I'm cheap and need help with Video capture

[Buz2b]

Ok, I hope I got someone?s attention with this. Basics, I am putting together a system that is long overdue. I started buying parts over 6 months ago so now some are, shall we say getting a bit old?!? At any rate, the wife is cool so far with the expenditures. Now, I have decided that I need to do some video capture (from a "standard" analog camcorder). She, of course, is not so sure we need to do this. The problem; I've already bought a video card that does not have this capability (long ago, of course).
The question: Now what can I look to for a fairly budget minded (and try to keep the marriage intact) video card? I know the ATI All In Wonder's are the usual answer and that's cool. But what model, MB, etc should I look to. Oh, the basics on the system I am building:
AMD XP2100+ CPU (yes, the good O/C code one)
ASUS A7V333 MB (later version)
512 MB Crucial PC2700 DDR
40 GB WD 7200 RPM HDD
20 GB WD 5400 RPM HDD
Basic Sound Blaster PCI sound card
Video card = now in "limbo"
etc, etc, etc. the rest doesn't really matter.

Opinions are like.......well, you know. But that is what I want; opinions. I can try to resell the video card I bought (it's a GF4 MX440 64 MB DDR w/s-video out, brand new and in box...yeah, I know; budget). Can you help a brudda out?

 

[AnitaPeterson]

why not keep your computer and buy ADS USB Instant DVD? It's an external box which might last longer than any video card... someone else was asking the same thing a few days ago and I made the same suggestion - the idea is that you encode directly to MPEG1 (VCD) or MPEG2 (DVD) in real time, and then you can burn the stuff on your machine at leisure. No hassle, no drivers, no worries about dropping frames.

 

[rbV5]

Just get a standalone tuner card like this LEADTEK or ASUS and keep your current card.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Or check out the cards here:

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/capturecards

and see if there's any particular feature you'd like best!

 

[Buz2b]

To all:
Sorry it took me so long to answer, problems with Charter Cable's "planned upgrade" process (which will yield nothing). Ok, I will take a look at and consider the options you have presented. Thank you for that, I greatly appreciate it. Any other ideas?? I can assure you that I will look into them all! Gotta love AT!!
First reaction is a question. Adding a PCI "tuner card" will not adversly effect my normal "AGP" video card? Second,

 

[tw1164]

lol, charter...I think they have the worst service.

1) As long as you have the slots for a PCI addon you're cool.
2) ????

 

[TourGuide]

I bought a Canopus ADVC-100 and I am really happy with it. I use it along with Ulead Video Studio 7 to capture and edit. I use Ulead Moviemaker 2 to author to DVD. This combination has been a winner for me all the way. Check it out on DVDRhelp.com, the link that AnitaPeterson provided. You will see that the Canopus is the pretty clear choice unless you want to spend 3X the money or more.

 

[Buz2b]

lol, charter...I think they have the worst service.
1) As long as you have the slots for a PCI addon you're cool.
2) ????

Yeah, charter is the pits but the best I could do when I moved here. Later there will be a change.
1) No problems with having a PCI slot open. Will look into this idea.
2) Yeah, hit the enter key by accident and then good old Charter took a siesta on me and I couldn't get back to continue. :frown:
Second question was about the Dazzle USB video capture devices. However, upon further review, I found a good deal of negative remarks about this and think I'd better stay away from it. Even the USB 2.0 devices are having big problems. Hmmm, any firewire ideas?

TourGuide,
Uhh, thank you for the idea but that is almost a $300 item. I'd have to sleep in the garage for a month if I did that! LOL! My budget (and more importantly my wife) would not allow that option. However, I truely thank you for the suggestion. Possibly another time...........!

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Second question was about the Dazzle USB video capture devices. However, upon further review, I found a good deal of negative remarks about this and think I'd better stay away from it.

Run, run far away from the Dazzle USB capture devices. The best they can capture at is 320x240. Pretty crappy if you ask me. I bought one(the Dazzle Fusion) at Sams Club and promptly returned it. Good price but it sucked royaly. The Dazzle Firewire unit on the other hand has the ability to capture at 720x480 DVD quality. Of course, you will need a firewire card and the price is a bit steeper @ $250-ish.

 

[TourGuide]

I'd have to sleep in the garage for a month if I did that!

LOL! MAN do I EVER understand that dynamic! Good luck to you!

Another thing crossed my mind (yes that does happen on occasion) that you might investigate some of the older VIVO vid cards. I think the GF4 Ti cards offer that (some do anyhow) and I am pretty sure the ATI cards might offer this. It is an option that nobody has suggested yet, but it might work. Worth checking into anyhow.

Again, good luck!

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: TourGuide

I'd have to sleep in the garage for a month if I did that!

LOL! MAN do I EVER understand that dynamic! Good luck to you!

Another thing crossed my mind (yes that does happen on occasion) that you might investigate some of the older VIVO vid cards. I think the GF4 Ti cards offer that (some do anyhow) and I am pretty sure the ATI cards might offer this. It is an option that nobody has suggested yet, but it might work. Worth checking into anyhow.

Again, good luck!

Glad you can understand my situation. LOL! Currently I am looking into both the PCI tuner card option and the "older VIVO card option. Similar but differing options.

 

[DarkKnight]

Get the leadtek card, its great and not too expensive

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: DarkKnight
Get the leadtek card, its great and not too expensive

Thanks for the reply DarkKnight; I am considering it.

 

[Peter]

USB video grabbers are Not Good. Datarate is too low for quality capture - they're good enough to watch TV on a notebook, but not for digitizing video tapes into bearable quality.
Get a PCI TV card or even a tunerless grab-only card. $50 and below should do the trick, and this doesn't bind you to a certain graphics card forever.

 

[EvilScooby]

This is just the same info I was looking for.
I have a question to add.

Can the Leadtek card be use to act like a tivo on my pc to record shows and things like that?

 

[Buz2b]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I am going to go for the Leadtek pci card. Sounds like the simplest solution. I also so this offering from MSI. It is also offerred at Newegg for $49. Any opinions on it?