Most recent edit on 2005-01-18 18:25:22 by RichardBerg
Additions:
Reference information (thanks to Anachrotron for the links):
Edited on 2004-12-10 09:55:05 by RichardBerg
Additions:
If your primary interest is in editing video -- say, home movies -- then you probably want a commercial product in the vein of Sony Vegas∞ (my favorite) or Adobe Premiere∞ or Final Cut∞ (Mac only). They are typically not as strong at actually capturing analog, hence work best with a DvBridge, but should do fine so long as you read the next FAQ on codecs. If you're on a budget, each company above also distributes "basic" or "home" versions of their programs for under $100; other options are Ulead∞, Pinnacle∞, or Avid∞ (DV only). Windows XP users can try Microsoft's free Movie Maker as well by grabbing the latest version from Windows Update∞.
My pick for the best deal on authoring software -- DVD-Lab∞ ($99) -- should fill the needs of just about anyone who is not a full-time professional but wants more than Nero offers
Deletions:
If your primary interest is in editing video -- say, home movies -- then you probably want a commercial product in the vein of Sony Vegas∞ (my favorite) or Adobe Premiere∞ or Final Cut∞ (Mac only). They are typically not as strong at actually capturing analog, hence work best with a DVBridge, but should do fine so long as you read the next FAQ on codecs. If you're on a budget, some more basic programs are available from Ulead∞, Pinnacle∞, or Avid∞ (DV only). Windows XP users can try Microsoft's free Movie Maker as well by grabbing the latest version from Windows Update∞.
My pick for the best deal on authoring software - DVD-Lab∞ ($99) - should fill the needs of just about anyone who is not a full-time professional but wants more than Nero offers
Edited on 2004-11-17 15:59:22 by RichardBerg
Additions:
The TV/video capture cards sold by Intrex∞ are both based on a longtime industry-standard chipset from Brooktree (now owned by Conexant∞). The BT878 chip can capture any analog NTSC source to your PCI-based machine, sampling it as 8-bit digital video at a variety of resolutions up to 720x480 4:2:2 (YUY2). Don't worry about the details until you read some of the guides below. Suffice to say it's capable of very high quality; most of the TV shows, VHS & Laserdisc rips, etc. you see floating around the Net were captured on hardware that cost $30 four years ago. I'm compiling a VidCapSamples page to showcase what raw, unprocessed signals from around the world look like when fed into various cards; eventually I'll have time to write moderately comprehensive reviews and comparisons, so check the current discussion thread∞ every now & then.
Deletions:
The TV/video capture cards sold by Intrex∞ are both based on a longtime industry-standard chipset from Brooktree (now owned by Conexant∞). The BT878 chip can capture any analog NTSC source to your PCI-based machine, sampling it as 8-bit digital video at a variety of resolutions up to 720x480 4:2:2 (YUY2). Don't worry about the details until you read some of the guides below. Suffice to say it's capable of very high quality; most of the TV shows, VHS & Laserdisc rips, etc. you see floating around the Net were captured on hardware that cost $30 four years ago. VidCapSamples!
Edited on 2004-11-17 15:49:46 by RichardBerg
Additions:
The ATI and Avermedia cards∞ both take composite video (e.g. from a VCR, camcorder, cable box, etc.) and can tune channels directly from analog cable or OTA (over-the-air antenna) TV. For another $30 the Avermedia adds support for S-Video (Hi8 cameras and some cable boxes; VCRs will probably not benefit), FM radio tuning, stereo sound on the video tuner, and a small remote control. In each case you must run a mini 1/8" cable from your source (i.e. the BT's line-out if using the coax tuner) directly to your soundcard's input, or use an internal patch cable. Choose the Dazzle lineup at your own peril.
If your primary interest is in editing video -- say, home movies -- then you probably want a commercial product in the vein of Sony Vegas∞ (my favorite) or Adobe Premiere∞ or Final Cut∞ (Mac only). They are typically not as strong at actually capturing analog, hence work best with a DVBridge, but should do fine so long as you read the next FAQ on codecs. If you're on a budget, some more basic programs are available from Ulead∞, Pinnacle∞, or Avid∞ (DV only). Windows XP users can try Microsoft's free Movie Maker as well by grabbing the latest version from Windows Update∞.
How much disk space we talking about?
Lots. Cards like these with no onboard compression will be sending around 20MB of data to your CPU every second! If you write the full 720x480 resolution straight to disk, you're going to eat around 60GB per hour. The solution is to use a codec (compressor/decompressor) to shrink sizes to something more manageable while providing a standard way for your software to interface with video data.
