Capture card necessary or recommended?

I've read conflicting advice about capture cards and HDV. One reviewer said he imported HDV footage into FCP 5 using Firwire from camera to Mac, and it was as easy to capture and edit as DV footage. Others say that it's much better to go through a capture card.
I have an antique Mac -- a G5 1.8DP -- and an HDV camera. For now, most of my output will be SD, but I want to archive HDV for future use.
There are still one or two cards made for my computer. Should I consider getting one?

Hello.
If you want to archive your footage as HDV, then you can capture as HDV... are you using a camera as a deck?
The issue you may find if you start editing in HDV is the lack of grunt in your G5... (what exactly is 1.8DP? do you mean 1.8Ghz?)
The reason why people use the capture card route is because people have cottoned on to the fact that HDV can be captured as DVCPROHD which is a superior format, but much more demanding on your system.
I believe that if you want to stay in the realm of HDV, don't need a capture card.

Similar Messages

Capture card

Hi,
I would like to capture my imac's screen with my macbook pro. (they both have thunderbolt connections.)
I would like to record some gameplay and stream.
What capture card would you recommend?
And what quality would be fine recording?
Specs:
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)
2,8 GHz Intel Core i5
8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Intel Iris 1536 MB
iMac (21,5-inch, Mid 2011)
2,5GHz Intel core i5
4GB 1333 MHz DDR3
AMD Radeon HD 6750M 512 MB
Thanks!

I know TONS about capture cards. More than most here. Pretty much all of them are designed to take a video signal out from your editing software (FCP, Avid, Adobe...etc) and output that to an HDTV or broadcast monitor...or tape deck. Either mounted in the computer (MacPro Towers...the old silver cheese graters) or connected via Thunderbolt. They don't take a feed from your desktop or games...they only work with editing software...take what you are looking at in the VIEWER and PROGRAM monitor and feed that to external monitoring...via HDMI or SDI or Component cables. They also take SDI, HDMI and Component signals from cameras or decks and capture that in the editing software
What you want to do is take the monitor signal....computer display signal...and send that to another computer so you can capture it. You need something that captures the DVI or Thunderbolt output into editing software. The issue is....there isn't a card that does that. First off, the capture cards are designed to bring in broadcast type signals...not computer ones. So frame sizes of 1920x1080 or 1280x720. Computer signals are like 1600x1200 or other odd frame sizes. No capture card captures that into editing software...as editing software captures only broadcast signals. Yes, there are a few that will work with computer frame sizes (Adobe Premiere)...but only if the files already exist. They won't capture those frame sizes via a capture card.
There is a SCAN CONVERTER type card...Matrox makes one. But what it does is convert your computer display to a broadcast signal. So it'll take a region of interest...a part of the computer display...and using broadcast frame sizes, output a signal to HDMI or SDI for capture by a deck or playback to a monitor....or streaming out of a web streaming device.
http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/convert_dvi_plus/
I guess you would then need TWO devices...the scan converter to convert the desktop signal to a broadcast one...and then a capture card on the other computer to capture that into your editing software. Decklink.com has a lot of inexpensive capture cards for this. I suggest looking at the Ultrastudio Mini Recorder for this:
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/ultrastudiothunderbolt
I am not aware of a single capture card/device that will take the computer signal from one computer, and convert that to a broadcast signal and capture it with editing software. Now...I'm a broadcast TV editor, so my knowledge is limited to that...so there might be such hardware.

Laptop-External Capture Card

Hi, I am new to this forum and am looking at purchasing CS3 Premiere Pro. I have done a search and nothing came up (at least with my search words). I am interested in finding out what external capture card would be recommended for a laptop (i have firewire and usb ports). Right now the camera is analog but i will be getting my hands on a dv soon, but i will need one that can do both..I don't need any high budget card, just one that will get it into premiere to be used.
I would appreciate all suggestions.
-mike

if your are getting a dv camera soon, maybe wait til then. many digital cameras have analog inputs and they will convert on the fly to digital signal out to firewire. so you would have both with one.

Analogue capture card recommendations?

