Video Capture hardware help

R

RoeKG

New Member
Hello everyone, I'm new here.

I just have a few questions. I'm about to build a computer that I wanted to be able to record TV shows, movies, etc. I'll have everything I need, except I'm confused as to what type of capture device to use. I found this one because it is supposed to work well with Windows Media Center and is supposed to have good quality images.

This is what I have been looking at: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3148961&sku=A46-4200

I'm not exactly sure how it works. Can I only record one thing at a time? Can it only record what I am watching? Can I preprogram it to record things while I'm not home? :confused:

I would appreciate if anyone could answer these questions or recommend a different device for me.

Lastly, I had previously been looking at a different device, but Tigerdirect.com took it off their website, which I don't understand because it was on their top 10 video capture device list. It cost about $150, was external, white in color, and had 2 cable in ports. I'm not sure what it was called but I liked it, and if anyone might know what I'm talking about, I would appreciate if they could tell me.
 
Thanks, Zathurus!

That was very helpful. Can you comment at all on the quality of picture that these things record? I was hoping to be able to record TV onto my computer and then play it back onto a TV with S-video cords and also be able to burn them onto DVDs if I like. Will the quality of picture still be the same as regular TV? Or will it be grainy?
 
Glad to help RoeKG. :):good:

The quality of your recording will depend on your input signal and your compression settings. If the input signal is grainy to begin with or your quality (compression) settings are set to low, than your recording will be grainy and/or full of artifacts.

The software that comes with those units will typically record analog signals to MPEG-2, the same codec used on DVDs. If you are tuning ATSC (digital over the air broadcasts) or ClearQAM (digital un-encrypted cable broadcats) the software will just write the bitstream it receives direct to disk. These digital signals are usually broadcast in MPEG-2 and with Dolby Digital for audio as well.

Are you thinking on building a Home Theater PC? Or, just a desktop for normal use with a tuner card?
 
I guess I'm not too sure about what kind of computer it is.

I originally was building a computer to be able to play some modern computer games, specifically Empire: Total War :D. But after doing some research I learned about how computers can act as DVRs. So I upgraded my hard drive to hold a TB, I'm planning on getting Vista Ultimate with Windows Media Center (for cheap, because I'm a student) and I have a DVD burner drive. The only thing I was unsure of was the video capture card after Tigerdirect changed their website, hence my original question.

I wanted to be able to record massive amounts of shows onto my computer and still be able to replay it on my TV and burn it to DVDs if I so choose. I figure I would need a cord like this to send it back to the TV: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=415363&CatId=466

I'm just hoping I have everything I need to do what I want, which is why I'm still asking you for help. Am I missing anything?
 
Sure. You can easily set your computer up as a VTR. Vista's Media Center works pretty well for that. I've had a bit of a hitch getting it to work well with ClearQAM broadcasts though. But you shouldn't have a problem at all if you are doing regular analog cable or over the air broadcasts.

Yes, that cable will work. Do you have a video card with DVI or HDMI outputs and a TV with HDMI (or even VGA) inputs? Just a suggestion. S-Video will work fine for most.
 
The most advanced my TV gets is an S-video input along with the regular audio/visual ones that all TVs have. I figured I would go with the cable I posted so I can get sound with it as well. And the video card I'm looking at says it has a DVI to VGA/D-sub Adapter. I'm not entirely sure what that is though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top