Compatible Analog Video Capture Cards? at DVinfo.net

Brian Huether · January 3rd, 2009, 05:54 PM

I am trying to capture the analog video output of my canon HG20 camcorder so I can see the video display on my computer in realtime for monitoring purposes. I am doing my audio recording in Vegas.

I came across some products such as Pinnacle Studio USB and ADSTech Video Xpress but I can't tell if it they present themselves to Vegas as a video capture source. THen again, I suppose I don't want to monitor in Vegas - probably want to do that with whatever software the cards come with but I also can't tell if their software will allow monitoring, versus forcing me to record in order to see the video.

Any recommendations for a cheap card to do this?

thanks,

brian

Edward Troxel · January 3rd, 2009, 09:57 PM

If you must capture analog, get a convertor like the Canopus ADVC series or the something like the ADS Pyro. There's a few others listed here if you do a search. These will convert the analog signal to a DV stream.

However, you should be able to use the files from the camera directly and get the higher resolution it can produce instead of capturing analog.

Garrett Low · January 3rd, 2009, 11:20 PM

Hi Brian,

I've got a Blackmagic Design Decklink HD Extreme 2 which has both digital and analog inputs and outputs. It also has HDMI in and out which you might be able to use to capture with it. It runs fine with Vegas 8.0c.

Wish I were down in the Monterey area playing at Pebble!

Garrett

Brian Huether · January 4th, 2009, 12:17 AM

I just want the cheapest means to capture the analog video so I can see it on the computer in real time. I ultimately transfer the AVCHD files but seeing the lower quality video on the computer screen will help me as I am remotely zooming and panning the camcorder. The key point here is I just want to capture that lower quality analog video output just for real time monitoring.

thanks,

brian

Garrett Low · January 4th, 2009, 01:32 AM

OK Brian, now I got what you're trying to do. Just go get an ATI All-In-Wonder or any other cheap "TV" tuner card with composite in. Fry's and other electronics stores have them go on sale for as cheap as $40 with software that you can view the images with.

Hope that helps.

Richard Hunter · January 4th, 2009, 05:56 AM

I thought a USB capture device would be more flexible for this, as you could use it with a laptop in the field, provided the laptop can provide power thru the USB ports.

Richard

Edward Troxel · January 4th, 2009, 07:52 AM

I'd still go with what I recommended. I've never heard good things about the ATI card or any of the USB solutions.

Garrett Low · January 4th, 2009, 10:21 AM

As another thought for monitoring purposes only, why not use a portable DVD player? The problem with any computer solution other than SDI will be a delay between realtime and what is being shown on the screen. USB by spec carries 5V so there will be power but the question is if the device needs more than that.

ATI card have improved over the years but I'm also still not a big fan. The problem with USB is that it doesn't have the bandwidth to reliably carry video signals.

Brian Huether · January 4th, 2009, 01:26 PM

My brain has been so freid that I totally missed that solution - portable DVD player is indeed a great idea! But for now I am trying to keep it cheap. I would think the analog video out is pretty much real time and I tested it on my HDTV's RCA input and it looked realtime. If there is a cheap USB card that will take the RCA input and display it on the computer (without recording - I don't want the hard drive to be doing any work wrt the monitoring) that would be my best bet for now.

thanks,

brian

Chris Barcellos · January 4th, 2009, 03:12 PM

It will not be real time one you go through the computer. There will be some delay related to reencoding.

January 3rd, 2009, 05:54 PM	#1
Brian Huether Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 94	Compatible Analog Video Capture Cards? I am trying to capture the analog video output of my canon HG20 camcorder so I can see the video display on my computer in realtime for monitoring purposes. I am doing my audio recording in Vegas. I came across some products such as Pinnacle Studio USB and ADSTech Video Xpress but I can't tell if it they present themselves to Vegas as a video capture source. THen again, I suppose I don't want to monitor in Vegas - probably want to do that with whatever software the cards come with but I also can't tell if their software will allow monitoring, versus forcing me to record in order to see the video. Any recommendations for a cheap card to do this? thanks, brian __________________ Brian Huether www.guitar-dreams.com

January 3rd, 2009, 09:57 PM	#2
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	If you must capture analog, get a convertor like the Canopus ADVC series or the something like the ADS Pyro. There's a few others listed here if you do a search. These will convert the analog signal to a DV stream. However, you should be able to use the files from the camera directly and get the higher resolution it can produce instead of capturing analog. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

January 4th, 2009, 12:17 AM	#4
Brian Huether Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 94	I just want the cheapest means to capture the analog video so I can see it on the computer in real time. I ultimately transfer the AVCHD files but seeing the lower quality video on the computer screen will help me as I am remotely zooming and panning the camcorder. The key point here is I just want to capture that lower quality analog video output just for real time monitoring. thanks, brian __________________ Brian Huether www.guitar-dreams.com

January 4th, 2009, 07:52 AM	#7
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	I'd still go with what I recommended. I've never heard good things about the ATI card or any of the USB solutions. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

January 4th, 2009, 01:26 PM	#9
Brian Huether Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 94	My brain has been so freid that I totally missed that solution - portable DVD player is indeed a great idea! But for now I am trying to keep it cheap. I would think the analog video out is pretty much real time and I tested it on my HDTV's RCA input and it looked realtime. If there is a cheap USB card that will take the RCA input and display it on the computer (without recording - I don't want the hard drive to be doing any work wrt the monitoring) that would be my best bet for now. thanks, brian __________________ Brian Huether www.guitar-dreams.com

January 3rd, 2009, 11:20 PM	#3
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	Hi Brian, I've got a Blackmagic Design Decklink HD Extreme 2 which has both digital and analog inputs and outputs. It also has HDMI in and out which you might be able to use to capture with it. It runs fine with Vegas 8.0c. Wish I were down in the Monterey area playing at Pebble! Garrett

January 4th, 2009, 01:32 AM	#5
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	OK Brian, now I got what you're trying to do. Just go get an ATI All-In-Wonder or any other cheap "TV" tuner card with composite in. Fry's and other electronics stores have them go on sale for as cheap as $40 with software that you can view the images with. Hope that helps.

January 4th, 2009, 05:56 AM	#6
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	I thought a USB capture device would be more flexible for this, as you could use it with a laptop in the field, provided the laptop can provide power thru the USB ports. Richard

January 4th, 2009, 10:21 AM	#8
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	As another thought for monitoring purposes only, why not use a portable DVD player? The problem with any computer solution other than SDI will be a delay between realtime and what is being shown on the screen. USB by spec carries 5V so there will be power but the question is if the device needs more than that. ATI card have improved over the years but I'm also still not a big fan. The problem with USB is that it doesn't have the bandwidth to reliably carry video signals.

January 4th, 2009, 03:12 PM	#10
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	It will not be real time one you go through the computer. There will be some delay related to reencoding. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos