Which video capture card should I choose?

[joape382]

I'm looking for a video capture card with the following characteristics:

Demands:
1. Including SDK
2. No delays on screen acceptable when you move the camera around (of course
no other delays either)
3. Small in physical size
4. MPEG recording
5. Composite and/or S-video

Extra plus if:
1. The energy consumption is low
2. S-video connection is possible
3. You can record both MPEG1, MPEG2, and MPEG4.

Depending on our end customer needs I am interested in two types on capture
cards:
1. Those which take only 1 capture stream (I estimate that this type is the
one we would include mostly in our products)
2. Those which take 2 capture streams
3. Those which take 3 or more capture streams

Can anyone recommend me one or a few with these characteristics please.

[mats.hogberg]

Honestly, I think you'll have a hard time to find a card that fulfils your demands.
1. I've never heard of a capture card shipped with a SDK.
2. Every capture card I've seen has a slight (or even substantial) delay between input and output.
3. Why should physical size be a concern, unless you're talking about some external capture device?
4. OK! Hauppage PVR 1/2/350 does that (without any CPU load, as it has hardware mpg encoding)
5. Same here; Hauppage PVR 1/2/350. But then, almost all capture cards have them.

Capturing more than one stream at a timne is tricky. I'd imagine you'll need one capture device for each stream.

...but wait - a quick Googling led me to this:
Canopus/Grass Valley MVRD4000 MPEG 1/2/4 Capture card
http://www.allpcstuff.co.uk/?page=proddetail&prod=23616
Looks pretty promising, even if rather pricey (£1103.33) to say the least.

/Mats

[joape382]

Hi,

1. I have already got one, but it is not good enough. It is a Canopus MVRD2200. The difference between it and the MVDR4000 card seems to be MPEG4 encoding.
2. The Canopus MVRD2200 doesn't have delays.
3. It's gonna fit in a small box. A regular card is ok, but the smaller the better.
4-5. It must come with an SDK!

FYI Mats, there are many capture cards that come with SDK, another example of a manufacturer is Vitec Multimedia.

I am expecting the cards to be in a price range from $800 US and up.

My experience from the Canopus card is mixed; it can be quite tricky to install it and to get it working with the drivers all the time. It also consumes quite a lot of energy.
I have also tried the Advantech DVP-1412E card but that one come with delays that are not good for us.