Best Capture Card Under $150?? (AVerTV CaptureHD??)

[jenna12]

Hi, considering this (for $139):

http://www.avermedia.com/avertv/product/productdetail.aspx?id=499

Just wondering if it's the best in it's price range? Also, I'm struggling to find anybody who has tested the card with analog/composite input. If anybody has tried this card, could you please post some results created by using the composite input?

Thanks for any help

[danno78]

There is no information about type comb filter use in the chip which separate chroma and luminance information. A earlier chip from the same company (i forgot the name but is not Nec, Conexant, Ati, NXP/Philips or Analog Device) was a 10 bit with 2D comb filter. On market there is cards based on Nec, NXP, ATI and Conexant chips which have 3D comb filter.

[jenna12]

So, the AVerTV H727 is mostly just suitable for HDMI? Would it be unreasonable to get a separate card for Analogue recording (as I will be doing both heavily)? Also, does anybody know what analogue formats this card supports as I will be recording PAL (720x576)?


Thanks again

[danno78]

So, the AVerTV H727 is mostly just suitable for HDMI?

Digital signal over HDMI and analogue FullHD over component is mainly the primary task. Try with SD sources. You may be happy with results. I just wanted to say that is not intend first for SD sources.

Would it be unreasonable to get a separate card for Analogue recording (as I will be doing both heavily)?

If AVerTV H727 can`t make you happy with composite analogue SD sources then try cards with 3D comb filter.

Also, does anybody know what analogue formats this card supports as I will be recording PAL (720x576)?

Pal and Ntsc support is very common in these days. Usually mpeg2 and mpeg4 (Xvid and Dvix) are the software encoding formats.

The questions are:
AVerTV H727 have support for varies codecs with the original application?
I don`t know, must test and see.
AVerTV H727 can be used with VirtualDub and uncompressed/lossless codec?
From what I know this card do software compression. Is likely yes. Usually these cards (without hardware encoders) sent uncompressed signal in YUV2 color space.

[jagabo]

If you're in the USA you won't be capturing much of anything over HDMI. All commercial sources (cable TV, satellite, Blu-ray, etc) will be HDCP encrypted. About the only HDMI source you'll find without HDCP is an HD camcorder.

You only need a 3d comb filter for composite capture.

[usually_quiet]

So, the AVerTV H727 is mostly just suitable for HDMI? Would it be unreasonable to get a separate card for Analogue recording (as I will be doing both heavily)? Also, does anybody know what analogue formats this card supports as I will be recording PAL (720x576)?


Thanks again

Unfortunately, there is no mention of a comb filter of any sort in the features list or other documents for the AVerTV H727 or the similar model without a tuner sold in N. America. Avermedia may assume that both of its HDMI cards will be used primarily to capture a relatively clean analog signal from a set-top box (digital tv/digital cable/satellite receiver) or a game console. If you want to capture from a noisey source, such as video tapes or analog cable using S-Video or composite, a card with a good 3D comb filter would be useful.

The manual implies that the video resolutions available would be determined by the "Record Format" you choose (DVD, SVCD, VCD, iPod, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.264, etc.). 720x576 is standard for PAL DVDs, so that would be allowed for output. I'd assume its allowed for input too considering the SD connections the dongle provides.

[jenna12]

Thanks heaps for all your replies and advice! Sadly I still cannot decide which card to buy.

I've been trying to find other peoples test results, but I've had no luck... Does anybody here own one?

AVerTV H727 can be used with VirtualDub and uncompressed/lossless codec?
From what I know this card do software compression. Is likely yes. Usually these cards (without hardware encoders) sent uncompressed signal in YUV2 color space.

This sounds like what I'm looking for. I want a card that doesn't perform any compression or lossy encoding. File size is certainly not an issue.


I'll let you guys know once I evntually decide which card to get.

[danno78]

AVerTV H727 can be used with VirtualDub and uncompressed/lossless codec?
From what I know this card do software compression. Is likely yes. Usually these cards (without hardware encoders) sent uncompressed signal in YUV2 color space.

My assumption is related to standard definition and S-Video and composite inputs.

I don`t know if virtualdub works in capture mode with HDMI and HD signals with any HD card! With original software AVerTV H727 compress in mpeg2 HD signals. Only someone who has this card can answer at your questions.