Video Capture Cards

[MIKEC]

Hi Guys

Recently I was approached by a museum and asked to convert some of their archive material to digital media.
This will entail transfering VHS to a PC and saving copies to DVD.
Can anyone suggest a good quality (fast) video capture card.

Thanks

Mike

[Paul LS]

You need a good analogue to DV converter to get best quality and ease of use in PE4.

Such a unit is the ADStech Pyro Link:
http://www.adstech.com/products/API-558 ... PI-558-EFS

Or the Canopus range of DV converters (ADVC-55/110/300):
http://www.canopus.com/products/videoconversion.php

The Canopus ADVC-110 is similar to the Pyro... the ADVC-300 is a better unit as it has time base correction, but it is more expensive. If you are archiving then I would go with the Canopus ADVC-300 for starters. If it is old material you may need an external full frame time base corrector to elimiate dropped frames.

[Chuck Engels]

I would also suggest a good quality VCR, not one of those DVD/VCR Combo units because they are generally poor quality.
I suggest a good JVC VCR and preferably something with TBC if possible. What you need is based on the quality of the tapes and may require some testing.

[Ken Jarstad]

http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/capture/playback.htm
http://forum.videohelp.com/restoration-f43.html

[Chuck Engels]

I also have written an article about my search for some way to capture my VHS tapes, the specs may have changed a little but the article still applies
http://videoinasnap.chuckengels.com/sou ... _10-05.htm

[MIKEC]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the response and the sound ( sorry video) advice.
It appears there is going to be much to learn in a short time.
We live mainly in small communities in Cornwall so I may need help from the larger outside world of village earth on this one.
Thanks again

Mike

[Chuck Engels]

We have lots of members in your part of the world Mike, some of them use the Pyro some use Canopus converters, some have both.
I am sure they will chime in shortly

And actually, Paul was the first one to post a response, there are others in the UK with converters as well.
I think Paul has a bunch of stuff for converting analog to digital, a couple converters and a TBC if I am not mistaken (maybe even some other stuff).

[Paul LS]

Yep Chuck, I have the Pyro and the Canopus converters and a TBC. Infact I am just around the corner and along the coast from Mike... Cornwall is a lovely part of the country, one of my favourite vacation places.