Is there a decent usb 1.1 capture device for XP-Pro?

[buzzrock]

I just want to capture some NHL games and record them to VCD..

Problem is I dont have any open PCI slots..

Is there a device that would be good for this?

Also, if anyone has any info on the damn Elecard WinDivx codecs and how to get rid of em, I still need to know (referring to my posts dated 10/24)..

[crahak]

IMHO Nope. USB just don't have the bandwidth required for good captures. Has anyone ever liked or posted anything good about dazzle or the like?

[tonyp12]

Problem is I dont have any open PCI slots..

Get a new sound card with built-in firewire port.

Get a new Video card with video capture features,


Free up a PCI slot, get an external modem.

[buzzrock]

Tony,

I have cable modem,- no modem installed..

The best way I could free up a slot is to get rid of my "hillbilly" network

I got 2 lan cards (one for my modem) the other is going to my 2nd computer with just a crossover cable, it cost me 30 bucks for my network, lol..

I just want VHS quality for some tv captures

[tonyp12]

I myself would never get a motherboard with less than 5 PCI slots.

Get an external Cable/DSL router and this way both computers
can be on the net without depending that the "master PC" is turned on.


http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=273755

I have a Belkin for sale, brand new.
email me if interested.

[buzzrock]

I know how to free-up my slots, and thanks for the offer for the router..
But until I get my new system I was just wondering if a usb device would be okay

[Jester700]

It's not USB 1.1 per se that's the problem. 6Mb is plenty for a good capture in VCD MPEG1 or SVCD MPEG2, and not bad for DVD. The problem is, the best chips aren't available in USB units because those solutions are seen as lower end consumer devices.

I have 2 such units - the ADS Instant DVD and the Hauppauge WinTVPVR USB. Both have issues, but picture quality at DVD bitrates isn't one of them. And the Hauppauge does well at VCD, too.

[tonyp12]

I do not think you will be happy with the result from a USB1.1 device.

Buy it from a store with a good return policy


http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=289794

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11044712&m=488&cat=521&scat=1751


Recommend to wait and get something good for the new system.
Like pass-through on a DV-camcorder using firewire.

[Jester700]

Well, they CAN work, and some people have no problems. Now that I've spent hours dorking around with both units, I'm moderately pleased with both of them. BUT - that's because I'm using it on my laptop and can't afford the disk space (and may not have the speed) for firewire capture, and can't fit a PCI card (obviously). On a desktop, I would NOT use USB - I agree - go for a PCI card.

[subclubkid]

I have a Ads Usb IDVD, and I dont see why people knock it.

So far it has transfered alot of old vhs just fine.

[tonyp12]

USB 1.1 Devices do not have the option of capturing in
uncomressed AVI (or the lossless Huffy)

If you have a RAW capture on your HD there is nothing
that stops you from taking as long time you want to
have the highest motions search during the encoding.

A USB device that transfer video that is encoded on the
fly at 1x speed would need have a very expensive realtime
hardware mpeg encoding chip to get a great result but they
seem to be using a economy chip as the product need to be "cheap".

[Thorn]

Maybe just get a cheap hub and a pci capture card. You'd spend about $100 (unless you needed a stereo capture card, then add $50) and I think that would be cheaper than an external USB capture device. Or can you put the second ethernet card in the second computer?

Jester's right, all USB devices have bad reputations for quality because they are low-end devices. You'll get far better quality from the internal card.