TV Capture software

[drfsupercenter]

Jeez, I downloaded VirtualDub VCR, stupid thing can't even recognise my capture card! It just has some Windows screencapture thing. And I got it to work with Ulead but here's the problem: Ulead and Pinnacle both take up a lot of CPU (Ulead usually 100%) even when idle, so that makes capturing look like heck.

AM Capture is decent but does drop frames nonetheless. Should I capture at a lower framerate, like 20fps, which makes it look fine then use Benbryant's method to convert to NTSC? That way I wouldn't be dropping frames.

Any other suggestions? WinDV doesn't work cuz it's not a DV device.

[moonrocks]

Drf, I'm trying to remember from some of your other posts, are you capturing with a USB Dazzle device? If you are then instead of lowering the framerate have you tried capturing at a lower resolution? Instead of capturing at 720x480 try dropping down to 352x480 or even 352x240 if your capture software will let you.

The bandwidth of USB 2.0 just isn't fast enough to transer uncompressed video at full 720x480 resolution without occassionally dropping frames. Also, the Dazzle DVC80/90 devices don't use hardware compression so even mpeg2 captures will have problems with dropped frames.

See if lowering the resolution helps with the dropped frames.

[drfsupercenter]

Yes, I have the DVC-90. I don't wanna use a lower res, a lower framerate would look better on a DVD once converted, right?

[moonrocks]

Well, if it was me I'd be adjusting the video resolution. 352x480 doesn't look as bad as you'd think for a TV capture burnt to DVD. Try it out just to see the difference compared to a 720x480 capture.

I just think you'd end up with better quality adjusting the video resolution rather than lowering the framerate of the capture. But try it both ways, whichever looks best to you is what counts!

[drfsupercenter]

Well, figure if it drops 5 frames per second at average, make it something like 25 fps, and it has no need to drop frames. I never notice a difference between PAL and NTSC files anyway to be honest... and I can easily convert thanks to benbryant!

[ajp]

Just to let you know. I just used pinnacle studio 10 to capture some VHS movies to mpeg2. I did 1 hour 55 minutes and 1 second of captured video. In all of that I dropped 4 frames total.

My specs
AMD 3200+
1gb of RAM
ATI All-In-Wonder card

I captured at 720x480 full DVD quality (the highest setting in pinnacle). I id this one other time and had similar results.

I have found that a good processor will make the best capture you can get, that and an internal card. I have been really happy with the ATI for only $50. If you are using a celeron chip I wouldn't even bother, also P4's arent even the best. AMD is the king.

[paglamon]

@DRF

I downloaded VirtualDub VCR, stupid thing can't even recognise my capture card! It just has some Windows screencapture thing.

Yes,this is a problem.It happens to me also.But even if it does not show ur capture card,it still captures the video.Just enable the preview & see if ur video is coming thru.U can also try Virtualdubmod.It shoul recognise ur capture card.Atleast mine does.I still think it is not advisable 2 capture in mpeg if u want to EDIT ur video.MPEGs degrade easily.