Lossy
- MJPEG (motion jpeg) and its variants are what most people use since they can get standard-res video down to 10:1 (6GB/hr) or better without quality hits visible to the naked eye nor compromising your ability to make edits. (MPEG flavors have tighter compression, of course, but since they don't store the full information for each individual frame, editing becomes a painful and lossy process.) There is a decent MJPEG codec included in ffdshow∞; many commercial vendors also sell MJPEG codecs, such as Pegasus∞, Morgan∞, and LEAD∞. Microsoft themselves have a couple of similar codecs (decompress/read-only) designed for DV. Anytime you see DV mentioned, the technology is equivalent to MJPEG for all practical purposes, just with its own file format and standardized settings (consumer DV is 5:1 with 4:1:0 chroma subsampling; DV50 uses 4:2:2). Thus, professonal capture-hardware companies like Canopus∞ and Matrox∞ write or license DV codecs to package with their products, as do digital camera & camcorder companies from Canon∞ to Sony∞; luckily, most of these devices can write files readable by the free codecs and vice versa.
Lossless (i.e., you get the exact same video back when you uncompress, just like a Zip file -- even if you can't see the quality improvement vs. lossy, your final/distribution MPEG encoder's compressibility tests probably can!):
- HuffYUV∞ is time-tested and fast (30fps on a Celeron 450). Expect compression rates between 3:1 and 1.8:1, or 20-30GB/hr depending on how much of the color gamut is used.
- ffdshow∞ has a lossless compressor that's capable of slightly smaller files but takes more CPU.
- Several proprietary codecs exist: I think Pegasus has one based on lossless JPEG, recent versions of Sorenson Squeeze supposedly have something lossless, Apple has codecs designed for animation...
Deletions:
The ATI and Avermedia cards∞ both take composite video (e.g. from a VCR, camcorder, cable box, etc.) and can tune channels directly from analog cable or OTA (over-the-air antenna) TV. For another $30 the Avermedia adds support for S-Video (Hi8 cameras and some cable boxes; VCRs will probably not benefit), FM radio tuning, and a small remote control. In each case you must run a mini 1/8" cable from your source (i.e. the BT's line-out if using the coax tuner) directly to your soundcard's input, or use an internal patch cable. Choose the Dazzle lineup at your own peril.
Edited on 2004-11-12 17:20:09 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
This is the home of my CollectedWritings, after all...in theory. And so, here lies the temporary home of random vidcap-related info I deem worth saving:
ComproUltraReview
Pvr150Review
PreventClipping
to be continued if there's interest...for now a quick list of links:
- Doom9: DVD encoding∞, authoring∞
- Top two encoders: CinemaCraft∞ (~$50) and Tsunami∞ (free -- beware the payware imposters at tmpegenc.com!)
- My pick for the best deal on authoring software - DVD-Lab∞ ($99) - should fill the needs of just about anyone who is not a full-time professional but wants more than Nero offers
Deletions:
This is the home of my CollectedWritings, after all...in theory. And so, here lies the temporary home of random vidcap-related I deem worth saving:
to be continued...
Edited on 2004-11-01 04:51:30 by RichardBerg
Additions:
Welcome to my short meta-FAQ on getting started with desktop video
(draft v0.2, 10/11/04)
Why read this?
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old VHS or Hi-8 tapes, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my peers.
Why not read this?
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want something covered by the PvrFAQ. If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, consider a DvBridge. If your home videos are on film (e.g. 8mm) or you need large-scale duplication, the necessary equipment will be beyond the scope of this document; I suggest contacting a professional media company∞ (shameless link) in your local area. Durham: Avid Video∞ is next to Duke East Campus. Chapel Hill: Cirque Productions∞ is on Brookside Dr.
What do I need to buy?
The TV/video capture cards sold by Intrex∞ are both based on a longtime industry-standard chipset from Brooktree (now owned by Conexant∞). The BT878 chip can capture any analog NTSC source to your PCI-based machine, sampling it as 8-bit digital video at a variety of resolutions up to 720x480 4:2:2 (YUY2). Don't worry about the details until you read some of the guides below. Suffice to say it's capable of very high quality; most of the TV shows, VHS & Laserdisc rips, etc. you see floating around the Net were captured on hardware that cost $30 four years ago. VidCapSamples!