I would like to import some old VHS/Hi-8 analogue tapes into my Mac and edit them in iMovie (if I get the bug them maybe FCE). Any recommendations for a suitable capture card?
I have a late 2005 PowerMac, so a PCI card would be preferable, but not essential.
Any recommendations?
Thanks
Mark

Simpler and more flexable would be the use of an external Analog/DV converter.
Canopus and Datavideo make reasonable ones. Look into the Canopus ADVC300 - it has a time based corrector built in which is very important in cleaning up mistimed frames (the 'tearing' effect you see)
Cheers,
x

Recommendations on Capture Cards

Greetings,
What would be recommendations for good capture cards and break out boxes?
I've looked at the AJA KONA 3 - I've also looked at the Blackmagic - any recommendations? Also does anyone have a preference with a broadcast monitor that they use. I'm in the stages of revamping my workflow.

In order to give you the best recommendation, we need to know what you do. What workflows are you employing, what kind of footage are you working with, what kinds of things do you need to do, and what is your budget. There are SO MANY options, that cover a wide variety of things. I don't want to do what a lot of people do and say "Kona 3...period. It does everything." Because it isn't true, it doesn't do everything. Plus it might be overkill for your needs. THe Kona 3 works with 2K, and can upconvert, but it is digital in only, have analog sources you are outta luck, unless you shell out more money for converters. And it doesn't have HDMI out. The LHi has HDMI I/O, and analog IO, and upconverts. But wait, you want this to work on a laptop too! OK, Matrox MXO2 line, AJA IO Express...
Like looking at cars...you don't want people to say "Get the BMW 7 Series...it's the best car built" when you a) can't afford that and b) don't need everything it does. You might just need to drive around town. Or, you might have to drive 7 people (you and your 5 kids), which you can't do in a BMW 7 series. Or you might need to haul gear. OK, analogy over.
What are your needs/workflows?
Shane

Recommended MP2 Capture Cards?

Hello,
I am looking to purchase a new capture card for DVD creation and need some advice. I work in a broadcast environment and am looking for a good quality capture card that will allow me to capture/encode video as MP2 files for DVD creation. I also need a card that will allow for SDI/Component input. (I would prefer a card that will do both, but would be happy with just SDI.) I had decided to purchase a SD-500 card from Sonic. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get any information on it anymore. The SD-500 is no longer listed on Sonic's website. After repeated calls to various parts of their company, I received little to no information. Most of the people I spoke to did not know what product I was talking about. Anyway, this experience has left me with little confidence in the company and I was wondering if there is another product out there that is similar to the SD-500 card?
I was also wondering about any issues using a 64 bit system in conjunction with any recommended cards?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Devon

>issues using a 64 bit system
If you are talking about HARDWARE I don't remember reading of any particular problems here, but if you are speaking SOFTWARE there have been past messages discussing running (or trying to run) Encore on Windows 64 bit... which you might want to search out and read before you try to use Win64

Recommendations for Video capture card

Been capturing video via firewire through a VX2000. Using it as a A/D converter.
I would like to install an internal capture card in a dual G4 running OS 10.4.8.
Suggestions?
Steve

OK Steve, first off no one is making PCI capture cards anymore...an there is no HD card made for PCI at all. PCI-X and PCIe only. Second, that computer cannot handle HD captured via a capture card. HDV, DVCPRO HD...yes (pushing it). XDCAM...maybe (pushing it). Uncompressed HD? Heck no.
Not only do you need the HD capture card, but you need a high speed RAID array..and there isn't one made that interfaces with PCI. You gotta get a new machine. The one you are on will handle SD only.
With the new machine, the cheapest option is the Decklink INTENSITY PRO. This has analog ins and outs, installs in the computer (PCIe only), and runs about $400. COmponent, s-video and composite and HDMI connections only. NO SDI or HD SDI...which are the better connections for high end work.
Then you need an HD monitor...which isn't cheap. And again, the RAID array...
But...all this is getting complicated. What format of HD are you intending to work with in the near future? HDV, or HDCAM? DVCPRO HD? XDCAM? Uncompressed HD? This determines everything.
Yes, video is expensive. HD even more so. DV is cheap...HDV CAN be cheap, but get expensive if you want to do it properly.
Shane

Capture Card Recommendations anyone??

