Brand New to Capturing. Need Hardware/Software help!

[kevinhanson]

Hey folks, I'm guessing that if anyone knows where I should start, that person would be here!

I'm brand new to the whole video capture thing and have been trying, off and on for months, to figure out what hardware and software I need to buy to make it happen. Here's what I can tell you about my system:

Windows XP Pro
2.13 GHz Intel Core2
2.00 GB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT PCIe video card

I've got some sort of Abit motherboard, but I'd have to go dig the manual out (and it's somewhere in a box in the garage) to tell you the exact model. I know it only had one PCIe slot, and my graphics card is already using that, so whatever solution you recommend needs to be a standard PCI one.

As for the devices I want to capture from, I've got a Hi-8 video camera and a mini-DV video camera. If you need me to provide specific brand & model info, just ask and I'll look that up.

What I need to do is convert the Hi-8 and mini-DV tapes to some digital format (I'm thinking mpeg would probably be fine). Then I need to be able to EDIT the video, splicing and copying and pasting and moving clips from one place to another and all that sort of "editing" jazz.

I already have software I can use to generate a nice DVD (with menu and chapters) once I've got the video edited, so I don't need that.

It's embarrassing that I've been a software developer for over 20 years, but just can't seem to figure out how to get started on this project!

HELP! Oh, and budget is important. I'm assuming that there are reasonable solutions available for around $100 (that's $100 each for the capture and the editing stuff) and I'd really like to try and keep MY solution at or under that ($200).

Thanks,
Kevin

[Bodyslide]

Here's a Good List of different cards

https://www.videohelp.com/capturecards

It's a Good Starting point.

[redwudz]

Mini-DV cameras normally use FireWire for video transfers. Hi-8, depends on the camera. I would post the brands and models of both cameras. To find out your motherboard model, try CPU-Z: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php It's a simple program that will tell you a bit about your computer, including MB info. Then you could go to the motherboard manufacturers site and dl a .pdf of the motherboard manual.

Most motherboards such as yours have a single PCI-e slot for the video card and usually two regular PCI slots. If you add a FireWire card, that's one.

Most DV cameras output in DV-AVI format, so it's already digital. You can use WinDV and a FireWire card to transfer the video to the PC. The Hi-8 may take a different setup. I would do all the editing in the native format that comes from the camera. Then encode that to MPEG and author it if your end goal is a DVD.

There are many ways to do all this, from all-in-one converters like ConvertXToDVD or FAVC to stand along programs that can control each facet of the process.

I would spend some time looking through our guides. Most everything you need to know is in there.

[kevinhanson]

Thanks for the quick responses.

I tried the CPUID program and it worked fine. My motherboard is an Abit IL9 Pro.

My mini_DV camera is a JVC GR-DA30. It did not come with a dv cable, so that's another something I need to get. THe manual doesn't say anything about Firewire, it only mentions connecting to a PC that has a dv input (4-pin or 6-pin). Would I still be able to use a firewire card and some sort of dv-firewire cable?

The other camera (the Hi-8 one) is a Sharp 8 Viewcam. IT was second-hand and only came with an AV cable (the thing with a white/yellow/red plug).

I have a third camera that I suppose I'll want to do stuff with as well. It is a Sony DCR-TRV260 Digital-8 camera. It also only came with an analog cable, but it does have other outputs (dv, s-video), so I'm sure I could get cables for those, if need be.

[redwudz]

That helps, thanks.

That motherboard seems to have three PCI slots, so you're good there. If you needed a manual: http://www.uabit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=48&page=6&model=330

A inexpensive FireWire card and mini 4 pin to 6 pin cable should get you started. Something like this from NewEgg would give you both: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815265002

For the other cameras, they sound like they just output composite video. If that's correct, you need a capture card with composite video input and usually a audio card (On the motherboard is OK) for audio from the camera.

A few capture cards: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380047+1148516167+1148...10218&name=PCI These are without a tuner, so you might look at others if you need that option. The Hauppauge cards look interesting, but I don't have any experience with them.

BTW, the yellow is composite video and the red/white the stereo audio.

For editing DV, VirtualDub is free. Or you can get a package setup that can do editing, conversion, authoring and burning to DVD.

For editing MPEG, there are some freeware editors or payware editors like MPG-VCR or others. Or you can also get a package program for this.

Most of those type of programs have trial versions, so you could try them out once you get the video to the computer.

[kevinhanson]

If can get away with adding only one card to my machine, I'd go that route. It sounds like you suggested to different cards for the two different sources (dv vs. analog). Is it possible that there are cards that will handle both with equal success?

Knowing what kind of card is only half the battle for me. The selections are still to numerous for me to narrow down. Can you (ar anyone else) recommend a card based on personal experience?

Thanks again!

Kevin

[aedipuss]

no card can do both. firewire is a digital input like USB. a capture card is an entirely different beast. try a hi-8 tape in your Sony DCR-TRV260 Digital-8 camera. if it can play it then you can use it's dv firewire port to transfer the hi-8 tapes to the computer and only have to buy a firewire card and cable.

[aedipuss]

i've used a couple of these firewire cards successfully. they include a 9 pin connector in case you have a front case port you can hook up. under $20 delivered. i've also used others and never had any problems. winXP sp2 has installed all of them automatically.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124034

[pinetop]

You may want to consider a DVD recorder if mpeg captures is your goal. Much easier than a capture card, and faster.

[kevinhanson]

It's not the format I'm particular about, it's more the budget. If avi is the more common format, then that's fine with me. I'll be using software to edit and eventually encode for dvd afterwards.