Which capture device to use with VS 10 or 11

[VinnyC]

Hi. I tried to use the trial version of VS 11plus with a Honestech Vidbox NW03 video capture device. I wanted to use VS11plus because I was unhappy with the video quality of Honestech VHS to DVD software. The VS wouldn't allow me to use the Vidbox even after uninstalling the Honestech software. I also tried using VS after uninstalling the Vidbox software. The only device that ever worked with VS for me was a Easy cap. Is Easycap the only device that works with VS or did I do something wrong? I have Vista Home Basic, 2.16GHZ, 3GB Ram and 250GB Hard drive on my laptop.

Thanks,

Vinny

[Ken Berry]

Unfortunately, the hardware manufacturers of these capture devices rarely share any secrets with software manufacturers like Corel. So it is rare that Video Studio will actually work with them. This is why we normally recommend that you use the software which came with the device, since it has been tweaked to work with the device.

In your case, does the Honestech allow you to simply capture video in DVD-compatible mpeg-2 format, or is it locked to produce an actual DVD? If you can capture, using high bitrate (e.g. 8000 kbps) settings, then you should use that software, then simply open the capture files for editing in VS 11.

While one version of the EasyCap device came with VS 10 SE and it could capture, that was because the EasyCap manufacturers tweaked their licensed version of the VS software to work with the device. Since then, a fake version of the EasyCap has appeared -- see the sticky post on the subject at the top of this forum. But the *real* EasyCap no longer comes with VS 10 SE, but uses an Arcsoft package instead.

[VinnyC]

Hi Ken. There was no way to set a bitrate like in VS. The only setting you could change was the resolution: 720x480 for 2.5GHz or higher, 352x480 under 2.5GHz. At the higher resolution there were dropped frames and choppy video. There was a edit mode but not as detailed as VS. VS had more options and better video quality. I'm sending the Honestech bundle back. I may go back to VS 10plus if I can find one or even a trial version. If anyone knows where I can find one it would be greatly appeciated.

[Ken Berry]

Not sure what you mean by your references to GHz (gigahertz)... Did you mean gigabyte?

[VinnyC]

The Honestech software had an option for resolution based on the processer: 720x480 for 2.5 GHz and above, 352x480 for under 2.5GHz (I've never heard of this either). I have 2.16GHz so I has to use the lower resolution because at the higher resolution I had choppy video. The lower resolution offered video quality that was worse than my VHS tape. If I opted for a newer version of VS which video capture device would work with it?

[skier-hughes]

if you want quality, go for one of the canopus grass valley advc products, they start with the 55, which has basic input/outputs and work upwards. Not cheap, but fantastic quality, you can use any version of VS, you need to be able to connect into your computer with a firewire cable.
Capture as a dv.avi file, 13gb per hour of space needed.
You cna find them on ebay in the uk, so no doubt also in the US.

[jparnold]

Do you have a digital video camera?
Many of them (my Panasonic GS4500 does) come with an AV cable to enable the camera to be connected to a VHS player using 3 cables (video + l and R audio) and also with S-Video. The camera will then convert the analogue signal to digital which can be output to VideoStudio.

[VinnyC]

John,I do not own a digital video camera. I use RCA cables (white, red and yellow) whenever I convert (or try to). I've been able to convert many projects and was hoping to get the same quality as VS.

Graham-I will check into your suggestion. I want something of good quality. Those Easycap don't work for long.

Thanks for all your help Gents!