easycap

[Black Lab]

I use EasyCap with VideoStudio 11 when I am capturing from an analogue source and I select mpeg2 as the capture format.

[patflan]

Hi Trevor,

I actually was only referring to settings I use for EzCap with VideoStudio 11 (plus) as this is my current VideoStudio.
However I also happen to have already purchased X2 (VS12) a while back but had not yet installed it as I have several projects in partial completion with VS11.
So to get to the chase, after reading your remarks about Corel removing user defined settings in X2, I decided to install it last night and test it with my EzCap.
I was able to switch between capturing VS11 and X2 and compare, as a few differences showed up.

The first thing is that with X2 and EzCap, the mpeg2 capture option again showed up in the drop down menu together with mpeg1 and VCD as in VS11.
But -this time the AVI option did not show ! In fact when I plugged in the EzCap USB the capture format defaulted to Mpeg2 with mpeg1 and VCD in the drop down.
So,as I only now realize,the capture options are not available until VStudio sees what device is plugged in.
The difference is that with VS11 it shows AVI as the default option with the others available in the drop down when the EzCap device is connected.
As before you then can select the cog wheel options and further define the MPEG2 format or customize the settings under advanced.
It captured the video perfectly as in VS11 but I noticed there was no dropped frame icon in X2 which I found usefull in VS11 as you can be sure that during a long duration capture everything is still ok.
Now however,a problem did show, - the sound would not capture even though it was fine on preview -I tried the only two audio setings that were available and noticed also that Dolby digital was no longer available as in VS11.But maybe this is just a patch I need to download for X2.

So from all of the above and the different versions of EasyCap / EzCap floating around there seems to be different outcomes also depending on pre or post VS11.
Also the EzCap I purchased from http://www.ezcap.tv/index.html included its own software for capturing anyway (ArcSoft).This should always work with the supplied device and the resultant mpeg files can be imported to any version of VS.The supplier web page also states that EzCap works with Win 7.

But for me ,when I migrate fully to X2, I will continue to use VS11 with EzCap for whenever I need to capture analogue and then do all the editing on X2.(Pity there is not a universal capture program out there for MPEG2 similar to WINDV for dv capture.)
It is also a pity if capture software is going to start to move away from facilitating analogue capture as people will be for a long time still be digging out old vhs and other analogue video tapes and asking us "experts" to convert them to DVD or indeed bluray -and the older these tapes are the likely they are to be even more precious.
Direct copying or converting will always be possible but where any editing is involved -even adding titles and dates -then these editing programs are essential.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi patflan

Thanks again for the info.

As you have found VS does recognise the type of hardware attached to the pc then gives you options for capture.
I believe that X3 has taken it further in that it gives even less user defined options.
My DV type cam corder was able to capture to Mpeg2 using the DVD option, it still can but I have to use one of the set templates, no longer can I stipulate a bitrate.

Anyhow thanks again for the ezcap info, especially confirming the DVD capture options.
Shame there’s so many fake products about.

Ive ordered one, its in the post.

[Trevor Andrew]

Pity there is not a universal capture program out there for MPEG2 similar to WINDV for dv capture.)
.

I agree but the problem there is that Mpeg capture has to re-code the incoming video stream, whereas DV capture literally transfers the data, no re-coding.

[mitchell65]

Hi Trevor
Sorry but my weird sense of humour saw this:
Quote:
Shame there’s so many fake products about.
Ive ordered one, its in the post.

I hope you ordered a legit one
Best regards as ever
John

[skier-hughes]

Pity there is not a universal capture program out there for MPEG2 similar to WINDV for dv capture.)
.

I agree but the problem there is that Mpeg capture has to re-code the incoming video stream, whereas DV capture literally transfers the data, no re-coding.

Only if the incoming data stream is dv, whereas an analogue source would not be.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Yes Graham that’s true, hence the word DV.

You cannot select DV as the capture format if the source is analogue.
If you did VS would revert to AVI where you would have to set the capture properties and compression type.

When you do select DV you cannot change the capture properties, only the option for Type 1 or 2