Scan converters.... at DVinfo.net

Bob Reed · October 5th, 2003, 08:36 PM

Can anyone recommend a good quality scan converter that is reasonably priced? I ordered one (in the $300 price range) a couple months ago and was planning to use it to show a computer screen on the video (it was a training film). I found that the smaller characters on the screen were completely unreadable.

How much do I have to spend to get my hands on a really good quality scan converter??? And are these things available via daily rental?

Boyd Ostroff · October 5th, 2003, 09:21 PM

Another option would be using a graphics card with s-video output. I have one of these (Radeon 8500) and it seems to produce good results. I can also send s-video directly from my PowerBook.

But keep in mind that the screen resolution has a lot to do with this. DV is only 720x480 and (as I understand it) is really limited to about 530 horizontal lines. So if your computer screen is set to 1024x768 then fine text will just never be readable, no matter how good the scan converter. Even at 800x600 I find text to be rather blurred. I think you need to set the computer screen to 640x480 to get decent results with text on video...

October 5th, 2003, 08:36 PM	#1
Bob Reed New Boot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ellicott City, Maryland Posts: 20	Scan converters.... Can anyone recommend a good quality scan converter that is reasonably priced? I ordered one (in the $300 price range) a couple months ago and was planning to use it to show a computer screen on the video (it was a training film). I found that the smaller characters on the screen were completely unreadable. How much do I have to spend to get my hands on a really good quality scan converter??? And are these things available via daily rental?

October 5th, 2003, 09:21 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Another option would be using a graphics card with s-video output. I have one of these (Radeon 8500) and it seems to produce good results. I can also send s-video directly from my PowerBook. But keep in mind that the screen resolution has a lot to do with this. DV is only 720x480 and (as I understand it) is really limited to about 530 horizontal lines. So if your computer screen is set to 1024x768 then fine text will just never be readable, no matter how good the scan converter. Even at 800x600 I find text to be rather blurred. I think you need to set the computer screen to 640x480 to get decent results with text on video...