Video Capture Help

[Keepsakers]

Can anyone tell me how to go about getting the correct software (and whatever else) in order to put video from an actual video tape on my computer? I'm not talking about downloading video from Kazaa or anything. What I want to do is put my own footage on the computer, which I've never done before and have no idea how it's possible. What do I need to buy, exactly? What needs to be hooked up to the computer? VCR and what else? How big of a pain in the ass is it to hook everything up once I've got it?

I have a Sony Pentium 4 XP if that helps any.

Thanks in advance.

[Keepsakers]

Nevermind, I figured out what I need. Woohoo!

[blackwind]

Sure, figure it out as soon as I'm ready to submit my reply, why don't you? Sooooooooooome people!

But seriously, good luck with everything! And don't hesitate to drop me a mail if you need any software!

[MysterE]

Originally posted by Keepsakers
Nevermind, I figured out what I need. Woohoo!

Okay, so tell me now. I wanna know.

[Keepsakers]

Originally posted by blackwind
Sure, figure it out as soon as I'm ready to submit my reply, why don't you? Sooooooooooome people!

LOL! Sorry! Thanks for trying anyway! I may still need you!

But seriously, good luck with everything! And don't hesitate to drop me a mail if you need any software!

Thanks!

Originally posted by Mystere
Okay, so tell me now. I wanna know.

Well, it's kind of stupid. And when I say "it's", I mean me. It turns out I already have all the software I need. It came with the computer. Duh! But I couldn't figure out how to hook up the vcr, so I called Best Buy and they said I needed an adaptor/capture card thing and that would make it work. So, I'm going to do that tomorrow. It sounds way too easy though, so I'm sure there will be some sort of problem! There always is when I'm involved!

[MysterE]

Originally posted by blackwind
But seriously, good luck with everything! And don't hesitate to drop me a mail if you need any software!

So what software do I need.

Originally posted by Keepsakers


Well, it's kind of stupid. And when I say "it's", I mean me. It turns out I already have all the software I need. It came with the computer. Duh! But I couldn't figure out how to hook up the vcr, so I called Best Buy and they said I needed an adaptor/capture card thing and that would make it work. So, I'm going to do that tomorrow. It sounds way too easy though, so I'm sure there will be some sort of problem! There always is when I'm involved!

Tell me how much that costs and how it goes.

[blackwind]

Originally posted by Keepsakers
Well, it's kind of stupid. And when I say "it's", I mean me. It turns out I already have all the software I need. It came with the computer. Duh! But I couldn't figure out how to hook up the vcr, so I called Best Buy and they said I needed an adaptor/capture card thing and that would make it work. So, I'm going to do that tomorrow. It sounds way too easy though, so I'm sure there will be some sort of problem! There always is when I'm involved!

LOL! Well, before you go out and splurge, can you tell me what kind of video card came with that beast? Depending on the model, you might not even need a capture card! I mean, surely the software came with your computer for a reason, right?

If you're not sure how to go about identifying your video card (and I'm sure it'd be safe to assume that's the case ), just follow these steps:

1. Hold down the Windows logo key on your keyboard and hit the "Pause/Break" key. A window called "System Properties" should appear.
2. Go to the "Hardware" tab and click on "Device Manager".
3. Click on the little "+" beside "Display adapters", and the name of the video card will appear.

Paste the exact name of it here, and I'll give you a rundown of your options as soon as I wake up tomorrow (unless Volt jumps on it first, that is).

Originally posted by Mystere
So what software do I need.

VirtualDub should do the trick.

[Keepsakers]

Originally posted by blackwind
LOL! Well, before you go out and splurge, can you tell me what kind of video card came with that beast? Depending on the model, you might not even need a capture card! I mean, surely the software came with your computer for a reason, right?

That's what I thought too. Why would they install all that stuff in it without the rest of it? But then I thought about the printer when I first bought it. I had to buy a separate plug for it because it didn't come with the damn thing. So, I guess I just figured everything is designed to screw you over when it comes to computers.