The ATI and Avermedia cards∞ both take composite video (e.g. from a VCR, camcorder, cable box, etc.) and can tune channels directly from analog cable or OTA (over-the-air antenna) TV. For another $30 the Avermedia adds support for S-Video (Hi8 cameras and some cable boxes; VCRs will probably not benefit), FM radio tuning, and a small remote control. In each case you must run a mini 1/8" cable from your source (i.e. the BT's line-out if using the coax tuner) directly to your soundcard's input, or use an internal patch cable. Choose the Dazzle lineup at your own peril.
Software!
For simply watching TV in a window or fullscreen, nothing beats DScaler∞. Excellent direct control of Brooktree chips (as well as a few 10-bit successors like the Conexant CX2388x), keyboard / remote navigation, and most stunningly, put your CPU to work processing the image with better filters than you'd find in almost any high-end hardware line doubler. If you have the horsepower, I like turning on MoComp2, Temporal Comb, and Adaptive Noise after calibrating colors and contrast.
The quality of recording ("capping") software distributed with these cards varies widely, but excellent universal drivers for this family of cards are maintained by the BTWinCap project∞. These conform to the Windows Driver Model (WDM) that most recent capture applications talk to.* VirtualVCR∞ is the free program I recommend most -- very clean and easy while supporting the card's most important features and any video compressor you have installed. VVCRS2∞ adds basic scheduling ability.
(Please do not let me give the impression that these simple tools (or any others) can replace a real PVR like Tivo∞ or ReplayTV∞. See PvrFAQ.)
Guides
I won't pretend to summarize the information needed to set up, cap, and postprocess videos at an advanced level. When making archives of shows or home movies that are important to you, I think it's best to do it once the right way. The steps leading up to your master DVD aren't always obvious. Offsite Links (budget some time...):
- Ars Technica's guides to capture∞ and postprocessing∞ -- a few parts could be updated, but Matt and I worked hard to make sure the underlying concepts you learn won't ever go out of date. Check back "soon" for the 3rd installment (compression, mastering, and burning).
- Doom9 capture guide∞ -- I'm not terribly active with Doom9 outside AviSynth Development∞, but I trust the gurus there to provide the most comprehensive information available. Download the CHM file to ensure you have the latest copy.
- Luke's Video guide∞ -- good overall intro, not updated since 2002 (lukesvideo.com appears to have been taken over)
- Lurker's Guide to Video∞ -- another conceptual intro, geared toward SGI machines / graphics work, but with solid explanations of basic video principles
Other articles on this site
This is the home of my CollectedWritings, after all...in theory. And so, here lies the temporary home of random vidcap-related I deem worth saving:
Putting it on DVD
to be continued...
Where to ask questions?
Ars Technica A/V forum∞ -- a small but dedicated & friendly group of video enthusiasts hangs out here
http://forums.doom9.org/∞ -- largest English-language forum on the web for desktop video
http://virtualdub.everwicked.com/∞ -- general desktop video forum with a nice analog-capture contingent
http://www.tv-cards.com/∞ -- lots of hardware reviews and a knowledgeable forum
I'm looking for a link to...?
The AV links section∞ of Donald Graft's website (maintained by Fred Thompson, last update December 2003) probably has it.
.
.
.
*Note: if you need old Video for Windows (VFW) drivers for use with capture software like VirtualDub∞, you will have to use the ones provided by the manufacturer -- under Win98/ME you're probably fine, but the only manufacturer whose VFW drivers are known to function under Win2K/XP is Hauppauge∞. Your mileage my vary.
Deletions:
Welcome to my short meta-FAQ on getting started with desktop video
(draft v0.2, 10/11/04)
Why read this?
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old VHS or Hi-8 tapes, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my peers.
Why not read this?
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want something covered by the PvrFAQ. If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, consider a DvBridge. If your home videos are on film (e.g. 8mm) or you need large-scale duplication, the necessary equipment will be beyond the scope of this document; I suggest contacting a professional media company∞ (shameless link) in your local area. Durham: Avid Video∞ is next to Duke East Campus. Chapel Hill: Cirque Productions∞ is on Brookside Dr.
What do I need to buy?
The TV/video capture cards sold by Intrex∞ are both based on a longtime industry-standard chipset from Brooktree (now owned by Conexant∞). The BT878 chip can capture any analog NTSC source to your PCI-based machine, sampling it as 8-bit digital video at a variety of resolutions up to 720x480 4:2:2 (YUY2). Don't worry about the details until you read some of the guides below. Suffice to say it's capable of very high quality; most of the TV shows, VHS & Laserdisc rips, etc. you see floating around the Net were captured on hardware that cost $30 four years ago. VidCapSamples!
