Looking for a good card for video capture.

PohTayToez

PohTayToez

Active Member
Anyone know of a good card for video capture? I would like to be able to record in reasonably high quality (not HD, but something like what you'd see on a standard TV), and have Coax and S-Video in. Can anybody direct me to one that either they have used with good experience or popular model that is reliable? $150 max, but I would prefer to stay under $100.
 
Which version of Windows? That will make a big difference since there are plenty to look at for XP while only a limited number see their softwares updated to be "Vista ready"! I ran into that with AVerMedia capture as well as tv tuner cards.

The present card in use here now is the AVerTC A180 model where you can set a timer or manually start a recording at any time once you have a live signal being displayed. That will record in mpeg II format and you can preassign what folder you want the recording to be stored in. You can look that pci type model over at http://www.aver.com/mpd/a180retail.html

Another type besides a typical pci type card is those seen for usb. That would be the alternative if you opt out on the pci type and want something easily unplugged. Newegg and other vendors carry the A180 for about $70-$80 depending where you shop.

Presently newegg has a White box edition(whatever that is) instock OEM for $79.99 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100021
 
I think I'm definitely going to go for PCI or PCI-E.

As for the OS, most likely XP Pro... is there any advantage (neglecting price) for going with Media Center Edition? I like the first one you posted, but I think I would prefer one with a remote. I'm looking at a real good deal on a big TV with no built in TV tuner, so a remote is almost a requirement, however Newegg does have an awesome open box deal on the one you showed me:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100021R

I think I'm going to see if they have any other good open box cards with remotes.
 
With that type of card the input is directly from cable unless you change channels on a box and simply allow that as the pc input there. You can also patch analog sources like a vhs system into it for viewing from 1/2" tape or off of a camcorder. S-video is present.

For the version of Windows that will work just as well on XP Home, Pro, MCE with the media center support seen, and updated support for Vista. That was one reason for going for that model here after Vista's release since the previous card used wouldn't work. They simply changed software disks for the A180 model.

The one thing the A180 lacks as well as the older Ultra TV models was a remote unfortunately. Maybe their latest pci type tuner card will however?

AVERMEDIA® LAUNCHES NEW HD HYBRID PCI EXPRESS TV TUNER New PCI Express TV Tuner Equips Hybrid Reception including Available Clear QAM and H.264 Real-Time Recording Capabilities

MILPITAS, CA – February 13, 2008 – AVerMediaR Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of digital multimedia and presentation technology announced today the release of the AVerTV Bravo Hybrid PCI-E, the PCI Express TV tuner with HDTV, analog TV and FM Radio reception abilities. Utilizing the latest chipset and Software Encoder, the new AVerTV Bravo Hybrid PCI-E is a great choice for watching analog cable TV contents under "My TV" of Media Center (MCE) on XP and Vista. Besides being certified for Windows Vista Premium, this new TV tuner also goes with the upgraded AVer MediaCenter allowing users to watch the Over-the-Cable unencrypted QAM channels. http://www.avermedia-usa.com/media/022208.html
 
The advantage of going with a separate pci type card proves itself well with gamers that often upgrade from one video card to the next one out. When buying a combination you have to stay with that model as long as you use the tuner included until finding a newer combo for the additional price.

The A180 was ordered shortly after Vista's release and has done quite well for just over a year already. Hauppauge has a Win-TV PVR-150 you may be interested in that includes a remote. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116631
 
I have the Leadtek 2000H, comes with a remote, RCA and S-video input and a Digital and Analog Tuner. Does everything I need it to, record play the PS2 through my PC screen, time shifting and direct burn as well. And the absolute best part:
BATTERIES INCLUDED!! :)
 
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