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Video capture on my laptop? Possible?

B

bchalker

Golden Member
I've got a Presario 2700 (1Ghz, 512MB, etc.), and am wanting to transfer my VHS tapes to VCD, as well as wanting to record from the TV in the future. Is there a product like the All-In-Wonder using USB2 or Firewire, or am I going to have to get a desktop for this? I know about the TV Wonder, but it only outputs in MPEG1 format, and is USB rather than USB2.

Any ideas.

Thanks guys
 
Firewire will only help if you're transfering video from a minidv cam. From a VCR, you need a traditional capture card. There are USB video capture/tv cards, like the wintv, but the quality is very poor since they all use first gen usb. So you'll need to use either usb2 or better yet, a pcmcia-based card. I don't know of any that come to mind. Once you get past this hurdle, you need to understand that a lot of disk space is required (set aside at least 40-60 gigs ideally) for video capture, and make sure your laptop drive is fast enough, because laptop hard drives are significantly slower than even 5400 rpm desktops, which can lead to dropped frames = poor quality captures. With all that said, it's a lot easier and cheaper just to have a desktop rig do the video work.
 
You may be able to use one of those breakout boxes like Dazzle offers. You can grab any input source through S-video or composite, if I remember correctly. I think they attach to your computer via firewire, and you can get a firewire card for your laptop. Only drawback is the added cost of the Dazzle.

The have a product selector right on their site to suite your needs.

I have done capture via from firewire Digital8 camera on a 1GHZ laptop and it worked great. Not a single dropped frame.

I concur with the other post-er, that Wintv just is not up to par. I tried doing that on my desktop and I was not happy.
 
Thanks guys.

I've got a 60gig 7200 drive set aside just for transfer of VHS to VCD, so that shouldn't be a problem. I looked at the Dazzle, but have found AWFUL reviews at CNET for users. Not one user recommended the ones I looked at. But it seems perfect. The USB2 Dazzle 150 seems just what I need.
 
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