Seeking recommendations for capture cards (DIT)

[k-rug]

I am looking for recommendations for a SVGA, DVI or component capture card. I have two systems; system A is linux and cannot have anything installed on it, system B is a Windows machine and I can "have at it".

System A, the linux machine, has some custom developed apps that I need to create a "how to" training video for. Since I cannot install anything on it, I thought the easiest thing to do is use the video out and plug it in to a capture card on the Windows machine and record the screen that way. The video out on the Linux machine is a DVI connector but I should be able to use any SVGA or component adapter correct?

Any reommendations on cards to use? Also having no experience in this realm would a software like Adobe Captivate automatically be able to pull the feed from the video in on whatever capture card I purchase.

Thanks in advance.

[jman98]

Hauppauge makes a variety of cards that are well supported in both Windows and Linux (via MythTV). Your post is vague about the video you wish to capture, but the PVR-250 and PVR-350 can accept both composite and S-VHS video inputs. The audio plug is some kind of mini-plug, it's quite strange, but Radio Shack sells an adapter that can convert this single input to 2 RCA input jacks. The only difference between the 250 and 350 is that the 350 has TV out and the 250 does not. Both can capture in either MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 format and you can set the bit rate as you like. All audio capture will be in MPEG audio format, but it's not hard to convert that to something else if you wish (AC3 for example). Both cards come with WinTV2000, which is what you use to capture video with them. Both cards also have a coax cable TV jack if you want to record TV with them.

You'll need some kind of MPEG video editor to edit video you capture with them. I recommend either VideoReDo or MPEGVCR. Both are "try before you buy".

[k-rug]

Your post is vague about the video you wish to capture

What additional details can I provide? I'm a bit of a noob at this. The goal is to record me using the software on the Linux box and record it via the Windows box using an out to in. Recording audio from the source is not a concern as we'll be recording and adding and editing the entire package later via Adobe Premiere. I just need to grab the video of the software in use first.

I was under the impression that the quality of S-VHS and composite is not as good as component or direct SVGA or DVI input. In addition the screen resolution that I am trying to capture is quite large. At least 1280 x 1024. I also have no need for recording TV.

[jman98]

What exactly is your source? VHS tape? Some kind of video camera? That's what you need to tell.

Neither Hauppague card is capable of capture above 720x480 (you might could do PAL 720x576 with a registry hack), so neither is suitable for your needs. Someone else will have to suggest something.

Component capture cards do exist, but they are rare and expensive. I don't know if DVI or SVGA capture is even possible. I don't know of any cards that can do it. I would be very surprised if DVI capture was allowed as Hollywood would be very set against such and they can put pressure on manufacturers to not allow that.

[k-rug]

The source is a software program that will be running on the Linux machine. I've actually found several HDMI, SVGA, Component and even a few DVI cards. But I have no experience with using them and was looking for a recommendation.