The ATI and Avermedia cards∞ both take composite video (e.g. from a VCR, camcorder, cable box, etc.) and can tune channels directly from analog cable or OTA (over-the-air antenna) TV. For another $30 the Avermedia adds support for S-Video (Hi8 cameras and some cable boxes; VCRs will probably not benefit), FM radio tuning, and a small remote control. In each case you must run a mini 1/8" cable from your source (i.e. the BT's line-out if using the coax tuner) directly to your soundcard's input, or use an internal patch cable. Choose the Dazzle lineup at your own peril.
Software!
For simply watching TV in a window or fullscreen, nothing beats DScaler∞. Excellent direct control of Brooktree chips (as well as a few 10-bit successors like the Conexant CX2388x), keyboard / remote navigation, and most stunningly, put your CPU to work processing the image with better filters than you'd find in almost any high-end hardware line doubler. If you have the horsepower, I like turning on MoComp2, Temporal Comb, and Adaptive Noise after calibrating colors and contrast.
The quality of recording ("capping") software distributed with these cards varies widely, but excellent universal drivers for this family of cards are maintained by the BTWinCap project∞. These conform to the Windows Driver Model (WDM) that most recent capture applications talk to.* VirtualVCR∞ is the free program I recommend most -- very clean and easy while supporting the card's most important features and any video compressor you have installed. VVCRS2∞ adds basic scheduling ability.
(Please do not let me give the impression that these simple tools (or any others) can replace a real PVR like Tivo∞ or ReplayTV∞. See PvrFAQ.)
Guides
I won't pretend to summarize the information needed to set up, cap, and postprocess videos at an advanced level. When making archives of shows or home movies that are important to you, I think it's best to do it once the right way. The steps leading up to your master DVD aren't always obvious. Offsite Links (budget some time...):
- Ars Technica's guides to capture∞ and postprocessing∞ -- a few parts could be updated, but Matt and I worked hard to make sure the underlying concepts you learn won't ever go out of date. Check back "soon" for the 3rd installment (compression, mastering, and burning).
- Doom9 capture guide∞ -- I'm not terribly active with Doom9 outside AviSynth Development∞, but I trust the gurus there to provide the most comprehensive information available. Download the CHM file to ensure you have the latest copy.
- Luke's Video guide∞ -- good overall intro, not updated since 2002 (lukesvideo.com appears to have been taken over)
- Lurker's Guide to Video∞ -- another conceptual intro, geared toward SGI machines / graphics work, but with solid explanations of basic video principles
Putting it on DVD
to be continued...
Where to ask questions?
Ars Technica A/V forum∞ -- a small but dedicated & friendly group of video enthusiasts hangs out here
http://forums.doom9.org/∞ -- largest English-language forum on the web for desktop video
http://virtualdub.everwicked.com/∞ -- general desktop video forum with a nice analog-capture contingent
http://www.tv-cards.com/∞ -- lots of hardware reviews and a knowledgeable forum
I'm looking for a link to...?
The AV links section∞ of Donald Graft's website (maintained by Fred Thompson, last update December 2003) probably has it.
.
.
.
*Note: if you need old Video for Windows (VFW) drivers for use with capture software like VirtualDub∞, you will have to use the ones provided by the manufacturer -- under Win98/ME you're probably fine, but the only manufacturer whose VFW drivers are known to function under Win2K/XP is Hauppauge∞. Your mileage my vary.
Edited on 2004-10-11 13:15:05 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old VHS or Hi-8 tapes, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my peers.
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want something covered by the PvrFAQ. If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, consider a DvBridge. If your home videos are on film (e.g. 8mm) or you need large-scale duplication, the necessary equipment will be beyond the scope of this document; I suggest contacting a professional media company∞ (shameless link) in your local area. Durham: Avid Video∞ is next to Duke East Campus. Chapel Hill: Cirque Productions∞ is on Brookside Dr.
Deletions:
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old VHS tapes, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my desktop video peers.
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want something covered by the PvrFAQ. If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, consider a DvBridge.
