Video Mixer - composite/Svideo outputs - will I lose frames?

[Bansaw]

I am thinking of capturing video live straight to my computer, and am thinking of buying the Edirol v4 mixer.
It has 2 Composite video outputs and one S-Video output.

Can I capture direct to my computer using the S-Video output, and will I lose frames?
And more importantly, if the S-Video is "analog" would this mean I lose quality too?

Is there a mixer that simply outputs straight to computer using a Firewire cable?
That way it should be fast enough and remain digital.

Any comments?

[edDV]

I am thinking of capturing video live straight to my computer, and am thinking of buying the Edirol v4 mixer.
It has 2 Composite video outputs and one S-Video output.

Can I capture direct to my computer using the S-Video output, and will I lose frames?
And more importantly, if the S-Video is "analog" would this mean I lose quality too?

Is there a mixer that simply outputs straight to computer using a Firewire cable?
That way it should be fast enough and remain digital.

Any comments?

The Edirol v4 mixer is a dual TBC with switching and effects to a single output. Inputs and outputs are analog composite or analog S-Video. Use S-Video where you can. It will allow live mixing between VCRs or a VCR and camera or two cameras. There would be some quality loss through the switcher versus a direct DV format feed to the computer. You only need to use the switcher when you must mix inputs live. Frame rate will be the same as any other S-Video input to a capture card. It's probably best to capture uncompressed (or huffyuv) if you don't have a hardware encoding capture card.

If you want a DV format digital switcher, check out the $4,000 Datavideo SE-800

http://www.datavideo.us/products/se_800_main_page.htm