video capture again

weaver wrote on 1/2/2004, 1:16 PM

I am looking for help in getting an inexpensive analog interface. The DV firewire interface works fine. When this topic is raised, most people in the forum refer to their analog capture interface that they purchased as part of a larger total solution (that includes alot of software that I don't want to pay for.)

Since I just purchased a laptop, I am looking for a USB 2.0 device that allows for meaningful analog capture - and is not slaved to a unique software package. I see devices on EBAY for about $55. It is not clear if they will work with MS.

I already have an analog capture interface - but it appears to have proprietary drivers to only work with the software it came with. The software is hopelessly buggy. MS won't recognize the interface.

Why is this so difficult? Has anyone bought a reasonably priced analog capture USB 2.0 interface that works with MS? Under $60, under $100? Under $150?

Thanks

Comments

mmreed wrote on 1/2/2004, 1:52 PM

there are some usb capture devices that will do analog "ok". The problem with a USB based is that the quality will suffer, or you will see dropped frames which can cause even worse issues.

You want to use a PCI card based capture solution, or use an external unit that converts analog to digital and run it into your firewire card.

Check out www.canopus.com. For around $200-300 you can get one of the ADVC products that will do this.

If budget wont allow it, I have used the Belkin USB Video Bus to capture analog. It works ok, but I has out of synch issues due to dropped frames often when capturing video of any length.

weaver wrote on 1/2/2004, 6:46 PM

thanks