Leadtek Winfast 2000XP Expert, Anyone?

[powrwrap]

Leadtek Winfast 2000XP Expert, Anyone?

Does anyone use the Leadtek Winfast 2000XP Expert for video capturing of analog tapes? (I suppose this post could also apply to Leadtek Winfast 2000XP or Leadtek Winfast 2000XP Deluxe as well.)

I’m new to video capturing and converting. I have a whole bunch of 8 mm analog camcorder tapes that I’m looking to convert and burn to DVD’s. Also have a few select VHS and even Beta tapes I might want to convert.

I recently used a Sony Digital Camcorder and grabbed a couple of minutes worth of video from my 8 mm analog tapes. I also used the pass through feature to convert a couple minutes of VHS tape to digital. I’m using Ulead’s VideoStudio 8 Basic that came with the firewire card I bought. It was a fairly easy process all around and I’m pretty happy with the results.

I like the fact that the digital camcorder plays my tapes and outputs in DV-AVI, which as I understand it is slightly compressed compared to regular .avi files . As I understand it these cameras also do some noise correction. So I was convinced this would be the best way to go.

I’m looking at buying a used Sony DigiCam on e-bay and apparently the secret about converting analog videos is out. Even the most basic camera with video pass-through fetches around $200. That’s when I started researching capture cards. I want the ability to edit the video, add titles, add music and/or narration, transitions, etc. which means I want to be able to work with 720 X 480 .avi files. Surprisingly, after searching the capture card lists here on video help.com I learned that not many affordable capture cards have this ability. One of them that intrigues me is the Leadtek Winfast 2000XP Expert. It will output .avi files, has basic color correction built into the software plus it has both TV and FM tuner with PIP and comes with a remote and full version of Ulead’s VideoStudio for less than $50!

I’m looking at purchasing this product and am wondering if anyone who has this product could answer a few questions. Yes, I’ve read all the comments on the product on the capture card list pages here but most of them concern the quality of the TV picture or time-shifting recording TV programs direct to DVD, something I will definitely try but not the reason I’m buying the product. I want to capture analog video and convert to .avi files, edit, and burn to DVD.

One of the recurring problems with this product that people complained about was that audio and video would get out of synch after long segments (20 minutes or more) were converted from analog to digital. Most people attributed that to their underpowered computer. Some of these people were running P-3’s or older Athlon chips at less than 2 Ghz. My system is a P-4, 2.4 Ghz with 768 MB RAM.

Is my system good enough to handle this card without the synchronization issues?

Am I better served by forking over $200+ for a Sony Digital Cam on e-bay rather than using this card?

If you have this PCI capture card:
What is your system speed, chip, RAM setup?

Are you happy with this capture card?

Any problems?

Any other comments would be greatly appreciated.

[mgy999a]

Not exactly an expert, no. . . . .

I first became interested in capturing video in early 2004. I did a lot of research and purchased the Leadtek Winfast card you are talking about and installed it in my computer. I also searched the web for any guides that might help me. I downloaded all sorts of capture software that should have worked with the card. Oh, and I had a copy of Video Studio 6 (I think it was 6) at that time.

I tried everything. I spent 2 or 3 evenings a week for about six months trying to make my first dvd. Oh, I learned a lot. And each problem I solved un-covered a new one. But the bottom line was that I never did manage to make a dvd with decent looking video nor could I make the audio synchronize with the video.

Capturing with a computer card is way more difficult than it appears. I finally threw in the towel and purchased a dvd recorder. I burned my first permanent dvd in less than two hours after plugging it in.

I am not saying that you shouldn't go the capture card route. You will learn a lot about video that way. But if your goal is to create dvds, a stand-alone dvd recorder is a much better choice. It is way faster and far easier to use.

Okay, so you want to edit the video afterward? No problem. Use the dvd recorder to record on a R/W disc and then transfer the video to the harddrive of your computer. TMPGenc DVD Author can do that transfer but there are other programs too. Then, once on the computer, use VirtualDubMod to convert to avi (you will need a compression codec like Huffy to keep the file size down). Then edit it all you want and re-encode with VideoStudio. (VideoStudio 6 was pretty finicky for me. I found TMPGenc 2.5 Plus was better and never hung my computer).

I hope this helps.

[zoobie]

Your system looks good enuf. Many use less power and speed than you. You may have trubble capping if your HD speed isn't 7200rpm or more, though.

[thecoalman]

full version of Ulead’s VideoStudio for less than $50!

You may want to look again, the one I got a few years back came with VS7 SE or LE, whatever the case it's standard practice for most capture cards to include a limited edition editing/authoring package that has some key features disabled. I doubt very much it's the full version, additionally since those cards are so old it ws probably packaged years ago and has an older version.

I got mine for free and only used it briefly because I have a ADVC, I won't say it's great and I won't say it's junk from my experience. The FM and TV tuner functions are nice to have but personally I'd go the DV-Cam route.

[powrwrap]

I'd go the DV-Cam route.

Since I posted my question I've seen ADS Pyro A/D converter boxes on e-bay going for $60 - $100. This box converts analog sources to DV-AVI, I really like the idea of using DV-AVI rather than uncompressed AVI, so now another decision!

[powrwrap]

I first became interested in capturing video in early 2004. I did a lot of research and purchased the Leadtek Winfast card you are talking about and installed it in my computer. I also searched the web for any guides that might help me. I downloaded all sorts of capture software that should have worked with the card. Oh, and I had a copy of Video Studio 6 (I think it was 6) at that time.

I tried everything. I spent 2 or 3 evenings a week for about six months trying to make my first dvd. Oh, I learned a lot. And each problem I solved un-covered a new one. But the bottom line was that I never did manage to make a dvd with decent looking video nor could I make the audio synchronize with the video.

Arrggh! These are the kind of stories--and I've read many with regards to capture cards--that really give me pause to go this route. Using the digital camcorder was fairly easy. With no prior knowledge, and using just the owner's manual and VideoStudio 8 Basic I was able to capture, edit, and burn several minutes worth of 8 mm footage onto a DVD in less than one day. Admittedly it was about 6 hours worth, most of it learning the editing software. Capturing with the digicam was a breeze, both using my 8 mm tapes and using the passthrough function for a couple minutes of footage from a VHS tape. No dropped frames, no synch problems, nice picture, good DVD quality.

Okay, so you want to edit the video afterward? No problem. Use the dvd recorder to record on a R/W disc and then transfer the video to the harddrive of your computer. TMPGenc DVD Author can do that transfer but there are other programs too. Then, once on the computer, use VirtualDubMod to convert to avi (you will need a compression codec like Huffy to keep the file size down). Then edit it all you want and re-encode with VideoStudio. (VideoStudio 6 was pretty finicky for me. I found TMPGenc 2.5 Plus was better and never hung my computer).

I hope this helps.

Every bit of information helps, thanks.

[powrwrap]

full version of Ulead’s VideoStudio for less than $50!

You may want to look again, the one I got a few years back came with VS7 SE or LE, whatever the case it's standard practice for most capture cards to include a limited edition editing/authoring package that has some key features disabled. I doubt very much it's the full version, additionally since those cards are so old it ws probably packaged years ago and has an older version.

From Leadtek's website:

Provide full version of Ulead Video Studio 8.0 and Cool 3D 3.0 for Video Editing and VCD/DVD/SVCD Authoring.

http://www.leadtek.com/multimedia/winfast_tv2000xp_expert_1.html

[cl5814]

What is the macrovision detection on this card these days ? I just bought this card and need to transfer commercial video to DVD for my home use purpose. I also have the canopus advc 110 but seem to detect macrovision .....