A question for the for experts here

[erad]

Is there a way to use a DV CamCorder to get a video of a computer screen with the same fire wire set up one uses to put video on to the computer?

Or should I just point the camera at the screen?

This would be for recording game footage, I curently capture the video to hard drive while playing but it strains the system to much to get anything useful.

I am trying to get footage of game tatics and how-to information.

Any Ideas?:confused:

[jggimi]

A video adapter with TV-Out might work just fine, but you will record S-video or composite, not DV, that way. There may be digital video transfer methods you could use for digital recording, but I would think they'd have to come from the video adapter. But, other than cards with DVI connectors for digital monitors, I'm not aware of other "digital video" from standard PC cards. But DVI isn't DV, and DV is what you want.

This is the analog capture forum, where we cover how to get those analog composite or S-video signals into the PC, not out of it, and, we don't deal with digital signals.

I'm moving this to the DV forum, in the hopes that someone there can help you.

[bb]

You'd need a combination of a screen capture utility (including overlay and video capture) which can compress to DV and a DV upload program which can upload to DV-in via firewire. I don't know of such a program - and I doubt that one exists.

bb

[FredThompson]

You can grab video of running programs using CamStudio (freeware) or Camtasia. However, you'll need a VERY fast computer if you want to grab anything which approaches realtime. I suppose there are ways of syncing a high-speed recorder with a monitor cable. You could sync a camcorder to the screen's refresh IF you set the screen at a recycle rate of 60 and you're camcorder allows it. Otherwise, you'll just have to take a chance. Shooting a screen is tough because of the refresh rates.

What I do, typically, is run the video on one computer with S-Video out and take it to another using a passthru converter or capture device. Remember, though, that's quite low-res compared to the actual screen.

[theReal]

Shooting a screen is tough because of the refresh rates.

Depends on the camera... broadcast cameras have a shutter that can be synched to any refresh rate you want (but well - I don't think anyone of us has a pro broadcast camera at home :rolleyes: )

[SomeJoe]

An effective way to do this without adding anything to the computer is to use a VGA to S-Video scan converter (http://www.tvone.com/cs-300-400.shtml).

These devices do several things for you:

- Don't put any strain on the computer like screen capture software, thus doesn't interfere with your game/Powerpoint/etc.

- Captures everything on the screen in real time, including mouse movements & menus, which can be synchronized to other video in your NLE

- Digital comb filters and smart resizers convert higher resolution computer images like 1024x768 down to DV-compatible 720x480, and convert computer progressive refresh rates to DV-compatible interlaced refresh rates, all while anti-aliasing content so that fine detail is still visible.


What you would do with a device such as this is hook it up to your VGA connector on the computer, and then take the S-Video output of the scan converter to your camera, and record. Now play the game or do your Powerpoint presentation or whatever. Afterwards, capture the video via 1394, and import into your NLE for editing.

[erad]

Thanks for all the replies.
The scan converter is nice but at $325 starting price on the low end

Its just a game not my life lol.

Thanks for all the help and ideas.

[FredThompson]

This one is $50. Not as good but probably fine for your application.

http://www.grandtec.com/ultimateEZ.htm

[Mug Funky]

depending on your video card/drivers you can set your screen res to proper NTSC or PAL, and use the s-video output from your card.

you'll get rainbow artefacts from the composite signal, but hell, it's cheaper than a scan converter.

[FredThompson]

Yeah, OmegaDrive has modified ATi and Matrox drivers to do video resolutions. Might be worth a look.