Just had my new machine built. Anyone have any suggestions on a solid capture card moderately priced($100-$300).

The XHA1 can be read as HDV or DV video. Unfortunately it sometimes isnt sure which. If your ppro project is set to DV ppro will be expecting DV. If the tape in the XHA1 is on a spot not recorded it may be trying to behave like HDV.
So, play the tape to a point where the recorded material is so the cam is sure what mode to be in. Then your PC and PPRO will recognize it just fine. It works with a generic camera preset.
Curt

Capture card recommendations

Hi all,
Im planning to produce some video footage through QT PRO, good thing i read somewhere in the forum first that there is no video capture capability in windows version of QT.
does anyone know of a capture card + software that could capture videos from a source and then output it directly to a quicktime format?
Please reply/post a solution
Thanks and cheers.

The XHA1 can be read as HDV or DV video. Unfortunately it sometimes isnt sure which. If your ppro project is set to DV ppro will be expecting DV. If the tape in the XHA1 is on a spot not recorded it may be trying to behave like HDV.
So, play the tape to a point where the recorded material is so the cam is sure what mode to be in. Then your PC and PPRO will recognize it just fine. It works with a generic camera preset.
Curt

Do I have to have a capture card to use FCP?

I'm considering laying out the dough to upgrade from FCE to FCP but I noticed that the apple site says I have to have a "support 3rd partycapture card". I'll admit I'm green on what that means.
I currently import all my video media directly from my sony z1u via firewire.
Does the firewire import negate the capture card requirement?
If not, can someone recommend the necessary capture card for a Mac Pro 2.66?
thanks in advance...
-James

No, you'll be fine with just standard FireWire, capturing HDV (of DV if your downconvert in the camera) from your Z1U.
If you were to use any other (more expensive) capture card, to maybe capture uncompressed HD from the component outputs of your Z1, the image quality won't be any better, as the image is compressed to HDV to be recorded on tape.

Capture Card/Deck Link

Hi All,
Currently I am setting up my Post Production outfit. As of now, I am using and Old G5 with Dual 2.7 GHZ PowerPC processor, with 3GB memory(although when i have a budget I plan to buy the new Mac Pro). Anyway as I was saying before till now, I use firewire to capture my footages, thus i lose quality(true or false?), anyway I want to buy a deck link or any capture card, or whatever capture device to maintain the quality of my footages. Thus what would you guys recommend? and what tape deck would you guys recommend?
Tnx again!!

I use firewire to capture my footages, thus i lose quality(true or false?)
FALSE. Firewire transfers are data transfers. Zero quality loss.
anyway I want to buy a deck link or any capture card, or whatever capture device to maintain the quality of my footages
Unneeded if you are capturing via firewire. But very necessary if you are outputting to any non-firewire formats, or if you want to color correct on an HD monitor (or uncompressed SD).
Thus what would you guys recommend?
Two options for capturing:
www.aja.com Kona series. Kona 3 and Kona LH...different capabilities. You have to look at what they both offer and determine for yourself it if is something you need.
www.decklink.com - Decklink series. Again, good cards. Cheaper than AJA, because they lack many hardware components. But still are very capable for many many tasks.
I have used and like both. What you get depends on what you need.
For output only, if you capture via firewire, then you can add the Matrox MXO. I have a review of it on the Creative Cow:
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/ross_shane/MXO.php
and what tape deck would you guys recommend?
What format of video will you be working with? That determines a lot. As does what format you'll be outputting to.
Shane

Plug-in for StarTech Video Capture Card

StarTech'website shows their ECHDCAP ExpressCard video capture card supports Adobe Premiere CS5 plug-in for editing. I talked to a Tech at StarTech and he said the card should work with Premiere Pro CS5 & CS6 but StarTech doesn't support it, and he didn't know where I can get the Premiere SC5 plug-in. Does anyone know what plug-in StarTech is referring to, and where I can get it?
If anyone is currently using the ECHDCAP capture card or the StarTech USB3HDCAP Capture Device, please let me know how you got it working with Premiere Pro.

