640x480 Vs 720x576 for Hi8 capture, and some other questions...

[Heyho]

Fair comment... I've lost a bit of time, and learned a bit more Linux in the process so it's not all bad.

I'm aware the Geniatech device is Chinese, but it is sold under a brand and is less of a crapshoot than the Easycaps as far as I can tell, where there are at least 6 different versions all externally identical. As I've said, I already use Geniatech tuners in my server, and they work perfectly. If it turns out to be crap, I'll hold my hands up!

[DB83]

Before you build, since you do have access to a Win10 system I would install the driver (not rely on the Win10 one) just to ensure that the s-video issue is not hardware related.


Sure that s-video is preferred but I have managed perfectly well with composite for over 20 years and a miscellany of capture devices.

[Heyho]

That's a good shout, and will confirm it quickly.

I've found one hit on the Ubuntu forums where someone else was having exactly the same issue. I guess that particular chipset+Linux+s-video is a fairly rare combination.

[DB83]

As far as the codec is concerned, yes, it's pretty old, but it preserves every frame AFAIK, and although I understand it's not lossless it will be easier for cutting and editing. Besides, I don't think I have much choice.

if you can not add anything to the discussion rather than copy/paste from an earlier reply then save us all the time and effort in reading/replying.

[oln]

I'm aware the Geniatech device is Chinese, but it is sold under a brand and is less of a crapshoot than the Easycaps as far as I can tell

I think most USB grabbers will be chinese in some way. The geniatech stuff with conexant chips what's inside many of the modern composite/s-video/2xaudio usb2.0 dongles from elgato, diamond, hauppage etc, the generic naming seems to be OTG102 and/or conexant polaris . Geniatech may be a OEM company or similar that make produce them for other companies or somethig, idk. Those chips give decent video quality on stable sources, but don't handle raw video from unstable sources like VHS or nonstandard video signals particularly well so despite the marketing they're not ideal e.g grabbing directly from a VCR.

The really cheap crap, like the easycap clone thingies often use a chip named usbtv007 which has awful image quality.

[lordsmurf]

Lots of those chips are outright reverse engineered, and flawed as a result.

Conexant was never known for quality chips for video capture.

These lousy cards being sold under a "brand" name means nothing. Roxio is a well-known brand name, but changes $50-100 for POS Easycap card. Lots of companies will whore out their name for $$$, reputation be damned.

[Baldrick]

As far as the codec is concerned, yes, it's pretty old, but it preserves every frame AFAIK, and although I understand it's not lossless it will be easier for cutting and editing. Besides, I don't think I have much choice.

if you can not add anything to the discussion rather than copy/paste from an earlier reply then save us all the time and effort in reading/replying.

Probably a spammer that soon will post some links. Banned and deleted.

[lollo]

Conexant was never known for quality chips for video capture.

Am I wrong or I read something different here? https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/360704-2013-my-video-capture-device-comparison-screenshots

[Heyho]

Well, I have it running on Windows 7 with the supplied drivers, capturing 720x576 25fps using the huffyuv codec from the s-video input and virtualdub.

Quality looks pretty good to me, certainly wouldn't say it sucks. Just need a little more time to get on with it.

[DB83]

Well, I have it running on Windows 7 with the supplied drivers, capturing 720x576 25fps using the huffyuv codec from the s-video input and virtualdub.

Quality looks pretty good to me, certainly wouldn't say it sucks. Just need a little more time to get on with it.

Good to read that.

[lollo]

I only found the attached descriptions (not really a datasheet), and it seems a "good" product.

Maybe lordsmurf experienced differently or some problems can be in drivers or in the drivers version.

[dellsam34]

Well, I have it running on Windows 7 with the supplied drivers, capturing 720x576 25fps using the huffyuv codec from the s-video input and virtualdub.

Quality looks pretty good to me, certainly wouldn't say it sucks. Just need a little more time to get on with it.

Glad you got working, As I always say Win7 has the largest driver database of all versions, Right after that they dumped a $hit load of drivers in the later generations to make room for Cortana .

[DB83]

^^ Why the animosity ?