Edited on 2004-10-11 12:54:54 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
(draft v0.2, 10/11/04)
Deletions:
(draft v0.1, 10/06/04)
Edited on 2004-10-11 12:52:25 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
- Lurker's Guide to Video∞ -- another conceptual intro, geared toward SGI machines / graphics work, but with solid explanations of basic video principles
Edited on 2004-10-11 12:34:40 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
- Ars Technica's guides to capture∞ and postprocessing∞ -- a few parts could be updated, but Matt and I worked hard to make sure the underlying concepts you learn won't ever go out of date. Check back "soon" for the 3rd installment (compression, mastering, and burning).
- Doom9 capture guide∞ -- I'm not terribly active with Doom9 outside AviSynth Development∞, but I trust the gurus there to provide the most comprehensive information available. Download the CHM file to ensure you have the latest copy.
- Luke's Video guide∞ -- good overall intro, not updated since 2002 (lukesvideo.com appears to have been taken over)
Where to ask questions?
Ars Technica A/V forum∞ -- a small but dedicated & friendly group of video enthusiasts hangs out here
http://forums.doom9.org/∞ -- largest English-language forum on the web for desktop video
http://virtualdub.everwicked.com/∞ -- general desktop video forum with a nice analog-capture contingent
http://www.tv-cards.com/∞ -- lots of hardware reviews and a knowledgeable forum
I'm looking for a link to...?
The AV links section∞ of Donald Graft's website (maintained by Fred Thompson, last update December 2003) probably has it.
Deletions:
Ars Technica's guides to capture∞ and postprocessing∞ -- a few parts could be updated, but Matt and I worked hard to make sure the underlying concepts you learn won't ever go out of date. Check back "soon" for the 3rd installment (compression, mastering, and burning).
Doom9 capture guide∞ -- I'm not terribly active with Doom9 outside AviSynth Development∞, but I trust the gurus there to provide the most comprehensive information available. Download the CHM file to ensure you have the latest copy.
Edited on 2004-10-11 12:15:31 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
The TV/video capture cards sold by Intrex∞ are both based on a longtime industry-standard chipset from Brooktree (now owned by Conexant∞). The BT878 chip can capture any analog NTSC source to your PCI-based machine, sampling it as 8-bit digital video at a variety of resolutions up to 720x480 4:2:2 (YUY2). Don't worry about the details until you read some of the guides below. Suffice to say it's capable of very high quality; most of the TV shows, VHS & Laserdisc rips, etc. you see floating around the Net were captured on hardware that cost $30 four years ago. VidCapSamples!
Deletions:
The TV/video capture cards sold by Intrex∞ are both based on a longtime industry-standard chipset from Brooktree (now owned by Conexant∞). The BT878 chip can capture any analog NTSC source to your PCI-based machine, sampling it as 8-bit digital video at a variety of resolutions up to 720x480 4:2:2 (YUY2). Don't worry about the details until you read some of the guides below. Suffice to say it's capable of very high quality; most of the TV shows, VHS & Laserdisc rips, etc. you see floating around the Net were captured on hardware that cost $30 four years ago.
Edited on 2004-10-11 12:01:01 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want something covered by the PvrFAQ. If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, consider a DvBridge.
(Please do not let me give the impression that these simple tools (or any others) can replace a real PVR like Tivo∞ or ReplayTV∞. See PvrFAQ.)
Deletions:
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want a PVR instead.** If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, consider a DvBridge.
(Please do not let me give the impression that these simple tools (or any others) can replace a real PVR like Tivo∞ or ReplayTV∞.**)
**The focus of this document is archival quality, software-based flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Personal Video Recorders (PVRs), on the other hand, are more like digital VCRs on steroids. A good PVR machine should be considered a consumer-oriented "black box" no more unreliable or difficult to operate than a toaster -- see my PvrFAQ. If that sounds appealing, and you're here for PC-based home theater fun, you should probably read the PcToHomeTheaterFaq too.
Edited on 2004-10-11 11:43:15 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want a PVR instead.** If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, consider a DvBridge.
Deletions:
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want a PVR instead.** If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, you want a DV bridge.***
***A DV bridge is a device that lets you transfer video clips (including audio) over 1394 ("Firewire"). It handles the capture details for you; analog sources show up as if you'd recorded them on a DV camera. If you want to pull your clips into commercial DV editors like Vegas∞ or Adobe Premiere∞, there is no faster way. The downsides are cost (expect about $250∞) and loss of flexibility -- you can't tweak capture settings like brightness/contrast, and you can't turn off the lossy compression. Luckily, these bridges are generally very good about setting levels properly, and DV compression is much higher quality than the MPEG used by other external capture devices [and PVR cards].
