8 replies to this topic

[phxpal]

I want to use Media Import to import video from a VCR.  From what I've read in the Media Input Help, I need an analog video capture card.  Does anyone have a recommendation on what to get?  I'm running on
Windows XP.

[Yo Headcount]

I have an external Adaptec VideOh USB that works OK for me.

[sknis]

Yo Headcount, on Sep 28 2006, 01:46 PM, said:

I have an external Adaptec VideOh USB that works OK for me.

Many of the USB type analog to digital converters work but a lot depends on your computer and the make of the USB port. The Dazzle DVC 90 came with the V 8 deluxe version so that should work as should the other Dazzle devices. Roxio did not post a compatible device list for V8 but the is one for V9 on the V9 support page. I like the internal cards better than the USB devices. Several people claim that the USB devices give a slightly soft picture where the internal cards do not. That is an opinion and not a scientific survey. I have a Pinnacle A/D internal card and once in awhile I run into a audio sync issue. So I capture as AVI format and in shorter 10-15 minute segments. Most internal cards already come with a capture program so you will be able to capture with any one of the. Once you capture, you can always do the editing in EMC.

Edited by sknis, 28 September 2006 - 11:30 AM.

[phxpal]

sknis, on Sep 28 2006, 12:30 PM, said:

Many of the USB type analog to digital converters work but a lot depends on your computer and the make of the USB port. The Dazzle DVC 90 came with the V 8 deluxe version so that should work as should the other Dazzle devices. Roxio did not post a compatible device list for V8 but the is one for V9 on the V9 support page. I like the internal cards better than the USB devices. Several people claim that the USB devices give a slightly soft picture where the internal cards do not. That is an opinion and not a scientific survey. I have a Pinnacle A/D internal card and once in awhile I run into a audio sync issue. So I capture as AVI format and in shorter 10-15 minute segments. Most internal cards already come with a capture program so you will be able to capture with any one of the. Once you capture, you can always do the editing in EMC.

I was checking some other postings and my computer may already have video capture ability, but I'm not sure.  I have an HP Compaq Presario.  AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3500+ 984 MHz with 448 MB of RAM.
In Device Manager under Sound, video and game controllers it lists
Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Devices
Media Control Devices
Realtek AC'97 Audio
Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
Video Codecs
Does this mean I may have the ability to Capture directly from my VCR?  What kind of connections should I Make?  Would I use Windows Movie Maker to Import?
I appreciate any advice you can give me.  I'm a newbee.

[sknis]

phxpal, on Sep 28 2006, 02:53 PM, said:

I was checking some other postings and my computer may already have video capture ability, but I'm not sure. I have an HP Compaq Presario. AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3500+ 984 MHz with 448 MB of RAM.
In Device Manager under Sound, video and game controllers it lists
Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Devices
Media Control Devices
Realtek AC'97 Audio
Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
Video Codecs
Does this mean I may have the ability to Capture directly from my VCR? What kind of connections should I Make? Would I use Windows Movie Maker to Import?
I appreciate any advice you can give me. I'm a newbee.

I don't see anything there that would indicate that you have an A/D converter.  Is you computer a Windows Media Center Edition computer?  If so, them you may have a A/D  converter as part of your video card.  Looks like you do not have an sound card; just chips.  Look under display adapters to see if you have a video card.  Just because you have a card, it doesn't mean that it will do the A/D conversion.  ATI cards with AIW are video cards that do.

[phxpal]

sknis, on Sep 28 2006, 01:08 PM, said:

I don't see anything there that would indicate that you have an A/D converter.  Is you computer a Windows Media Center Edition computer?  If so, them you may have a A/D  converter as part of your video card.  Looks like you do not have an sound card; just chips.  Look under display adapters to see if you have a video card.  Just because you have a card, it doesn't mean that it will do the A/D conversion.  ATI cards with AIW are video cards that do.

I don't have the Media Center Edition.
Under display adapters it says ATI Radeon XPress 200 Series.  I'm not sure what you mean about a sound card.  I know I have line in to a sound card because I've used it to convert audio tapes.

[sknis]

phxpal, on Sep 28 2006, 06:15 PM, said:

I don't have the Media Center Edition.
Under display adapters it says ATI Radeon XPress 200 Series. I'm not sure what you mean about a sound card. I know I have line in to a sound card because I've used it to convert audio tapes.

It seems like you do not have a video card.  The video and the sound devices are small dedicated computer chips (chip sets) on your mother board. The on board chips serve the same functions as cards but as you probably can guess they are limited in their ability. You may have a problem running the V8 if the drivers are not up to date. Update the video drivers from HP or directly from ATI. Follow the instructions exactly.  I may be wrong but you can go to the computer manufacturer's web site and ask them. or just check for your model number.  Look at what you bought and it should list a video card and /or a sound card.

You do not have a analog to digital capture card so you need to buy something.

Do you really have only 512 RAM?

Edited by sknis, 28 September 2006 - 05:38 PM.

[phxpal]

Yes, I only have 512 MB RAM.  I suppose if I want to do any editing I'll have to add more.  The specs of my computer say I can go to 4GB by replacing the installed 2x256.  Do you think I'd be able to do a straight copy from VHS to DVD using a video capture card without adding more memory?

[sknis]

phxpal, on Sep 29 2006, 10:51 AM, said:

Yes, I only have 512 MB RAM. I suppose if I want to do any editing I'll have to add more. The specs of my computer say I can go to 4GB by replacing the installed 2x256. Do you think I'd be able to do a straight copy from VHS to DVD using a video capture card without adding more memory?

Copy, I thought that we had gone all over that before?   

Since I don't have your computer, there is no way I can tell you exactly how "Plug and Burn"  will work. My guess is that you will have some dropped frames. Just make sure nothing else is being run on your computer at the same time and that you have it set to best performance.  Plug and Burn is the function that allows you to take a VHS through a A/D capture device directly to a DVD.  Since you will not be doing any encoding, remember the one hour time limit.   Most people do trial and error so that is my suggestion.  Again what are you going to use as a analog to digital capture device?