Good video/stereo audio capture card?

[mdoubledragon]

I know this sounds like a duplicate post but I couldn't find my answer anywhere.
I need a video capture card that lets me view/record video with audio on my PC. It must have S-Video and composite video input plus "stereo" audio input (for separate left and right audio channels). It SHOULD NOT have TV tuner or FM capabilities as I dont need them.
I have looked all over the internet and cannot find such a card. The ATI Theatre offerings have TV tuner capabilities built in so buying them would mean paying for features I dont need. The closest I got were Osprey cards but they were even costlier so I guess they are for pros and not home users.
I know there are pros of this field that visit this forum, so someone please guide me.

[meRobs]

I am a bit late, but, this problem has re-appeared for me.

Over the past 4 years I have been using a PCI capture card with parallel front-panel sockets as well: the Firebird XE from DVico. It does all that you suggest, creating DV-AVI from analogue and suitable for Adobe Premiere Pro. However, it has just begun to misbehave.

The nearest equivalent seems to be the Canopus ACEDVio PCI card. However, Canopus also offer stand alone equivalents that are cheaper. For two-way analogue to DV, there is the ADVC110 and for one-way (input only) the ADVC55 (Video, S-video and L and R audio inputs and 6-pin Firewire DV output).

Hope this helps
Robin

[2Bdecided]

Analogue video > DV is different from Analogue video > whatever you want.

The Canopus devices are specifically for getting analogue into DV format. Most PCI video capture boards deliver raw video to the PC, which you can then compress using DV, or lossless, or M-JPEG. It's sometimes beneficial to have something better than DV format available for processing before the final encode (to MPEG-2 or newer codecs).

Cheers,
David.

[meRobs]

DV format (DV-AVI) is an uncompressed form (relative to HD) of AVI at 13 GB per hour. The PCI cards I have used give AVI (Type 1 or 2 DV) at 13 GB/h. DV is the preferred input for professional Apps like Adobe Premiere Pro and it can be compressed into smaller more popular formats.
Cheers
Robin

[2Bdecided]

DV format has 5:1 intraframe DCT compression. That's how it works. Uncompressed YV12 video is five times the size of DV, and uncompressed YUY2 (4:2:2) or RGB (4:4:4) video is larger still.

I know it's commonly used! Still, in some circumstances, there are better choices.

Cheers,
David.

[meRobs]

You've got me worried now! I had been using a PCI card that gave 13 GB per hour AVI (DV?) that gave good quality in Adobe Premiere Pro. This card has failed and I was thinking of getting a Canopus ADVC110 that converts analogue to DV. I was assuming this was also 13 GB/h and as good in quality. My reading suggested its DV was excellent.
Am I wrong?
Is Yv12 video 5x13= 65 GB/h?
Thanks for any comment you may have.
Cheers
Robin