Video capture adapter - Any recommendations?

[bpt8056]

I want one that can convert videotapes to MPEG-2 format. Please share some of your experiences with a video capture adapter you've used. Thanks.

 

[tjdavis1138]

I use the ati tv wonder internal pci card. For the money it's hard to beat. I can record in mpeg2 with win2k using the tv tuner or external inputs.

Driver's are a little hard to get installed and working good, but once you got it going it's nice.

 

[MrCoyote]

I don't know how much you want to spend, but check out Dazzle. Their Digital Video Creator has a PCI w/breakout box that has inputs/outputs. It comes with editing software that encodes MPEG2 and MPEG4. And you can burn to CD-R. CompUSA carries them, it's price is a little high for me, $349. Dazzle has cheaper ones too. I haven't tried one, but am tempted to pick one up to try.

 

[vlieps]

Check:
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/start.asp

under home video they have cheap and good cards. Pinnacle is the leader in this business, never owned one but heard from people they are good.

 

[Ejunior2]

<< I don't know how much you want to spend, but check out Dazzle. Their Digital Video Creator has a PCI w/breakout box that has inputs/outputs. It comes with editing software that encodes MPEG2 and MPEG4. And you can burn to CD-R. CompUSA carries them, it's price is a little high for me, $349. Dazzle has cheaper ones too. I haven't tried one, but am tempted to pick one up to try. >>



I'm looking for a solution to do the same thing. Dazzle actually has two Digital Video Creator models. The DVCI only does MGEG-1 while the DVCII can do MPEG-2. Fry's has the DVCII for $299.00 (same price as compUSA.com) while OD, Staples and OM all have the DVCI for $199. Best price on-line I've found for DVCII is $249.00 ($2.63 shipping) through J&amp;R's.

There is also a few AIW Radeons that supposedly support MPEG-2 at slightly less $$$. $279.99 at Fry's.

Anybody knwo which is better?

I'm still trying to find out which one is better.

 

[rbV5]

<< There is also a few AIW Radeons that supposedly support MPEG-2 at slightly less $$$. $279.99 at Fry's >>



You should be able to beat that price on the AIW Radeon by quite a bit.

With my AIW Radeon and Duron 650, I can capture with no dropped frames:

Mpeg-1 any settings
Mpeg-2 up to 720x480 I frames only all other settings maxed
Mpeg-2 up to 480x480 IPB frames and all settings maxed
Raw AVI up to 720x480 NTSC

IMHO, VHS is very close to VCD (mpeg-1) quality so I get good results capturing Raw AVI at 320x240 and using Nero's internal mpeg-1 compressor and burning a VCD. If you are pressed for HD space, almost as good results capturing mpeg-1 and burning the VCD in Nero(much faster/smaller file sizes)

 

[Einz]

whoa, you got vid capture to work in win2k? please pm me. i'm having troubles