Page 1 of Video Capture.

What`s the easiest way to connect my VCR to my PC for capturing video with the intent of editing/burning to disc? I have seen a review for a USB device made by Pinnacle which sounds far too easy! One drawback apparently is that frames of the final outcome have been reduced by a quarter.Wouldn`t this make picture quality worse than the original video? Has anybody tried this method?

I`ve tried video capture with the Hauppauge DEC2000t, which is a Freeview box with a USB capture device built in. Plugged into a USB2.0 port, the results far exceed videotape, but you can only record in full MPEG2 from transmission sources. I`ve also tried a budget AverMedia capture card (the EZMaker £50 from Maplin) and that produces very good results from videotape in MPEG2 and passable results in MPEG1. You`ll find it difficult to produce really good results transferring VCR to hard disc.

J Mark Oates

Hi guys

You have to be careful with video capture from analogue sources.
I looked around for ages and found that most of the capture devices would only capture 320x240 (or similar) for analogue sources.

Personally - the best method I`ve found was to use my Sony video camera (DCR-PC120) to record the video from the VCR, then import as digital.

I know it`s an expensive choice (about £900 for the camera)...but it gave very good results for me! :o)

Miles

Dazzle Hollywood Bridge (Firewire), or the Pinnacle PCTV Deluxe (USB. 2.0) Both work, although only the Pinnacle has a TV in socket, so it`s useful for recording live signals as well as recorded ones.

Picture quality is generally very good.