If you're not sure how to go about identifying your video card (and I'm sure it'd be safe to assume that's the case ), just follow these steps:

Ha! You know me too well! I did what you said and this is what came up: SiS 650_740 (what does it mean in English?)

It's a little useless now though because my boyfriend called and said he picked up the adaptor on his way to work today. He won't be home 'til after I go to bed though, so I guess I'll fool around with it in the morning. Maybe he didn't get a capture card after all. I only seem to remember him talking about an adaptor so that the VCR could be hooked up. I mentioned capture card before because I kept seeing that damn term everywhere I clicked this morning. I don't know, I guess I'll see in the morning.

Thanks for the help! I'm still interested in the SiS thing and what it means.

[blackwind]

Is this your computer?

[Keepsakers]

No, the box says "PCV-RX760 -- VAIO Digital Studio Computer"

[blackwind]

Alrighty, let's see what I can find...

*rolls up sleeves*

I'll try to be quick, since I'm sure you're itching to hit the sack.

[Keepsakers]

Awww, thanks so much, Matt! You don't need to hurry though. I can just check in the morning.

[blackwind]

Awww, thanks so much, Matt! You don't need to hurry though. I can just check in the morning.

Not a problem, not a problem. Mel is watching TV at the moment, so I have a bit of free time.

Anyway, I didn't find anything particularly useful. Apparently your computer can transfer all sorts of video via the Firewire port, but there isn't any specific place to plug a VCR in. If this adapter your boyfriend bought is a VCR->Firewire adapter, you'll be set. If not, you just may have to get that capture card.

[Keepsakers]

Well, let's hope Best Buy steered him in the right direction! Because he's about as useless as I am when it comes to this stuff.

Thanks again for all the help! I'll let you know how it goes.

[Keepsakers]

(And I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear the word "firewire." That sounds like another term sent from the devil to piss me off!)

[blackwind]

Well, let's hope Best Buy steered him in the right direction! Because he's about as useless as I am when it comes to this stuff.

Haha, yeah, let's hope so!

Thanks again for all the help! I'll let you know how it goes.

Don't mention it! And great!

(And I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear the word "firewire." That sounds like another term sent from the devil to piss me off!)

ROFL! Oh, you.

[Keepsakers]

Well, it worked, after about 4 hours of trying to get the sound! The video worked right away, but getting sound...#!&^**$@$!

I have another problem now though. I don't have enough hard drive/memory to do what I want! LOL! I was able to make 4 videos and then had to stop. I guess I need to delete some stuff (songs, other videos, etc) until I get more memory.

I might try to send you one of the videos later on, Matt. That is, if AOL lets me...and if I can find your email address.

[Keepsakers]

Thanks again for the help, by the way! I really appreciate it!

[Keepsakers]

Well, big surprise, AOL's not letting me send it. Outlook froze up on me, so now I don't know what to do.

What's the average file size of an .avi video in MB that's 2 and a half minutes long?

[blackwind]

Well, it worked, after about 4 hours of trying to get the sound! The video worked right away, but getting sound...#!&^**$@$!

LOL! What did you do to get it working?

I have another problem now though. I don't have enough hard drive/memory to do what I want! LOL! I was able to make 4 videos and then had to stop. I guess I need to delete some stuff (songs, other videos, etc) until I get more memory.

Yeah, I was going to bring that up in my first reply before you figured things out yourself. But the good news is, it sounds like you're making straight AVI files. If you compress those babies with a combination of video and audio codecs, you'll be able to fit many, *many* more on your hard drive as is. For video, you should be using DivX or WMV, and for audio, I'd recommend MP3 (or one of its variants) or WMA.

Thanks again for the help, by the way! I really appreciate it!

To be fair, you figured out more things on your own than I helped you with.

Well, big surprise, AOL's not letting me send it. Outlook froze up on me, so now I don't know what to do.

Give your planetmadtv.com address a shot. I don't think our host imposes any file size restrictions.

What's the average file size of an .avi video in MB that's 2 and a half minutes long?

That depends on the frame rate and resolution of your video. I can't give you a concrete number off-hand, but you'll get a feel for it eventually.