OT: Free program that lets me choose when to

Samus wrote on 5/26/2005, 6:05 PM
sorry for the cut off!

I need a free program, or relatively cheap one, that lets me choose when to stop recording. For example, I am using Vegas and capturing from my VCR to my DV camera with S Video pass thru, an 8 hour VHS tape. Vegas will keep taping until my hard drive fills up. I need somehow to get a program that will stop after the time I specify, say 6 and a half hours. Anyone know of a program that does this please?

Comments

B_JM wrote on 5/26/2005, 6:09 PM
cant you do do that with advanced capture ? anyway - any PVR program can do that
johnmeyer wrote on 5/26/2005, 6:16 PM
Scenalyzer is great for this.

You can also use a special version of VirtualDub that turns it into a poor-man's Tivo. I don't have the link handy, but I can get it for you if you're interested in going that route. Scenalyzer is the best way to go, however, because it does so many OTHER things well. See my ancient post on this subject here:

Scenalyzer Features
Samus wrote on 5/26/2005, 6:18 PM
Advanced capture only works if I let vegas "Enable DV device control" which I CAN'T do if I am doing S Video pass thru a camera.

Can you name one PVR that does this? Vegas does not and neither does VirtualDub
Samus wrote on 5/26/2005, 6:25 PM
johnmeyer, I appreciate the help but I'd really like a free alternative. All I want to do is be able to tell the thing when to stop capturing. Not worth a purchase, you know what I mean?
filmy wrote on 5/26/2005, 6:37 PM
Actually if you have XP you already have a free capture utility...windows movie maker.

Just open it up. Click on step 1 - "Capture from Video Device" than follow the steps until you get to "Capture method" - click on "CaptureParts of the Tape manually" and click on "next". The next screen is "Capture Video". Now down at the bottom, on the left, you see some options - check off "Capture Time Limit", set your time and start your capture.
Samus wrote on 5/26/2005, 6:41 PM
thank you so much filmy, you are a life saver
johnmeyer wrote on 5/26/2005, 7:38 PM
My second alternative, VirtualDub, is free.
Grazie wrote on 5/26/2005, 10:32 PM


Capture to the DV cammie first.

Then you've got a DV version. No? Not a good idea? - We had this pop up couple weeks back. PLUS doing this you've got a a "backup" DV tape WITH t/c and you could also then use AdvCap .. . you could also do a device controlled start and stop option.

Grazie

Liam_Vegas wrote on 5/26/2005, 10:39 PM
Hmm... am I just being silly here... or isn't there a "maximum capture length" setting in the VidCap Options? I've never used it... but I recall a discussion about how this could be used to limit unattended recordings from VHS just like Samus is wanting?
Grazie wrote on 5/27/2005, 12:38 AM


No, you aren't being silly.

Here the Guy is DEFINAELTY talking about a "an 8 hour VHS tape" . . this suggests that he is WANTING the VHS tape to be started & stopped AS WELL AS the capturing - see my feedback making sense now?

Liam, the reference you are refering too ultimatley turned on that at the very end of the WHAT THAT chap was saying he was wanting to record from a tellie! I wasn't told that and was still trying to adivse someone how he COULD stop the "stream". He then mentioned that the stream would be coming from a tellie and so he didn't NEED to switch of the emitting devise - yeah? And yes, in this instance a "set" capture length is - as you suggest - straight forward enough.

What we need to know from THIS chap - here - is he wanting to start and stop the "8 hour VHS tape" - see?

Grazie

farss wrote on 5/27/2005, 3:01 AM
You don't really need to Stop a VHS deck or any other deck for that matter. Once they hit the end of the tape they'll either just stop or stop and rewind. So all you need to do is setp the max capture length in VidCap, hit Record in Vidcap and hit Play on the deck and forget about it. Oh and pray you've got enough disk space.
Bob.
Samus wrote on 5/27/2005, 3:53 PM
No I didn't want the VHS tape to stop. I understand it cannot do that.

All I wanted was a program to STOP capturing at a certain time after I hit record. In this case, 8 hours. That way I come home and don't have 8,000 Windows warnings that I have no hard drive space left.
filmy wrote on 5/27/2005, 6:21 PM
>>>All I wanted was a program to STOP capturing at a certain time after I hit record.<<<

I got that. :)
Seemed simple enough to me - but than again I am on this side of the pond and I guess at times we yanks are a bit more simple than the aussies. (Tounge firmly in cheek...no, not that one!! For shame!)
Chienworks wrote on 5/27/2005, 6:45 PM
I use the "maximum capture length" almost every time i capture. Often i'll start capturing something just before going to bed, or just before leaving for work, or just before making supper, or just before getting in the shower, or whatever. Since VHS cassettes often play best after being fast forwarded & rewound on the machine you're going to play them on, i often know how long the material is even when it's a tape from a client. I'll set the maximum length for a minute or two past this amount and let it rip.

Even when i'm right there at the computer, i'll often get busy doing something else and lose track of time on the capture. Sometimes the client material is boring enough (errrr, well, yeah, actually sometimes it is) that i just put it out of my mind while it's playing. In these cases the maximum capture length always ends the capture for me while i'm off paying attention to other things.

About the only time i don't use it is when i know the material is only a few minutes long, or if i am only capturing a few small pieces out of a longer video.