Capture with Video Card or Firewire

[rbautch]

For years I've done my captures by running analog video through a MiniDV camcorder, and then firewire to my PC. I usually capture in avi/DV format, then edit, then encode to MPEG. I now have an ATI All-In-Wonder X1300 that will also capture analog video. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using the video card instead the firewire transfer?

[edDV]

For years I've done my captures by running analog video through a MiniDV camcorder, and then firewire to my PC. I usually capture in avi/DV format, then edit, then encode to MPEG. I now have an ATI All-In-Wonder X1300 that will also capture analog video. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using the video card instead the firewire transfer?

DV is a less compressed and more editable format so that path works best for material you want to work on (filter and edit) and encode with highest quality. Con is the time it takes. Another con is the need to correct black level for NTSC through a camcorder capture.

The ATI method is great for timed recording of broadcasts and instant MPeg2 (hardware assisted encoding) ready for DVD authoring. It is also good for quick VHS dubs directly to MPeg2 that you won't be filtering or editing to a great extent.

[awolfoutwest69]

Actually, uncompressed AVI is the more lossless route and every bit as editable as DV. DV is a lossy codec, and subsequently encoding to MPEG2 means cascaded compression. I prefer to only encode once for best quality. Using the HuffYUV lossless compression codec, I usually get about 3.5:1 compression capturing live concert footage. 1 hour is roughly 25GB file size. More complicated content will get less compression and thus larger file size. I do all my editing with AVIsynth using VirtualDub as the previewer.

[edDV]

That can be done as well using the AIW X1300 for capture and hufyuv as the codec (under MMC AVI uncompressed then codec) or with Virtualdub.

Try a representative clip all three ways and see which looks best to you and trade off for convenience.