Recording video from PC

[capt_rock]

Hello all, hope this is the appropriate forum.

Have tried to research this but, Google searches turn up old info (DOS, Win95, etc).

Would like to record Win XP Video Media. I want decent recording quality (not HDTV but better than crap TV). S-video out port on all video cards I have tried is very poor quality (washed out color and focus). Would like to know if they do this intentionally? Can this be improved with software?

Video material viewed on my monitor is clean and clear. I'd like to get this level of quality into a VCR or DVD recorder.

I understand monitor vs TV and I know about expensive scan converters. I'm hoping for an inexpensive solution.

Have tried to convert RGB out with H&V sync to S-video using higher quality circuits (AD725 Eval Board) but, cannot get video card to output interlaced signal. Have tried old DOS-based TSR programs with no effect. Anyone do this successfully?

Have looked into converting RGB to component (YPrPb) and think this may be possible but, cannot locate DVD recorder with component inputs. These used to be available I think (Philips). Anyone do this successfully?

Am cautious about low-cost hardware adapters. I figure they produce poor quality signal (no better than S-video out already on video card). Any opinions?

Thanks!

[CWR03]

I believe you can export the files and re-encode them directly to another format, such as DVD or an .AVI file. Just to be clear, are you talking about the .TS files created by Windows Media Center and a capture device?

[joelancer]

or are you talking about converting any .WMV file on your computer to mpeg to burn and play in stand alone DVD player?

if so you dont need to transfer connections to random devicess... just convert/rip the Vid file into witchever format you wont, and then burn it to DVD.

[capt_rock]

Oh, sorry to be confusing. I am trying to "record" computer video that can't be easily transcoded through other means (protected, DRM, streaming, whatever). For example, you might have license for a music video with DRM but, want to view it on VHS tape or DVD on your downstairs TV. In this case, recording it off your video card output could be an option. But, like I said in my first post, the "quality" from the S-video output on the video card is quite a bit worse than what you ought to be able to get off the RGB output. There are ways to convert from progressive RGB to NTSC interlaced but, apparently it isn't all that easy or inexpensive. Screen capture software won't work because it intercepts the video prior to video subsystem smoothing, etc. So, just fishing for info, insight, or opinion from others who might have tried this.