Video Capture Device

[nocam]

It seems I have no more room to install a stand alone Video Capture Card and the maximum video card I can and am about to install on my Gateway 700XL computer is a GeForce 7950 GT AGP which does not include video capture. So, I have been told that I should consider buying a "Dazzle Digital Video Creator DVC-90 Video Capture Device and Movie Maker" devise. I assume I have no need for anything related to the "Movie Maker" for I have VS11Plus and may soon upgrade to the latest Video Studio if my system is compatiable with the latest.

VIDIO CARD TO BE:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0512498889

DAZZLE CAPTURE DEVICE:

http://www.compareink247.com/1-541966-B ... ovie_Maker

Does anyone have any experience with the Dazzle product above or know of something better?

PS:
Something else that may be worth adding is info on the Camcorder whiuch is:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model- ... =DCRHC1000

Thanks for any and all information, thoughts and suggestions!

[Ken Berry]

As far as I am aware, the Dazzle does a good job. But you need to be aware in advance that it is made by Pinnacle and uses proprietary hardware which requires you to use the software which comes with it to capture. In other words, you will not be able to capture from the device using Video Studio. This is not due to a weakness in Video Studio but flows from the fact that Pinnacle refuses to share its proprietary secrets with other companies so that they can adjust their own software to work with the device.

That being said, you can capture with the bundled software, but then open the captured video in Video Studio for editing no problem...

[skier-hughes]

Your camcorder is a minidv model, if you capture analogue video signals via the dazzle you are not going to see the full clarity of your recorded movie.
What you need is a firewire connection to your pc, I would ahve a look inside and see what you have connected in your pci slots. It may well be that there is a card in there that will not be being used, maybe a modem card or something?
Plus firewire cards are so much cheaper than the pinnacle product

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

The link you provided showed the details of your camera.
The section Camera and Camcorder Connections show the I-link AKA Firewire connection details.
(How to connect a digital video camera to a computer using an i.LINK® cable) plays a video tutorial)

When we capture Mini DV via firewire we select DV as the capture format, the video on the camera is literally copied to the pc, there is no re-coding, what you have is what you get Dv-Avi.

[teknisyan]

I would go to the direction of using a firewire to capture the video directly to the computer and your sony camcorder. it's much cheaper.

[nocam]

Thanks to everyone for the information provided which has been very very helpful. I am so glad that I came back and included information about the camera I have for that made a big differance and simplied things significantly.

As it turned out, my compter was already equiped with everything needed to simply use a Firewire. I bought a Firewire, hooked it up, opened VS 11 Plus and could watch the video (with sound) immediately. I have been upgrading VS since V4 but never used it. As well, I purchased the Video camera about 5-6 years ago and have seldom used it either. Now, I am determined and the learning begins.

I have another question, from what can be seen regarding my computer etc. does it look as though my system would suppoet the latest version of Video Studio? What I am interedted in doing for starters is taking the small amount of footage, video/still shots, I have taken with the camcorder noted and creating a sort of movie. I also have another camcorder that I want to dub over to the camcorder noted or bring info directly into VS. It is older still and I have not looked at the connections it may have. In addition, I am interested in taking a good bit of VHS stuff I have accumulated and editing that in a respectable looking way so as to eventually save it all to CD.DVD. I guess the VHS stuff will have to be played through a TV then captured to a camcorder, using some other wiring arangement, then brought into VS using the Firewire.

Once again, thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Maybe providing the second cameras details would be useful????????

VHS to PC
This needs to be converted in some way, a capture card would do this, a device called Ezcap would do this, please note the spelling Ezcap, that will cost you some money…………….

The DCR-HC1000 should do this at no extra cost…………..
Analog to Digital Pass-Through
The DCR-HC1000 includes analog to digital pass-through, which allows you to hook an analog source up to the camcorder and convert it into a digital signal that is available through the FireWire jack on the fly.
(from http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/So ... Review.htm)

How
Connect VHS composite to A/V- In on camcorder. (you will need the correct cable)
Connect Camcorder to PC via Firewire
Remove the tape……
Check your cameras manual, you may have to set the menu to allow DV In-Out

Older camera
If this is an analogue type with no firewire, you may be able to hook up as above?
Connect old camera to A/V-In on newer camera.

[nocam]

Hello Trevor and thanks for responding. The other camera is the following: Sony Handycam CCD-TRV81, Hi8

[Ron P.]

The latter versions of VS, have had problems capturing analog video from either a Digital-8, mini-DV, camcorders. I've fought with VS on this for several years now, and I thought they had it fixed in VS X4. With the latest beta version, prior to the retail release, they did. However for some reason the retail version again reverted back to refusing to accept analog video from the above named sources.

What I've been doing is using a free light-weight utility called WinDV. It is for capturing digital video via firewire. I'm not sure it will work with Win7 though, but works great on my main video editing machine, WinXP. I use it to transfer my digital-8 video, AND for capturing analog from my VCR. My old camcorder is a Sony DCR-TRV120, it is capable of playing digital-8 and Hi-8. I can also connect it to my VCR using the A/V cable, which has a mini-plug on the end that plugs into the camcorder, and composite RCA on the other that plugs into my VCR. The camcorder has pass-through conversion so it converts the analog signal to digital, and then passes it to my computer via the firewire connection. I've also used this method, to capture straight from one of my televisions.

[UncleBoo]

What I've been doing is using a free light-weight utility called WinDV. It is for capturing digital video via firewire. I'm not sure it will work with Win7 though, but works great on my main video editing machine, WinXP.

I'm happy to report that WinDV works fine on Win7.

Cheers,
Uncle Boo

[nocam]

Thanks to everyone for all the information provided for it is has been and will be very helpful.