In fact, you may own a DV bridge already. Any digital (DV) camcorder with analog inputs can be used as a bridge -- all you need is a Firewire port. If you don't have one built into your motherboard, soundcard, or videocard, we sell them for $19∞.
Edited on 2004-10-11 11:42:13 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old VHS tapes, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my desktop video peers.
Why not read this?
If you want one-click recording or the ability to pause live TV, you want a PVR instead.** If getting video into a commercial editing program quickly is more important than cost, or you own a digital camcorder, you want a DV bridge.***
(Please do not let me give the impression that these simple tools (or any others) can replace a real PVR like Tivo∞ or ReplayTV∞.**)
I won't pretend to summarize the information needed to set up, cap, and postprocess videos at an advanced level. When making archives of shows or home movies that are important to you, I think it's best to do it once the right way. The steps leading up to your master DVD aren't always obvious. Offsite Links (budget some time...):
Putting it on DVD
to be continued...
**The focus of this document is archival quality, software-based flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Personal Video Recorders (PVRs), on the other hand, are more like digital VCRs on steroids. A good PVR machine should be considered a consumer-oriented "black box" no more unreliable or difficult to operate than a toaster -- see my PvrFAQ. If that sounds appealing, and you're here for PC-based home theater fun, you should probably read the PcToHomeTheaterFaq too.
***A DV bridge is a device that lets you transfer video clips (including audio) over 1394 ("Firewire"). It handles the capture details for you; analog sources show up as if you'd recorded them on a DV camera. If you want to pull your clips into commercial DV editors like Vegas∞ or Adobe Premiere∞, there is no faster way. The downsides are cost (expect about $250∞) and loss of flexibility -- you can't tweak capture settings like brightness/contrast, and you can't turn off the lossy compression. Luckily, these bridges are generally very good about setting levels properly, and DV compression is much higher quality than the MPEG used by other external capture devices [and PVR cards].
In fact, you may own a DV bridge already. Any digital (DV) camcorder with analog inputs can be used as a bridge -- all you need is a Firewire port. If you don't have one built into your motherboard, soundcard, or videocard, we sell them for $19∞.
Deletions:
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old VHS tapes, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my desktop video peers.
(Please do not let me give the impression that these simple tools (or any others) can replace a real PVR like Tivo∞ or ReplayTV∞. The focus here is archival quality, software-based flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, while a PVR machine should be considered a consumer-oriented "black box" no more unreliable or difficult to operate than a toaster. More information on the latter category can be found at the bottom of this document.**)
I won't pretend to summarize the information needed to set up, cap, and postprocess videos at an advanced level. When making archives of shows or home movies that are important to you, I think it's best to do it once the right way. The steps leading up to your master DVD aren't always obvious Offsite Links (budget some time...):
** Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) are digital VCRs on steroids. See my PvrFAQ. If that sounds appealing, and you're here for PC-based home theater fun, you should probably read the PcToHomeTheaterFaq too.
Edited on 2004-10-07 13:29:54 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
Back to IntrexFAQ
Deletions:
Back to IntrexFAQs
Edited on 2004-10-07 12:04:32 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old VHS tapes, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my desktop video peers.
I won't pretend to summarize the information needed to set up, cap, and postprocess videos at an advanced level. When making archives of shows or home movies that are important to you, I think it's best to do it once the right way. The steps leading up to your master DVD aren't always obvious Offsite Links (budget some time...):
Ars Technica's guides to capture∞ and postprocessing∞ -- a few parts could be updated, but Matt and I worked hard to make sure the underlying concepts you learn won't ever go out of date. Check back "soon" for the 3rd installment (compression, mastering, and burning).
Deletions:
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old home movies, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my desktop video peers.
I won't pretend to summarize the information needed to set up, cap, and postprocess videos at an advanced level. Offsite Links (budget some time...):
Ars Technica's guides to capture∞ and postprocessing∞ -- a few parts could be updated, but Matt and I worked hard to make sure the underlying concepts you learn won't ever go out of date.
Edited on 2004-10-07 11:58:55 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
** Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) are digital VCRs on steroids. See my PvrFAQ. If that sounds appealing, and you're here for PC-based home theater fun, you should probably read the PcToHomeTheaterFaq too.
