Video Capture Card..... Worth it?

[Mello]

i have a few question about the video capture card.

how much does a pso photographer cost?
whats the best place (offline) to buy a VCC?
whats the lowest price?
how many photographers are there?
how does a vcc work?
can you really see tv on your VCC?

[Ruby-chan]

Yanno I've been looking into it, I came to a few conclusions when looking around. First, there's tons and tons of junk in the VCC world. Second: Each one varries greatly and there's a billion manufactures. Upon searching I was lucky enough to find a page full of reviews from product buyers and it looks like this card is pretty good:

http://www.winnov.com/products/capture/videum1000plus.htm


But it's sadly a bit pricey. I really didn't take to long to really shop around for the cards, though, as I really couldn't find a good list of current prices.

[Mello]

Thanx http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif im looking for a person that also is a PSO photographer ( has a VCC.) i might be getting a VCC for my b-day (Feb 2) but im also getting zelda: the wind waker so its a 50/50 chance



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mello on 2002-12-26 16:09 ]</font>

[Drayma]

http://www.pso-dynasty.8m.net/ warning pop-ups

Talk to that person for sure, Slym is the best pso photographer.

Don't judge PSO or capture cards by my signature, mine is just NTSC composite (video in) and is built into my motherboard.

Yes its worth it, people like to have their picture taken and if you have a website they can download it or you can just mail it to them.

[Cheech]

Hmm. I bought one, but make sure your computer can handle it, and it's a well known, good brand. (in other words, do NOT get a Pinnacle one, like I did)

I hate mine. I can't switch between windows, or I get a horrible delay (I press on the control stick, and 3 seconds later my character moves) which is fixable by a couple mouse clicks, yet annoying. Sure, it's nice to take photographs and the like.

But in reality, even if I do have a flat screened monitor and an S-video connection, I rather use my TV that has Component, even if I can't take nifty snapshots.

Here are some screenies I've taken.
http://www.boomspeed.com/ducayne/loverappy.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/cheechy/kaelei.jpg

I haven't bothered to take any videos.

[Alielle]

I got a cheap card (It's made by Kworld if I'm not mistaken... cost me around $40), but it works very well. In some cases, it's the software's fault if the screencaps suck. I ditched the crappy software that came with my card and downloaded DScaler, which is great freeware that really improves the output. Then I use Photoshop to convert the .tiff images to JPEG, and deinterlace/crop if I need to. Click on my avatar to see the results. It's not the best I've seen, but it's not bad, either.

[Sedyne]

Dryma im sorry but slym has some pretty week pics if u ask me. I personally suggest if u going to go all out get an ATI all In Wonder capture card. it's fantastic videocard as well. Aside from that...perhaps just get a cheap 40 capture card from bestbuy. there are great external ones.

[CajunSamurai]

Can someone recommend one or two good stand alone PCI capture cards? I'm pretty interested in getting one now, but it'd have to be stand alone rather than an AGP video card/capture card combo such as the AAW cards, since I've already bought 2 video cards in the past 6 months and really don't wanna get another one (which would have to be the 9700 AAW, ouch).
I've been searching for a good hour now at various sites, and it's givin' me a headache. >_< Everywhere I go I find all kinds of DV editting crap, but very few if any capture cards.
Basically what I'm looking for is: A PCI capture card with composite and s-video inputs, preferably one that captures audio as well but that's not crucial.
Oh yeah, the cheaper the better. http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_hamster.gif



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: CajunSamurai on 2002-12-28 03:56 ]</font>

[JOHNO_01]

Im after a cheap capture card myself?
Anyone know where i can get one for about £50?
lol (pm me)

[Mello]

on boxing day i went to future shop and their cheapest ones were 100$ (i live in canada) they only had the most costly one left. i looked at the box and it came with these features
-lets you take pics in games (duh)
-lets you make movies and edit them
-lets you watch T.V. and take pic of shows .
-it wasc 240$ (Can)

[Alielle]

This is what I have (good shop, too): http://shop.store.yahoo.com/computersupply/kworpcitvtun.html

Like I said, the software is kind of junky (get Dscaler), but the card works okay. It doesn't capture audio except through cable, as far as I know. I've got it set up with a GC s-video cable with the audio input going to my stinky old stereo.

[dude3282]

Taking video while playing is rather easy, and you probably have all the equipment. Just use a VCR and record on the channel you are playting PSO on. Who needs a $250 VCC . . .

[Tenko]

I use ATI's All in Wonder Pro - excellent video card with built in video capture. I personally think that video capture cards aren't worth it unless it's built into a good video card. Namely, ATI's cards. Really useful thing to have though if you want to get screencaps from games. And yes, you can watch TV through them - I've currently got my Gamecube, Dreamcast, and PS2 hooked up to mine so I can basically play on my computer.

Edit: Grr, Abit is the company that made my motherboard, not my video card. Oops.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Tenko on 2002-12-31 17:35 ]</font>

[Ruby-chan]

The problem with the ATI All in Wonder cards is that a lot of people don't want to get all that stuff. Anyone who really uses their PC for any gaming is going to get a Radeon if they get anything from ATI. Now if anyone knows where there's a video card that'll take input RGB, VGA, or DVI input, please tell me, ok?

[oxxjuniorxxo]

On 2002-12-31 19:12, Ruby-chan wrote:
The problem with the ATI All in Wonder cards is that a lot of people don't want to get all that stuff. Anyone who really uses their PC for any gaming is going to get a Radeon if they get anything from ATI. Now if anyone knows where there's a video card that'll take input RGB, VGA, or DVI input, please tell me, ok?



