Sound capture card ?

[Osprey]

I'm intending to feed DV video into my PC for editing - intent is to use a 1394 connectors (Firewire)

 

My PC (Dell 9200) has a 3.5mm stereo 'Audio Line-In' - This is separate to Mic in ... and manual states it's for connecting VCR etc..

 

Is this going to be good enough or should I be looking to add a sound capture card ?

 

I don't do gaming so no need of any sound out capabilities, just a good capture of Stereo and A-D conversion of it.

 

I could also consider a combined audio/video capture if that makes sense ... but all video signal will come digitized as DV.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, I assume the video camera is equipped with a IEEE1394 (firewire) connector? if so you will need the same on your computer and not anything connected to your sound system.

 

A PCI IEEE1394 card is the best option if there is not a connection on the computer already.

They are not too expensive and easily fitted providing there is a free PCI slot on your mother board.

Have a look here-

Belkin FireWire 3-Port PCI Card FireWire adapter: Read product information and write a Belkin FireWire 3-Port PCI Card FireWire adapter review

 

There is a three port one for just over £11-00 and I fitted one about a year ago for exactly the same purpose.

Nev.

[Osprey]

Hi, I assume the video camera is equipped with a IEEE1394 (firewire) connector? if so you will need the same on your computer and not anything connected to your sound system.

 

A PCI IEEE1394 card is the best option i.....QUOTE]

 

Turns out I don't need anything ... I thought I would need to feed Audio to the PC ... didn't realise it is muxed in with the DV video and is fed via the IEEE 1394 card.

 

The PC already has a 3 port one of these fitted, so I should be OK ... providing it works ... never had call to use it before.

 

 

Thnx for your reply

[Plastic Nev]

OK, any thing else you want to know just ask. If you have Windows Movie Maker installed, you will find that once connected to the computer and Movie Maker has been pointed in the right direction, you can control the camera from the computer for playback and upload to the computer.

Nev.

[Osprey]

OK, any thing else you want to know just ask. .....

 

I'm not using a camera ... this project is to convert my collection of S-VHS tapes to DVD

 

The steps I am following (at least the plan to date ) is ...

 

A. Less important tapes, convert play VHS deck direct into DVD player, copy onto DVD-RAM and move to PC.

Simple dice n slice editing of the MPEG2 file using something like Movie Maker, Panasonic free editor etc.

 

B. For all the S-VHS and important video ... connect S-VHS to a Canopus ADVD-300 using s-video and RCA audio for L&R stereo.

Output this over IEEE 1394 to PC.

 

On the PC use a capture programme to capture the DV file as Lossless AVI at resolution 720 x 576 (i.e. PAL)

 

Then edit, tweak, tune & refurbish as much as necessary, (and possible) .... probably using VirtualDub

 

(I use VirtualDub currently on underwater video - so I have a little experience of using this programme - filters, vieo & audio codecs etc.)

 

 

Then ultimately burn to DVD.

 

 

Not sure currently which program to use for DV capture ... WinDV seems to win the praise, but some have had problems with VISTA ... unless there is something easier/better ....?

Authors web site only covers XP/W2K ... no implied VISTA support.

 

With W7 now out don't suppose there ever will be VISTA support now.

[Plastic Nev]

For now I would try the WinDV program. If any problem,

The Panasonic program you have, does that also have the ability to capture from DV?

I have one of the Panasonic programs but it came with my SD card camcorder, so doesn't appear to have the ability to capture from DV, only from the SD cards.

However there are many programs available for free that may do the job. I assume it has to capture from a DV input via the IEEE1394 cable and input card?

If you want, I will have a search, but I cannot guarantee that any free programs I find will work as you want them too.

Nev.

[Osprey]

For now I would try the WinDV program. If any problem,

The Panasonic program you have, does that also have the ability to capture from DV?

I have one of the Panasonic programs but it came with my SD card camcorder, so doesn't appear to have the ability to capture from DV, only from the SD cards.

However there are many programs available for free that may do the job. I assume it has to capture from a DV input via the IEEE1394 cable and input card?

If you want, I will have a search, but I cannot guarantee that any free programs I find will work as you want them too.

Nev.

 

I see that WOMBLE MPEG to VCR is now free

That should at least work for option A

 

I'll try WinDV for opt B capture ... assume I could use Winows Movie Maker for basic edit or AVIDeMux which is free .. unless you know of something better (& free) & then virtual dub for filtering & tweaking.

 

Read that AVS2DVD is a free DVD authoring program that uses the respected HCEnc encoder.

 

 

Plenty of posts talk about using TMPGEnc Express for the encoder and TMPGEnc DVD Author for creating DVD .......... but these would mean even more outlay, unless there are free or discounted copies anywhere.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, I had a look round and found this site offering a few good looking free programs, including the Virtual dub you already have, have a look here and scroll down the list.

 

Free Video Capture and Recording Software (thefreecountry.com)

 

You are obviously a bit further into video than myself, being nothing more than a home video maker in a small way.

However, I like some of the freeware that is available, and if it doesn't work, just uninstall it and try something else. After all it costs nothing except a bit of time.

Nev.