Deletions:
** Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) are digital VCRs on steroids. Once you try one for a week, there's no going back; it changes the way you consume TV. So long as you don't need one that integrates with satellite, digital cable, or HDTV, there are a lot of good products and smart people to help you with them. The Tweeter A/V store∞ next door to our Durham store should have a good selection. Sample links:
http://www.replaytvfaq.com/∞
http://rtvpatch.sourceforge.net/∞
http://www.tivofaq.com/∞
http://www.tivocommunity.com/∞
http://www.avsforum.com/∞
Naturally, some people want the utter flexibility of a PC to do PVR-like things for them. This is different from normal video capture in many ways:
- Large, easy-to-navigate graphical interface designed for use with a TV screen and remote control instead of the Windows keyboard/mouse/monitor paradigm.
- TV listings, with program guide info constantly updated by XML-TV∞ or similar.
- Stores captured shows to a library you can traverse inside the program -- emphasis on instant access vs. time spent achieving the highest possible quality.
- Timeshifting. Anyone familiar with Tivo et al. knows how cool it is to pause live TV.
- Support for hardware MPEG2 encoders. Cards like the Hauppauge PVR-250∞ make it much easier for a system to perform PVR functions without taxing the CPU, PCI bus, and hard disk excessively. (All commercial PVRs use similar chips).
- Many other 'HTPC' (home theater PC) features integrated into the same interface. Examples include:
- High-quality DVD playback (supporting Dolby Digital & DTS, progressive scan, upscaling, zoom controls, overlay controls, color correction, and other features you won't find on all but the most expensive DVD boxes).
- Playback of movies stored on your hard disk or home network.
- Audio jukebox features (think Winamp for HTPCs).
- FM radio tuning and recording.
- Arcade / console game emulation e.g. MAME∞.
- TV-friendly web browsing.
- Further customizability and an active development community.
PVR software available today:
SnapStream aka BeyondTV∞ ($$)
MythTV∞ (free, requires Linux, available as standalone 'KnoppMyth')
SageTV∞ ($$)
ShowShifter∞ ($$)
[[http://myhtpc.net/∞ MyHTPC (free -- new version is called Meedio [$$])]]
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition∞ ($$, and requires you to register as an MS System Builder∞)
FreeVo∞ (free, requires Linux)
MediaPortal∞ (free w/ Zap2It subscription, requires XBox)
Others (front-end GUI only): GotAllMedia, Prismiq...
Jukebox software (mostly geared toward audio playback): JRiver Media Center∞, other lesser software I won't endorse with a link ;-) Search for foobar2000, MusicMatch, iTunes, XMMS, RealJukebox, Windows Media Player 10, Sonique...
Edited on 2004-10-07 10:23:21 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
Back to IntrexFAQs
Deletions:
Back to CollectedWritings
Edited on 2004-10-06 17:01:54 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net
Additions:
(draft v0.1, 10/06/04)
Back to CollectedWritings
Deletions:
(draft v0.1 10/06/04, incomplete as of 4:15pm)
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2004-10-06 17:00:54 by client209-42-223-14.intrex.net []
Page view:
Welcome to my short meta-FAQ on getting started with desktop video
(draft v0.1 10/06/04, incomplete as of 4:15pm)
Why read this?
If you ask me how to watch TV, archive your old home movies, or record shows onto your PC, I am going to refer you here. I write better than I speak, and the picture will be much more complete if I can stand on the shoulders of my desktop video peers.
What do I need to buy?
The TV/video capture cards sold by
Intrex∞ are both based on a longtime industry-standard chipset from Brooktree (now owned by
Conexant∞). The BT878 chip can capture any analog NTSC source to your PCI-based machine, sampling it as 8-bit digital video at a variety of resolutions up to 720x480 4:2:2 (YUY2). Don't worry about the details until you read some of the guides below. Suffice to say it's capable of very high quality; most of the TV shows, VHS & Laserdisc rips, etc. you see floating around the Net were captured on hardware that cost $30 four years ago.
The
ATI and Avermedia cards∞ both take composite video (e.g. from a VCR, camcorder, cable box, etc.) and can tune channels directly from analog cable or OTA (over-the-air antenna) TV. For another $30 the Avermedia adds support for S-Video (
Hi8 cameras and some cable boxes; VCRs will probably not benefit), FM radio tuning, and a small remote control. In each case you must run a mini 1/8" cable from your source (i.e. the BT's line-out if using the coax tuner) directly to your soundcard's input, or use an internal patch cable.
Choose the Dazzle lineup at your own peril.
Software!
