Louiscar
21st August 2006, 16:07
I'd like to ask some opinions specifically on quality and disadvantages of devices that will capture VHS to digital format.
The confusion for me is that there are so many solutions out there. What would be useful is some guidance if possible as to what advantages / disadvantages (to quality of capture) would be in these various devices.
Firstly I am not looking to spend a fortune. Primarily I'd like to archive my VHS tapes in the best quality possible. Any other features would be nice but not essential.
So far the devices I've come across and considering are:
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1) Canopus AV55 - capturing presumably raw dv which would then need lengthy encoding on the pc afterwards.
2) Hauppage PVR or HVR - Confused about the differences between the two offerings. But seems to have Hardware encoding for capture.
3) Plextor ConvertX - and external hardware encoder.
4) A DVD recorder with HDD - A non pc solution that can then be transferred to one for editing.
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The question I'd most like to get to the bottom of is which method or device is going to give the best results in the primary requirement of capturing?
For instance am I likely to get as good a result as a DVD recorder if I use one of the PC solutions?
Are the all singing dancing tv cards like the Hauppauge as good as other capture devices or is it a serious compromise?
Is A raw av/dv device like the Canopus that much better in quality that it's worth considering the post processing / encoding time over say the Plextor which encodes on the fly?
Any help in getting a perspective into the solution would be appreciated. A last note - my pc is powerful enough to cope with any of the solutions I've picked out so this isn't a consideration in the equation, I am more concerned at the final results and what the compromises are.
The confusion for me is that there are so many solutions out there. What would be useful is some guidance if possible as to what advantages / disadvantages (to quality of capture) would be in these various devices.
Firstly I am not looking to spend a fortune. Primarily I'd like to archive my VHS tapes in the best quality possible. Any other features would be nice but not essential.
So far the devices I've come across and considering are:
------------------------------
1) Canopus AV55 - capturing presumably raw dv which would then need lengthy encoding on the pc afterwards.
2) Hauppage PVR or HVR - Confused about the differences between the two offerings. But seems to have Hardware encoding for capture.
3) Plextor ConvertX - and external hardware encoder.
4) A DVD recorder with HDD - A non pc solution that can then be transferred to one for editing.
----------------------------
The question I'd most like to get to the bottom of is which method or device is going to give the best results in the primary requirement of capturing?
For instance am I likely to get as good a result as a DVD recorder if I use one of the PC solutions?
Are the all singing dancing tv cards like the Hauppauge as good as other capture devices or is it a serious compromise?
Is A raw av/dv device like the Canopus that much better in quality that it's worth considering the post processing / encoding time over say the Plextor which encodes on the fly?
Any help in getting a perspective into the solution would be appreciated. A last note - my pc is powerful enough to cope with any of the solutions I've picked out so this isn't a consideration in the equation, I am more concerned at the final results and what the compromises are.