The OP simply built a system from spare parts for a specific purpose.

[dellsam34]

^^ Why the animosity ?


The OP simply built a system from spare parts for a specific purpose.

I edited my post, I figured I was responding to the wrong thread, But I don't see the animosity though besides me hating Microsoft. Anyway, the thread has a happy ending and accomplished its purpose.

[lordsmurf]

I only found the attached descriptions (not really a datasheet), and it seems a "good" product..

That document tells you nothing about performance. All specs seem "good" in some way, but the performance is what matters.

Theory vs. practice.

[lollo]

That document tells you nothing about performance. All specs seem "good" in some way, but the performance is what matters.

Of course. It's just a "necessary but not sufficient condition", but at least is there.

Theory vs. practice.

Do you have some test result based on your long experience? I did not wish to post a collection of many links, but all the practice I found do not confirm your opinion.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-capture/7682-usb-capture-devices.html

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/378152-Elgato-Video-Capture-vs-Hauppauge-610-USB-L...Raw-Comparison

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/360704-2013-my-video-capture-device-comparison-screenshots

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/400939-What-is-a-good-USB-Capture-Device-to-use-wi...ub#post2612427

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-capture/10185-minimizing-loss-capture.html

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/391017-VHS-conversion-to-digital#post2535024

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-capture/7268-vcr-capturing-pal.html#post43352

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/391017-VHS-conversion-to-digital#post2535024

...

Many more if you include Diamond Multimedia VC500 USB

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/376837-DV-conversion-vs-lossless-capture-comparison-(Hi8)-[WARNING-auto-load!]#post2432041

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-workflows/9583-best-ati-capture.html

...

Opinions I trust (generally I also trust yours )

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-capture/7268-vcr-capturing-pal.html#post43352

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/391017-VHS-conversion-to-digital#post2535024

[lordsmurf]

Capture cards are not just about "looking good".
- accuracy matters, not altering for "better contrast" or whatever
- how well it reacts to most signal quality

There is no perfect capture card, I can list flaws with each of them. In fact, the reason I have multiple cards is for different needs as commanded by the projects or tapes. But some cards are always crap, and some are usually good or best.

And test patterns are very misleading. As equally misleading as spec sheets. Interesting to see, but limited use in actual usage scenarios.

Yes, that's a lot of links.

[lollo]

accuracy matters, not altering for "better contrast" or whatever

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/400939-What-is-a-good-USB-Capture-Device-to-use-wi...ub#post2612427

There is no perfect capture card, I can list flaws with each of them. In fact, the reason I have multiple cards is for different needs as commanded by the projects or tapes.

I agree.

But some cards are always crap

CX23102 is not crap in my experience/research

test patterns are very misleading

I find test patterns examples very boring (like the many links I posted ), but it's the same concept as per specs: "necessary but not sufficient condition"; imho if a card cannot properly capture a test signal, it will have problems with real video as well.

[DB83]

There are so many topics that ask 'what is best ?' and quite often the replies suggest tools that are near impossible to find these days or rely on OS that has long gone out of favour. This morning I did a quick search on fleabay and someone was asking for £249, yes you read right, for a ATI Tv Wonder 600 with no info as to what OS it would work with.


Of course those with the funds can invest in multiple cards, internal and external. Multiple PCs with legacy OS's etc etc. Lesser mortals must get what is 'best' at present and if that does not work then try another.


When I started video capture I had a Matrox card and a AGP slot (but even that would probably have been the second Matrox). But the mb died and I could not find another AGP mb. So then I tried a ATI pci and not being happy with that (could not capture beyond 640*480 PAL kinda like the theme of this topic) I tried a Hauppauge pci WinTV and that worked fine until XP 'died' (no driver support thereafter). The card is still in my dual boot (win7 +XP) system so with the right cables I guess it would still work.


I then moved to a ADVC 300 (awaiting ls's cough ) but that is fine for PAL and then supplemented that with a USB-Live2 which also works fine for me.


So we all answer based on our own experiences and in the knowledge that the capture device is but a small part in the chain.