Can you capture footage from the same computer?

[HeroOfPellinor]

Sorry for the somewhat confusing title. I'm essentially trying to record games while I play them. I can record to a VCR no problem, but converting to and from analog (especially onto VCR tape) is killing the quality. My miniDV camcorder has a DV in, but no s-video in, so I can't use that. I'm thinking of setting up my second computer to capture what's being played on my main computer by plugging the main computer's video card's s-video out to the s-video in on a capture card on the second computer. I was wondering if I could skip the need for the second computer and just install the capture card in my main and run a cable from the video card to the capture card. Would this work?

 

[Viper GTS]

S-video is analog, so you'll still be losing quality that way...

I dunno if it's possible, but the ideal thing would be to use a DVI output.

If your DV cam (or any recording device) could record that directly you could get the best possible quality.

Viper GTS

 

[Oscar1613]

theres a software program that will do this without a 2nd capture card... dont recall the name, but its in the list of useful programs linked in the first post of the stickied thread in software forum...

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Software recording is inadequate for anything. Even with a top of the line computer, you'll get about 1 frame per second.

Since nobody knows about this stuff, I guess I'll just try it and see once I get my capture card.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Software recording is inadequate for anything. Even with a top of the line computer, you'll get about 1 frame per second.

Since nobody knows about this stuff, I guess I'll just try it and see once I get my capture card.

Actually, you can take quite decent videos with a software recorder - I've done it.

However, I suspect they would be useless for gaming.

Here's one, if you want to try

Viper GTS

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Software recording is inadequate for anything. Even with a top of the line computer, you'll get about 1 frame per second.

That is only if you are recording at the same time you are converting into some compressed format. About 4 years ago I needed a recording for a school project (to put a video on a powerpoint presentation). I downloaded something for free and it recorded in real time (it must be 30+ fps to look real when playing back). It created a monster sized file, but that was easilly converted to avi later. Too bad I deleted that program, since I can't find it anymore (and I've forgotten the name). If my 300 MHz PII could do software recording 4 years ago at 640x480 resolution, then you can do it today at any resolution - just need to get the proper software. Good luck in your search though - I tried a few months ago and couldn't find anything that was free.