Ann & Bill,
I probably should have given you more information. This application is different than what I usually use Premiere for.
One of my hobbies is shooting long range rifles at 1,000 yards. I'm trying to capture the point of impact on steel targets 500 to 1,000 yards away. I've attached my XA10 to my Swarovski spotting scope so I can see the impact. I've been transferring the video from the XA10 to my computer through the USB port, then importing the video into Premiere and adding it to the sequence. By the time I get all this done, then scrub the video to find the frame with the initial BANG, then count 41 frames forward for 870 yards, then scrub the video again to find the impact point, the wind and several other conditions have changed which affect my next shot. this makes for a long and tedious day.
The bottom line is... I'm trying to streamline my workflow so I can capture the video from my XA10 straight to a Premiere sequence, then start scrubbing the video to find the point of impact.
The reason I'm using Premiere is because none of my other programs allow me to scrub with audio.
I would prefer not to spend $600 for a Maxtor MX02 Mini and ExpressCard adapter; especially since it requires 110 volts and that's not available at the shooting range.
If you know of another way to do this, or can recommend an inexpensive program that will allow me to capture audio and video from my XA10 and scrub it with audio, I'd sure appreciate hearing about it.
Thank you,
Brian Scura...

FME Video Capture Card

Hi,
I recently installed Media Flash Encoder 2.5 onto my PC and
need to purchase a video capture card. What do you recommend?
Thanks.

I have a Leadtek WinFast PxDVR3200 H Hybrid Analog / DVB-T
tuner card.
It works fine with the analog tuner but It does not recognize
the DVB-T part.
I need this because I need to set up an on-line 720p TV
stream.
I also tried to make tests with a TechiSat SkyStar HD but it
is not recognized by Flash Media Encoder 2.5
Could someone please recommend a HD DVB S2 or T card that
works with Flash Media Encoder ?
Any help would be very much appreciated.

HDMI video capture card

I need to specify a HDMI video capture card to work with Adobe Flash for the DCO application on a Dell T3500 PC. The system also includes a Black Magic Designs H.264 Pro Recorder for recording training sessions. Can anyone recommend a card that will work?
Thanks

No problem. Be warned, though. As far as I know, M series camcorders are only available on secondhand markets right now, and if you happen to find, say, a Vixia HF M500 new and unopened, the after-market price might be a little higher.

Video Capture Card for Adobe Connect

Does anyone have any recommendations for a video capture card for the Mac to use with Adobe Connect? I have a HD camera that I want to connect to my Mac through the S video connection on the camera. I need a video capture card that will work with Adobe Connect.

The Video Telephony Pod is the video pod when Video Telephony Conferencing equipment/cameras are configured to talk with Adobe Connect. This was introduced in Connect 8.1 for SIP and H.264 based VTC systems. It will only work with H.264 video streams from the VTC type cameras found in conference rooms. Usually the major players in the U.S. are Polycom and Tandberg.
The VTC Pod appears as a standard pod once the administrator of an Adobe Connect on-premise server has configured the various admin screens and added the SIP addesees to the configuration xml file.
The video quality is different than the webcam video as here is a table:
Tandberg 990:
Profile Level At FMG End
Video Out At Device
High
1200.0kbps 448p
Medium
600.0 kbps   448p
Low
250kbps       CIF
Tandberg Edge 95 MXP:
Profile Level At FMG End
Video Out At Device
High
1700 kbps w720p
Medium
600kbps    w448p
Low
250kbps    w288p
More information on formats:
768 x 448@30fps (w448p)
576 x 448@30fps (448p)
512 x 288@30fps (w288p)
352 x 288@30fps (CIF)
176 x 144@30fps (QCIF)
So, that HIGH, MEDIUM and LOW refer to the Adobe Connect room preference setting for video. Notice that HIGH shows we can deliver 720p resolution.
The normal webcam video pod is locked to 480p (VGA) 4x3 resolution at 20 frames per second but the server admin on an on-premise install can alter a configuration xml file to go 24 fps but not higher than VGA on the webcam pod.
Probably more than you ever imagined I would share but that's my style.
Take care.

Capture card necessary or recommended?

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