Can anyone recommend a NTSC capture + video card based on this criteria?

[Rein Engel]

1. The ability to record video sources. S-Video is a must, component is preferred and I'd like to have HDMI.
2. The ability to record in common ratios found on the Internet, such as 4:3 and 16:9.

I want to record video game footage. A simple card with S-video input that records movies at 640x480 resolution is what I had, but that seems impossible to find for my newer machine. The card I have now only records at 720x480 or 720x288. None of my sources look right when recorded at these resolutions and I don't need to record videos that large. I always used to record at 320x240.

That's all I need... S-video input, 320x240 resolution, but if I'm going to go through the trouble of installing another card it might as well be one that can do the finer things, such as record HD widescreen from better quality inputs.

I'm not interested in a DVR, HDTV broadcasts, remote controls, coax inputs or anything like that. I'm certainly not interested in set top boxes like Gamebridge of Dazzle. I want a good, quality video capture card that was made to record from video sources. Can anyone recommend one?

I'm running Vista 32-bit home premium.

[themaster1]

Change the software and you will ( with a high probability) be able to record in 640x480 format.

a couples of clues:
virtualdub, virtual vcr, windvr3, chris tv ...amongst others

[jman98]

First of call, your requirements for component and HDMI may be impossible to find on one card. Please note that while I have heard of a few cards that could do component input, I don't know of any that can do HDMI input, only HDMI output.

Secondly, you say you don't care about HDTV broadcasts. Well, 16:9 has no meaning for standard definition TV, where everything is really 4:3.

It might be nice to know exactly what your sources are so we could maybe make some helpful suggestions. It sounds like you're not doing TV captures, but exactly what you are recording might be useful to know.

[Rein Engel]

I've tried probably a dozen programs before settling on VirtualDub. It's the only one that will allow me to switch to 720x288, which is useless for me.

This is the default setting VirtualDub comes up with:


This is the only other setting that works:


This is the message I get on ALL other settings, believe me, I've tried them all:


Since I haven't tried it in a while I downloaded Virtual VCR again. Though the settings say 320x240 it automatically started recording at 720x480.

I don't care for HDTV in the sense of having an HDTV tuner card. That's all I see on store shelves, cards with built-in tuners and coaxial input/output. I want to capture video game footage mostly, which can either use S-video, component or HDMI outputs. Finding a simple card with S-video input and the ability to record at 4:3/16:9 shouldn't be a problem. It was at first because the last time I went shopping for one Vista was in it's infancy, which is why I settled on the card I have now; it was Vista certified. I've been recording like that for years though and I'd like an upgrade. I know the technology is out there.

If you take a look at this video you'll see exactly how I want to record with my gaming consoles:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/30084.html

Someone used something other than S-video to obtain a picture like that.

Component input without HDMI is fine, I'd be tickled to find one, so I'd love to hear any recommendations you have.

[Video Head]

Video game? Console? If it is, then this has been discussed here many times before...in the last week. I guess it was Christmas recently...

HDMI input? How would you deal with the HDCP?

For component HD input you will need to go to something like a Black Magic card. Much more $'s than a standard PCI card that records in VCD resolution through an S-video connector. For that check out ATI and it's variants, Haupage, Snappy, etc.

[Rein Engel]

http://www2.promax.com/Blackmagic-Design-BHDINT-Intensity-High-Definition-HDMI-Capture-Card

That?

[edDV]

http://www2.promax.com/Blackmagic-Design-BHDINT-Intensity-High-Definition-HDMI-Capture-Card

That?

Way overkill.
Read all this.
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic317690.html

The ADS PYRO A/V Link captures 720x480i component or S-Video to DV format. If the console is outputting wide, it will be captured as wide. You can resize as you like in Virtualdub or another editor.
http://www.dvd-gear.com/pyro-av-link-elements.htm

[jman98]

Video game captures are tricky because almost all cards introduce some kind of delay of a few seconds, so if you look at the capture window while you play, it will screw you up because it will be a few seconds behind what is actually going on in the game. I don't do this kind of thing so I can offer no suggestions. If you wanted to capture say video tapes or laserdiscs I could probably help.