For simply watching TV in a window or fullscreen, nothing beats
DScaler∞. Excellent direct control of Brooktree chips (as well as a few 10-bit successors like the Conexant CX2388x), keyboard / remote navigation, and most stunningly, put your CPU to work processing the image with better filters than you'd find in almost any high-end hardware line doubler. If you have the horsepower, I like turning on
MoComp2, Temporal Comb, and Adaptive Noise after calibrating colors and contrast.
The quality of recording ("capping") software distributed with these cards varies widely, but excellent universal drivers for this family of cards are maintained by the
BTWinCap project∞. These conform to the Windows Driver Model (WDM) that most recent capture applications talk to.*
VirtualVCR∞ is the free program I recommend most -- very clean and easy while supporting the card's most important features and any video compressor you have installed.
VVCRS2∞ adds basic scheduling ability.
(Please do not let me give the impression that these simple tools (or any others) can replace a real PVR like
Tivo∞ or
ReplayTV∞. The focus here is archival quality, software-based flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, while a PVR machine should be considered a consumer-oriented "black box" no more unreliable or difficult to operate than a toaster. More information on the latter category can be found at the bottom of this document.**)
Guides
I won't pretend to summarize the information needed to set up, cap, and postprocess videos at an advanced level.
Offsite Links (budget some time...):
Doom9 capture guide∞ -- I'm not terribly active with
Doom9 outside
AviSynth Development∞, but I trust the gurus there to provide the most comprehensive information available. Download the CHM file to ensure you have the latest copy.
Ars Technica's guides to
capture∞ and
postprocessing∞ -- a few parts could be updated, but Matt and I worked hard to make sure the underlying concepts you learn won't ever go out of date.
.
.
.
*Note: if you need old Video for Windows (VFW) drivers for use with capture software like
VirtualDub∞, you will have to use the ones provided by the manufacturer -- under
Win98/ME you're probably fine, but the only manufacturer whose VFW drivers are known to function under
Win2K/XP is
Hauppauge∞. Your mileage my vary.
** Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) are digital VCRs on steroids. Once you try one for a week, there's no going back; it changes the way you consume TV. So long as you don't need one that integrates with satellite, digital cable, or HDTV, there are a lot of good products and smart people to help you with them. The
Tweeter A/V store∞ next door to our Durham store should have a good selection. Sample links:
http://www.replaytvfaq.com/∞
http://rtvpatch.sourceforge.net/∞
http://www.tivofaq.com/∞
http://www.tivocommunity.com/∞
http://www.avsforum.com/∞
Naturally, some people want the utter flexibility of a PC to do PVR-like things for them. This is different from normal video capture in many ways:
- Large, easy-to-navigate graphical interface designed for use with a TV screen and remote control instead of the Windows keyboard/mouse/monitor paradigm.
- TV listings, with program guide info constantly updated by XML-TV∞ or similar.
- Stores captured shows to a library you can traverse inside the program -- emphasis on instant access vs. time spent achieving the highest possible quality.
- Timeshifting. Anyone familiar with Tivo et al. knows how cool it is to pause live TV.
- Support for hardware MPEG2 encoders. Cards like the Hauppauge PVR-250∞ make it much easier for a system to perform PVR functions without taxing the CPU, PCI bus, and hard disk excessively. (All commercial PVRs use similar chips).
- Many other 'HTPC' (home theater PC) features integrated into the same interface. Examples include:
- High-quality DVD playback (supporting Dolby Digital & DTS, progressive scan, upscaling, zoom controls, overlay controls, color correction, and other features you won't find on all but the most expensive DVD boxes).
- Playback of movies stored on your hard disk or home network.
- Audio jukebox features (think Winamp for HTPCs).
- FM radio tuning and recording.
- Arcade / console game emulation e.g. MAME∞.
- TV-friendly web browsing.
- Further customizability and an active development community.
PVR software available today:
SnapStream aka BeyondTV∞ ($$)
MythTV∞ (free, requires Linux, available as standalone '
KnoppMyth')
SageTV∞ ($$)
ShowShifter∞ ($$)
[[
http://myhtpc.net/∞ MyHTPC (free -- new version is called Meedio [$$])]]
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition∞ ($$, and requires you to register as an
MS System Builder∞)
FreeVo∞ (free, requires Linux)
MediaPortal∞ (free w/
Zap2It subscription, requires XBox)
Others (front-end GUI only):
GotAllMedia, Prismiq...
Jukebox software (mostly geared toward audio playback):
JRiver Media Center∞, other lesser software I won't endorse with a link ;-) Search for foobar2000,
MusicMatch, iTunes, XMMS,
RealJukebox, Windows Media Player 10, Sonique...