Very Excelent point. Now I for one have a Geforce 2 MX400 and tweaked it to max performance. Now I bet with the stuff that I put on that bad boy will have better everything than that ATI. What my point here is, today I went over to best buy and saw one of the $40 WinTV kinda thinks with VCC on it. Now that is in fact what I plan on buying. I know that everyone says that buying something like that will lower the image quality. I know this as well. BALKHFSGH (Still will NOT Cuss). If you have a good card and know a bit about tweaking and setting it up right thenyou will know how to make the cheap VCCs work with any card with GREAT quality.

Im on a ROLL(No cussing)

[DJ_Monkey]

On 2002-12-31 19:12, Ruby-chan wrote:
The problem with the ATI All in Wonder cards is that a lot of people don't want to get all that stuff. Anyone who really uses their PC for any gaming is going to get a Radeon if they get anything from ATI. Now if anyone knows where there's a video card that'll take input RGB, VGA, or DVI input, please tell me, ok?

The newest All-in-Wonder is a Radeon 9700 Pro with the TV tuner stuff added(it's 450 smackers, though). It has a breakout box(a plugin box with a bunch of inputs) that has VGA, DVI, and other inputs as well(don't know about RGB though). Oh yeah, and it uses pixel shaders to improve input signals(it actually works, too)

[oxxjuniorxxo]

On 2002-12-31 19:20, DJ_Monkey wrote:


On 2002-12-31 19:12, Ruby-chan wrote:
The problem with the ATI All in Wonder cards is that a lot of people don't want to get all that stuff. Anyone who really uses their PC for any gaming is going to get a Radeon if they get anything from ATI. Now if anyone knows where there's a video card that'll take input RGB, VGA, or DVI input, please tell me, ok?

The newest All-in-Wonder is a Radeon 9700 Pro with the TV tuner stuff added(it's 450 smackers, though). It has a breakout box(a plugin box with a bunch of inputs) that has VGA, DVI, and other inputs as well(don't know about RGB though). Oh yeah, and it uses pixel shaders to improve input signals(it actually works, too)



Sorry to go off topic but WoW EXCELLENT TIMING http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif.

Back on topic well who would want to waist that much money on a card just to take screenshots. No offence but only either an idiot would, or a rich snob(NO OFFENCE TO ANYONE) but for all of the Normal people such as me, I find that the cheaper ones do the trick just as well.

We dont need ur fancy shmanzy gigimabobers to do what we want. (LoL HaPppy New Years)!!

[rbf2000]

AVERTV STUDIO PVR TV TUNER FM RADIO REMOTE CONTROL (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10316071&loc=101) - $69.18. If you don't want the radio and remote control, you can get one for cheaper (around $40).



http://www.pso-world.com/images/items/talis04.jpg

^^^^Pic taken with my card.

[oxxjuniorxxo]

On 2002-12-31 19:29, rbf2000 wrote:
AVERTV STUDIO PVR TV TUNER FM RADIO REMOTE CONTROL (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10316071&loc=101) - $69.18. If you don't want the radio and remote control, you can get one for cheaper (around $40).



http://www.pso-world.com/images/items/talis04.jpg

http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/anime1.gif^^Pic taken with my card.



EXCELLENT POINT, THANK YOU!!! You just proved my point. Now then as you see you don't need some rip you off $400 video card all in one bS just to take good snapshots. Dude I think im gonna look for one of those when I can. Peace, Happy new year by the way.

[oxxjuniorxxo]

rbf the link didnt work but I found it anyways and figured Id post what you meant to http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10316071&loc=101&queryType=comp

Ill prolly order on the 2nd http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif thanks again

[oxxjuniorxxo]

sorry but another post...

http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=488&cat=521&scat=522&e=11008484

I have that one in my other computer and will put it in this computer tonight, take a snapshot, and show you guys how it looks.

Hope I am helping at least a bit...that is what I am TRYING To be here for...

[oxxjuniorxxo]

Ok well I took a shot with my OLD 5 year old Hauppage Win/TV Tuner and well as you can see by the outcome, it isnt that bad...
http://www.webradium.com/JunioRspso/uploads/Test.jpg

This is to prove that even the crappyest of the Video Capture Cards can get an OK quality Picture...But tomarrow Im still out to buy my good ol $49 ATI All in wonder....The old one...I like it.

It is really choppy but its 5 years old give it SOME credit!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

[Ruby-chan]

Intresting. Well I think the quality of the more expensive cards comes in when capturing video (Which getting it and the sound and everything to sync up well is a fairly big point.) So you're probably right as far as just taking snap shots. That win TV looks pretty promising. SVideo input is a must IMHO.

As for the All in Wonder. Very nice and intresting. It is one of the top rated capture cards from what I've read (Seriously, I did research.) but it's not an option for me as I have a Geforce 4 4600 and can't really get into the market for another capture card.


Now if anyone knows of JUST a capture card that takes the connections I mentioned I'd be VERY appreciative.

[Ruby-chan]

Well since I never got any more info on this, I'd like to note that I picked up the AverTV Studio card, but sadly it's software isn't so good for capturing still images, but I found this really good software calld dscaler that does an excellent job.

[Mello]

Do you know where i can get dscaler?
because i need a good program for taking still images

[Rika-454]

ive been thinking of getting one of these cards but i had a question in mind.

can these cards only connect to a tv that has s-video built in it ? or can it connect to any tv ? im wondering because i dont have a s-video connection on my tv and if you dont need it then i will buy one of these cards soon when i get some money.

[Jack]

Are there any capture cards with an RGB SCART connector? I ask because I hate using composite, and PAL Gamecubes can't output S-Video.