Need some info on the FlyVideo capture cards

[Chainmax]

A friend and I are about to start capturing VHS tapes, and my friend thinks the capturing card we'll be using (until we can buy a better one) is a FlyVideo 98 (he bought it from another friend and neither knows for sure which model it is). I'd like to know if I can download an utility that can tell me exactly which card I have and also where to find some decent WinXP drivers for it.

[[)370|\|470!2]

Try here (http://www.lifeview.com.tw/html/downloads/discontinue.htm#2)

[Chainmax]

So the FlyVideo2000 is the same as the FlyVideo98 and both the 98 and 98EZ have the same WinXP driver (they have the exact same download link)? That's good to know. Thanks a million :). I have two more questions:

1) How do I know if these drivers support VFW or WDM?

2) The capture guide says to "enable the capture driver in order to show VirtualDub which source you are intending to use. Therefore, you have to open the TV application that came with your card". How can I know if the TV application is FlyTV USB/USB Life TV (they have the exact same download link too)?

[[)370|\|470!2]

FlyVideo drivers are WDM. At least, were a year ago. Though, there's some problems with
them: some applications(like VD) refuses to use FlyVideo, claiming that device is being used
by some other program. And conserning FlyVideo native application for capturing: totally
lame imho(though, it could be improved, since i didn't use it for a while) — I'm using
PowerVCR from Cyberlink with it. After a lot of researches :) conducted by me, i'm pretty
sure that Lifeview combined with PowerVCR produces teh best possible out this card
capable of. Of course, when using high resolution, e.g., 640x480 or 720x576(for pal) and bitrate 4 - 6mbps.

Conserning drivers: i'm not really sure what drivers they're suggesting on their site, though,
if you'll have any issues with them, i could send you drivers that i'm using.

[Chainmax]

The drivers were WDM-based a year ago? So, the FlyVideo line has just been discontinued then? Oh well, at least I can start capturing and I got this for free. Once I get some money I'll buy a Compro VideoMate Ultra :).
About the capturing software, I was going to go with what the capture guide recommends (VirtualDub for vfw, VirtualVCR for WDM), but I might give PowerVCR a chance. By the way, what do you mean by bitrate 4 - 6mbps? Don't all Bt8x8 cards allow using MJPEG and HuffYUV?


[edit]Crap, the PowerVCR trial only records for 10 minutes :(.

[[)370|\|470!2]

With PowerVCR and dvd bitrate(6-4mbit/sec) mpeg2 it makes reasonable picture and comparing
to other apps, the best imho. I'm in doubt, that fv would allow you MJPEG or HuffYUV.
IIRC, it allows uncompressed capturing, so if it suits you, it's simpliest way to go, using it's native
s/w.

PS: This card
definately not for hd-content %) capturing, though good enough for vhs(imo again).