HD Video Capture Card

[gschwendt]

Anyone setup their PC to capture HD video yet?

Right now I capture NCAA online league games from my PS2 but of course those are in SD, not HD. Well, I have the PS3 and when I get the game over the summer, I'd like to be able to continue capturing games.

I dont mind if I capture in SD or HD, just so long as I can capture on the PC and play in HD on my TV. I've looked at several solutions and right now the best one is an HDMI capture card from BlackMagic but its $250 and I'd like to stay closer to the $100 ballpark. Anyway, if anyone has any help Id appreciate it.

btw... it doesnt matter to me if I used HDMI or component cables.

[warnerwlf98]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

Anyone setup their PC to capture HD video yet?

Right now I capture NCAA online league games from my PS2 but of course those are in SD, not HD. Well, I have the PS3 and when I get the game over the summer, I'd like to be able to continue capturing games.

I dont mind if I capture in SD or HD, just so long as I can capture on the PC and play in HD on my TV. I've looked at several solutions and right now the best one is an HDMI capture card from BlackMagic but its $250 and I'd like to stay closer to the $100 ballpark. Anyway, if anyone has any help Id appreciate it.

btw... it doesnt matter to me if I used HDMI or component cables.

I was interested in an HD capture method too and didn't know this card existed. I'd like a capture card with component inputs, but BlackMagic puts out an expensive card that uses BNC connectors instead of RCA jacks. It's also close to $1500 (which is a lot more expnsive than the HDMI input only card). What else have you looked into?

[gschwendt]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

I was interested in an HD capture method too and didn't know this card existed. I'd like a capture card with component inputs, but BlackMagic puts out an expensive card that uses BNC connectors instead of RCA jacks. It's also close to $1500 (which is a lot more expnsive than the HDMI input only card). What else have you looked into?

well, someone else put me onto this device. Its not quite the standard device but looking into it, it could do the trick. Best I can tell, it wont capture in actual HD (it down converts to D1-720x480) but that doesnt bother me as it will keep video file size down. Im asking on the user forums for that device to see if I can get some answers to it... if I find anything worthwhile then Ill reply back here.

[gschwendt]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

I got my answer...

looks like I might have to go ahead and invest in this product as well as some PS3 component cables

[mercalnd]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

I got my answer...

looks like I might have to go ahead and invest in this product as well as some PS3 component cables

I hear PS2 component cables work with the PS3. You can get some on Ebay for very cheap. Like 3-4$ plus shipping.

[gschwendt]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

I hear PS2 component cables work with the PS3. You can get some on Ebay for very cheap. Like 3-4$ plus shipping.

Yeah... I know they do but I'd rather get the actual sony branded cables because I've heard some say that off brand cables aren't as crisp. If someone can tell me for sure that it doesnt matter, that will really help me out. But either way, I probably won't be getting this device for a month or two and newegg has sony branded ps2 component cables for $20 so that's not too bad.

[Joshua]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

Yeah... I know they do but I'd rather get the actual sony branded cables because I've heard some say that off brand cables aren't as crisp. If someone can tell me for sure that it doesnt matter, that will really help me out. But either way, I probably won't be getting this device for a month or two and newegg has sony branded ps2 component cables for $20 so that's not too bad.

It for sure doesn't matter. Cables are cables, (possibly with optical being a bit different depending on how carefully it is terminated.) if they make a solid connection to both inputs you're fine.

Side note - Composites will work in place of components providing you match up the ends (ie, red composite placed in red gun for component, while other end of red composite placed where red gun receiver goes in, yellow to blue, white to green) (I know this doesn't help with the PS2/PS3 thing, but just a general bit of info.)
Coaxle audio cable can be substitued for any RCA cable also.

Monster is quite possibly the smartest company on the planet - Their cost $2.35 with packaging, your cost $99.99

[Steve_OS]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

Did you get the card? Impressions please!

[gschwendt]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

Did you get the card? Impressions please!

in fact I ordered it today... that and the component cables for the PS3. Once I receive both then I'll definitely post impressions.

[Steve_OS]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

Excellent, looking forward to it.

[gschwendt]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

Ok... I received the unit Friday, did minimal testing yesterday. The hitch in my plan was that it requires specific cables which they only give you two of.

Here's the cable needed

You technically need 4 of these in order to carry a component signal... 1 for component in, 1 for component out, 1 for audio in, 1 for audio out. They give you 2 but that only covers SD RCA connections... you can also buy one at your local Radioshack but they cost $25 instead of $7.

So I got everything hooked up (sans audio) and captured a video. The software they give you does actually do the MPEG recording. I did some testing to see if Pinnacle Studio 9 would record from it... it finds the hardware but for some reason it doesnt work, but again, that was just a quick test.

Anyway... I recorded a quick 3 minute video of Resistance. It looks good, the only problem is converting it from MPEG to a suitable source for my video editor to work with it. I did that (MPEG to AVI) but for whatever reason when I did and transcoded it into WMV (just as if I had edited it) it wound up being nearly as large as the AVI. The MPEG was 216MB, AVI was 806, WMV was 681.

Anyway... the moral of the story, it works! Just have to do some testing to get optimal performance but I have no doubt that I'll be able to figure that out.

[gschwendt]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

I got it completely working... hooray!!

Apparently I was using the wrong encoding settings creating the WMV. I re-encoded the 4:30 video (no sound) and its roughly 71MB grand total... I believe nearly the same size as what a previous video would have been. Here's a video I captured of the first 4:30 of Resistance: Fall of Man's first level.

Youtube version

zShare version

[Steve_OS]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

Awesome news bro. Keep updating us when you find out more goodies. Just watched the clip, amazing! I'm sure to get it, just keep us updated! I might order mine in a week.

[WTF]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

Did you buy this Steve? Impressions?

[gschwendt]

Re: HD Video Capture Card

I had talked with Steve a while back about this via PM... I've been planning on posting a video including sound but life's been really busy, possibly tonight though.

The downside to me is that you can only capture using their software and you can only capture in MPEG2 (although MPEG4 support is supposed to be on its way). Other than that, so long as you don't mind not capturing in actual full HD, its a great device.