Need help setting up the puter to capture

[Donna Stefani]

Ok, I've been around here for a bit, & think I've got a slight handle on making the vcds, but now I'd like to be able to transfer some of my vhs tapes to the puter to make vcds from them. I've been reading thru the capture help guide, but what I haven't so far been able to grasp is whether I have what I need to do that or if I have to get additional hardware to do so, so I'm hoping someone here can assist me. I'll give a basic rundown of what I have & hopefully that'll help.
amd athlon 2100 ddr 1 ghz processor, winme, integrated ata hard drive controller with enhanced 3dnow, usb, ieee 1394, i/o interfaces.
785 mb ram
40 gig hard drive, but I'm probably going to add an additional one here soon.
graphics card - 32mb sdr creative 3D blaster geforce2 mx with tv-out
audio card - creative labs sounds 1373 with 128 voices

Do I have everything I need to do it? If so, how do I hook up the vcr to the puter? If I don't have what I need, what do I need & how do I get set up to do what I'd like to?
I'd appreciate any & all assistance on this. Thanks. Donna

[mrtristan]

You'll need a capture card, too. Since you already have a video card, you probably want to purchase a PCI based capture card.

From there, physically install the card, then install the drivers as instructed by the manual or website. You might want to go online and check the manufacturer's website to download any updated drivers.

Depending on the card that you buy, you will either connect your VCR with RCA cables (the red, yellow, and white ones), coaxial cable, or s-video cable. You're probably going to use either the RCA cables or coaxial cable, though.

The final step is to capture and convert to VCD format, which you can do by following the guides that you're already been perusing.

Best of luck to you.

There are also hardware reviews to the left. In addition to checking those out, you should also search this forum, regarding the capture card you are looking at and your motherboard/soundcard/OS compatability issues.

[Donna Stefani]

Thanks so much for the quick reply!!
Ok, looked over at the capture cards info, & since you suggested pci, looked under the ones that actually said capture card, & since I am familiar with creative, thought that would be my best bet.
Now, both of my vcrs are kind of old & don't have s-video, & I'm looking at the pic on the creative site, which incidently has a special right now of only 49.99 with a 50.00 rebate, & I'm unfamiliar with some of the terms.
On the back of my vcr, there are 2 sets of plugs marked audio/video, 1 white & 1 yellow, one set marked in & the other out. Plus, there are the 2 plugs that the video cable goes in & out of. Looking at the small pic of the hardware, I see 4 holes, but can't really make out what they are. You mention rca cables, red, white & yellow, so I'm guessing that's what they are? But, I don't have a red one. Is that a problem? Now, the coaxial you mention, that's the one that brings the cable tv in, right? Can I then just hook it up to the computer with one of those cables? Am I understanding that correctly? I'm so excited about this, thanks for the help. Donna

p.s.
Looking at the hardware specifications on the creative site, this is what it says there:
Also works as a video capture board. Accepts input from camcorders, VCRs, and other video devices with S-Video or composite output.
What is composite output? And, do I have that? If not, is there something I can do with the vcr to get what I need?

[Don2050]

Donna,

Composite = RCA(Red,Yellow, & White) which if you get that card you will have and can use that to hook up to your VCR for capture. The coaxial is not preferable as it gives an inferior picture to composite(RCA's) which in turn gives an inferior picuture to S-Video which in turn gives an inferior picture to Component cables.... So the order of quality goes;

1. Component
2. S-Video
3. Composite(RCA)
4. Coaxial

So basically when you buy your capture card you will hook up the RCA's(which the colors dont mean anything special, so long as you make sure the cable ends match up...meaning you must plug the same red or yellow or white end to the same corresponding red or yellow or white other end) from the VCR out --> Caputure card In.

http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/pdfs/dvprimer.pdf

http://www.aluminumstudios.com/digitalvideo/basic/codec.html

http://electronics.cnet.com/electronics/0-6342366-8-7008129-1.html

These links are incase you get bored Plus the capture card you get should come with instructions on how to get started.

Your computer specs look pretty good for capture, I think you are right in wanting to add another hard drive....VHS/TV capture goes through massive amounts of space. I have (2) 60GB drives and need more. The format & resolution you capture in will determine whether your computer can handle it or not. And your choice of format will depend on your subjective view of quality.

Goodluck

[Donna Stefani]

Thanks again so much for all the great tips!!
Another question.
When I look at the the items listed elsewhere on the site under the capture cards, some are listed as video card, tuner card, capture card, etc. Are they all basically the same or are they something different, & will they all do what I'm looking to do?
Thanks, Donna

[mrtristan]

In most cases, a video card just helps to process video data and sends it to your monitor.

Capture or tuner cards capture a video signal that you feed into them.

Some video cards have the ability to capture video integrated onto the board. One example is the ATI All In Wonder. It's a video/graphics card, as well as a video capture card. This fits into what's called the AGP (Advanced Graphics Port or somethng) slot, on your motherboard.

Since you already have a graphics card, the most economical choice would be a capture only card, that uses a PCI slot.

[The village idiot]

First thing I would suggest is an upgrade to win2000 or XP.

Next thing would be to get a Canopus ADVC-50 for you capture device. It should save you from some of the many headaches that they other captures cards will provide. Also easier to edit with DV, than with Mpeg. If you have more money, I would suggest Datavideo DAC-100 or Canopus ADVC-100. If you can get a deal on any other capture card that results in the card being cheap or free, well then I might try it. Depends on what card though.

Skittleson posted a review of the ADVC-50 a short time ago, you might want to read that. Here is the link: http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=141147