Best Video Capture Device for PC?

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HairyScot

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Master Geek
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#34936 1-Jun-2009 13:15

Hi,

I am looking for a video capture device (preferably USB) that will handle capture and encoding with minimal load on the PC.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

LennonNZ

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#220364 1-Jun-2009 13:18

What is the source of your video? And what OS will you be running?
What do you want to encode it into?

HairyScot

182 posts

Master Geek
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#220416 1-Jun-2009 14:57

LennonNZ: What is the source of your video? And what OS will you be running?

What do you want to encode it into?

Source could be TV signal, or replay from MySky PVR, or replay from VCR or DVD player etc etc via SVIDEO or RCA cable.

Preferred encoding would be AVI (DIVX etc).

OS is Windows XP (perhaps Vista at some future date).

LennonNZ

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#220425 1-Jun-2009 15:32

Look at any of the hauppauge Cards (PCI, PCI-E).. or Hauppuauge USB devices.. depending if you want Analog TV, DVB-T TV, DVB-S TV. Most of them have Composite or SVGA inputs as well.

You can also look on TM or lots of unbranded USB capture cards as well.
Thanks

HairyScot

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Master Geek
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#220598 1-Jun-2009 21:24

Thanks Craig.

Springtv

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Wannabe Geek

#220616 1-Jun-2009 21:54

I'ver had nothing but problems from hauppauage stuff. Their online support is horrible and sometimes the advice is just bizzarre. The problem is their bundled capturing software is often buggy or mismatched with the hardware in the box, you'll wonder if anyone at hauppuage bothered testing it or even looking in the package they were shipping.

I've heard good things about Pinnacle's Dazzle http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=375035 and they have the name and support to back things up, but you'll pay $50 more than generic hauppuage or leadtek brands.

But if you do go for the cheaper option look out for the supported encoding -- some sold in NZ don't support PAL believe it or not; and some only encode to MPEG2.

LennonNZ

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#220625 1-Jun-2009 22:15

Do you mean it doesn't work with DVB-T in NZ)? as it doesn't include a H264 decoder? Do you know any DVB-T USB devices which come with H264 decoder Licences?

Generic Hauppauge or Leadtek? Umm.. What do you mean? it doesn't make sense...

Some only encode to MPEG2? all of them can (via software).. but do you mean in hardware? you know of something else that will encode a video singnal to something else like H264?? in hardware??)

PAL is a transmission system.. not an encoding system. What devices sold don't support PAL?