconds and creates a second mpeg file for the rest of the capturing.

[mats.hogberg]

Only diff AFAIK between 250 & 350 is that 350 sports a FM radio tuner too, so for video capture, you've lost nothing.

/Mats

[reboot]

The 350 has video out as well. No loss, if you have video out on your graphics card.
The software you're using is causing the pause "disadvantage".
Try some better software, and cap everything in mpeg-2.
Try the Hauppauge tweak tool for video processing. There are also some registry tweaks you can use for better quality captures (sharpen and such).
Check out www.shspvr.com for plenty more.
Check out www.gbpvr.com and MediaPortal for some great PVR software (both free!).