best capturing hardware?

[demonwarrior]

what is the best capturing hardware?for vhs capturing?

[Forum Troll]

For VHS capturing, I use the Hauppauge PVR-250. It's a hardware MPEG-2 encoder that does wonderful capturing. You can specify frame size, and the bitrate (even so far as to choose CBR or a custom variable bitrate). Plus the best thing is, it ignores Macrovision, so if you are capturing a commercially made tape, this feature can be a god-send. Other people I know have had good results using a DV capture card in conjunction with some sort of TBC (time base corrector).

[spanky123]

Does the capture device make a big difference in quality or is it more to do with the decoder/software used?

[demonwarrior]

THE TBC helps a lot

[spanky123]

So what brands generally use a good TBC?

Can you recommend something. . .

[demonwarrior]

i heard JVC does

[lordsmurf]

I'd have to suggest a Matrox RTX card. They run about $1000.

[demonwarrior]

and vcr's?

[Bjs]

Q :

what is the best capturing hardware? for vhs capturing?

A :

1: Considering cpu at 900mhz , if thats correct , is well behind for whats to be considered "best quality" capturing considering minimum specs required by modern hardware that connects to pcs these days .

It may be worth checking out WinFast TV2000 XP in ebay (new and cheap) , if your looking for a cheap routine that might just get the job done , but you will need to do some trial and error tests using suitable compressors (codecs) if your aiming at anywhere near 25fps / full d1 pal resolution (720x576) ... it can be done . But you may need more hard drive space for temp recording storage .

Or the alternative :

2: Grab a dvd recorder , and possibly a video stabilizer incase one of your vhs tapes contain good old macrovision .

All you need then is a dvd drive for the pc which will allow you to rip your recordings from the dvd discs , and you can edit the content in your own time . Reburning at 4x to dvd-r , but older hard drives tend to have problems when placed under load .

Dont forget to set the dvd recorder to video mode when recording or you might end up with whats known as vro's which tmpgenc and ulead video studio 8 se (cheap in ebay) , can edit .

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Personally , go with the cheaper method for now if money is tight ... the winfast tv2000 xp also has a lot of online support if you need help getting it up and running , which includes myself .

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Just beware of available pc slots on your motherboard :

Onboard agp / agp slot / pci 1 = share resources (do not use pci1)
Pci2 / pci3 = share resources (only one slot may be occupied by a pci device , not both)

Those lucky enough to have full sized motherboards :

Pci4 / pci5 = share resources (only one slot may be occupied by a pci device , not both)

For those with 3pci slots or less , to install an internal pci capture device would require the internal modem to be removed and replaced with an external modem , in order to prevent device conflicts and / or damage to pci component / pc .

Note that this is only taking consideration of the specs OP has supplied about pc , and dose not reflect modern systems that including usb2 or firewire ports .

Of course the information about slot arrangements applies to all systems .

[demonwarrior]

thanks but i need more info on the best vcr's to use with built in tbc

[lordsmurf]

thanks but i need more info on the best vcr's to use with built in tbc

You should own several. A good JVC is a must, like the later-end 7000, 9000 or SR series. Some also have a Panasonic AG19870 or 1980 too. The JVC tends to do the most, between the two. And then a good VHS VCR from Sharp or Toshiba would be good.

[davideck]

thanks but i need more info on the best vcr's to use with built in tbc

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic328283.html
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic287476.html