Video capturing help

[Guest]

I am getting ready to start converting my Hi-8 video tapes to DVD. I see a
lot of analog video capture cards bundled with lots of software but I'm
confused about the capture formats. One card from ADS says it captures in
MPEG-2 and DivX format. Others say Mpeg-1,2,and 3. I want the best video
quality from capture to dvd burn. I plan on using Movie Maker 2 to do the
editing. I plan to buy an external DVD burner later to help differ costs. Any
help or suggestions?

 

[Guest]

Jeff,

Do you plan on taking any more video (ie moving up to the digital world)? If
so, Try the Sony TRV-260 or 460. I have the 460, its Dig8 and its backward
compatible with Hi8. I've imported my old Hi8 tapes via Firewire as DV-AVI to
maintain the quality (which wasn't great to start) it was taken at. You can
get one for about $350. Otherwise I'm no help on the capture devices. Good
luck.

Steve

 

[Rob Pugh]

I concur although I dont use the sony or tape compatability. I use my DV cam
as an analogue to digital converter. You play the video in the hi-8 cam (or
any analgue source) and use the RCA plugs to the DV camera and firewire from
the DV camera to the PC.

I have a tv capure card (640x480) and though the results are very good, they
were not as good as the pass through mode (mind you I am in a PAL country
720x576).

Most DV Cameras have the ability to convert from analogue to digital in some
sort of 'pass through mode'. Even my cheapy canon mv700 does this.

I have used this method with a very old video camera, a Hi-8 and my VCR -
using normal tapes and a minitape converter. As you would expect (since it
is just the RCA signal anyway) they all worked very well. I am just
finishing conversion for my 5th customer (Friends) .

I use WINDV (Freeware) to capture from the DV cam.....only because it breaks
everything into 5 minute slots (about 1 GB files) that is easier to work
with. If you are going to sit and watch during the capture process them MM2
is just as good.

My advice is if you have a dv camera - check its capabilities first. If you
are going to buy one put your money into that rather than the capture card.


Cheers,
Rob

 

[Wojo]

I agree with them both but to answer the question if you buy a capture card
don't get one that only captures to Mpeg (Especially Mpeg2) because you will
just need to waste more time and possibly video quality converting it to AVI
anyway since Movie Maker doesn't work well with Mpeg files and not at all
with Mpeg2.