Idiot with new toy! (video capture questions)

[perlmonger]

I recently purchased a digital video camera. Everything is great except I don't have any way of editing video or storing on another medium.
I want to be able to transfer the video to my computer and edit it and then burn the video to cd or maybe dvd when I get rich.
What do I need? I really can't afford a $400 video card like the radeon 8500dv (assuming it will ever ship). I will be buying a new video card soon
anyway so what should I get to provide decent gaming, good 2d and video capture (digital)? TV output would also be a plus. In short I want it all
at a reasonable price. Can I just get a good video card and a video capture card? I've heard talk of breakout boxes and such but I don't really understand their function. Please steer me in the right direction and hopefully save me from buying something I can't use.
Thanks in advance y'all.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Does yer camera have firewire? If so just get a firewire card and buy some cheap editing software. Check out these sitesDoom9.net, VirtualDub,VCDhelp.org.


Lethal

EDIT: fixed link

 

[perlmonger]

Thanks, but could you recommend some particular software or a particular card. BTW this card will take up my last pci slot, damn, I will have to stop buying toys for a while. And yes it does have firewire port.

 

[rbV5]

Check the DV Wonder, PCI firewire card and editing software for $49, looks pretty good.

 

[perlmonger]

Thanks rb V5,
This is similar to others I have looked at. Now how about the video card aspect?

 

[LethalWolfe]

Since your camera has Firewire any firewire card will do (just make sure it's OHCI compliant, which they almost all are). Check outVideoStudio from Ulead. People also use Vegas Video (sry, I don't have a link). If you do a search for "video editing" you'll get a good amount of threads 'bout this topic.


Lethal

 

[rbV5]

I mentioned the DVWonder because it includes video editing software, but LethalWolfe is right. As far as a video card, Retail 8500 Radeons are a great buy at $160, an AIW 7500 is around the same price, and retail 7500's are around $100. All have great 2D, great gaming and excellent TV-out. The 7500 and 8500 are also dual head cards for dual monitor support, and the AIW 7500 has an excellent feature set, coupled with the DVWonder, you would have a DX7 version of the 8500dv for around $200.

Basically any firewire card mated to any recent gaming card with tv-out will do what want, I can comment the Radeon cards will do it well.

 

[perlmonger]

You guys are the shiznit!
Thanks so much for the help. I will now have to do some homework to learn all about video editing.
Thanks again. AT'ers are the best.

edit: Hey I just noticed, I'm not a junior member any more! w00t! ( I always wanted to say "w00t")

 

[alyosha]

Just about any Firewire card ( I got mine of the ebay for less than 30$ shipped) include Ulead Video Studio for capture.

 

[Boogak]

If you want to preserve that last PCI slot and already have a PCI soundcard, you can pick up a Soundblaster Audigy that has a built-in Firewire port to replace your existing soundcard.