Video capture device recommendation

[delaluz]

I'm looking for a video capture device so that I can load my vhs, SVHS, & Hi-8 tapes to my computer. I have a fireware input on my PC so I can load in my DV tapes without a new device.
PC specs: Windows 7 PC with 4 gig of ram & dual 3gh processors. USB 2 (no USB 3 ports). I run Videostudio pro x5 Platinum.

I'm looking for something simple that doesn't need to be integrated into Videostudio. In other words I could easily load the video in one step outside of Videostudio and then edit & publish it with Videostudio.
I would like to capture the video in the highest res possible in a format that Videostudio can deal with efficiently.
My editied videos would probably wind up on DVDs, or on my computer, or possibly on the web.

I like the idea of a usb device because it would be easier to connect to than connecting to a pci card.
I read the reviews for the Elgato Video Capture Device 10020840 on Amazon & it looks pretty good. Here's the vendors web site: http://www.elgato.com/video/video-capture. This is supposed to record the video in H.264.

Anyone have experience with the Elgato device?

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Berto

[lata]

Hi

I have not used the Elgato device so cannot comment, but have a Ezcap device that works quite well, (only Mpeg2)

Your Camcorder transfers video to DV-Avi via firewire.
Does the camera support Passthrough aka Throughput.

The analogue signal A/V is connected to the cameras A/V-In socket, the output as normal to Firewire.
Basically the camera is used as an Analogue Digital converter.

Most cameras require the tape to be removed whilst using Passthrough.

[BrianCee]

you might like to do a search of these forums for "Elgato" - it seems some users are having problems with the video output from that device.

My own personal favourite for capturing from VHS tapes is this one :-
http://www.honestech.com/main/vhs-to-dvd-50-deluxe.asp

it comes with it's own software which allows you to capture outside VideoStudio as mpeg which then can be faultlessly imported to VideoStudio - edited - and burned to DVD.

[delaluz]

My camera, a Sony TRV9 does not support transcoding analog video to DV-avi. I would have to record the analog to a DV tape in the TRV9 & then play the tape on the TRV9 & use the firewire to "load" it to the computer. I had a TRV900 which would transcode an analog av signal without therecording it to tape. Around 10 tears ago I searched the web for a firmware hack to the TRV9 that would allow it to transcode without recording. As far as I can tell there isn't a firmware hack for this.

Several years ago I bought a Data Video DAC-100 which would convert analog av signal to a dv signal. I used this via Vegas Video 4.0 to "digitize" analog material on an XP widows system. I tried getting the DAC-100 to work on my Windows 7 machine, but so far no luck. I'll have to dig out my old xp system & see if the DAC-100 still works on it.

Thanks for your reply.

Hi

I have not used the Elgato device so cannot comment, but have a Ezcap device that works quite well, (only Mpeg2)

Your Camcorder transfers video to DV-Avi via firewire.
Does the camera support Passthrough aka Throughput.

The analogue signal A/V is connected to the cameras A/V-In socket, the output as normal to Firewire.
Basically the camera is used as an Analogue Digital converter.

Most cameras require the tape to be removed whilst using Passthrough.

[lata]

Hi

I did a quick google of the two devices mentioned and I would opt for the Honestech suggested by Brian, mainly for the output options it provides.
Video Output : MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VCD, SVCD, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, WMV

[delaluz]

Thanks!

I'm also looking at the hauppauge 1212. I'll do a little more research and then see if I have more questions.

Thanks!

Hi

I did a quick google of the two devices mentioned and I would opt for the Honestech suggested by Brian, mainly for the output options it provides.
Video Output : MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VCD, SVCD, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, WMV

[skier-hughes]

Check out the canopus advc range, certainly not the cheapest but certainly the best.
I've used their products for years, excellent.
You would connect this unit to your pc via firewire, it would record as dv.avi and you can use VS with it.
You can sometimes pick them up off ebay, people sell them once they've digitised all their stuff.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Computer-Comp ... kw=canopus

[kfenaughty]

I'd like to second the recommendation of the Canopus products. I tried two other cheap capture devices that failed to create MPG files to any reasonable level of quality. I paid a bit more and have used the ADVC55 model http://www.grassvalley.com/products/advc55 as it does everything I needed: that is, transfer the output of Hi8 and VHS tapes (via S-video from my camcorder or video player) to DV-AVI files. I am very happy with the results.

Kevin