Kiwi's - Best NZ capture card?

[KiwiKid]

Hello my fellow Kiwi's.

I'm finally in a position to update my puter to one that will handle video. I would like to be able to capture video (S-video source) and was wondering if there are any suggestions as to a good card here in NZ.

Is there a good combination of hardware and software? It would seem most cards tend toward TV, but I'm more interested in video capture than anything else (as opposed to having TV on my puter). What file format do most cards capture in?

Also, are there any card that can connect to a front plug connection point (So you don't have to fish around the back of the puter to connect) or are breakout box type capture cards better? USB or Firewire?

Looking for some recommendations - Thx in advance.

[JonnyCam]

All of the supported cards for GBPVR record in MPEG-2.

They are hardware encoding, so take only about 1% cpu when recording.

However, if you are only capturing video, then GBPVR may not be the best app, theres a bit to set up, and one of the virtualVCR type things might be easier.

If you want to record TV and watch (plus any movies / music you have) then GBPVR will be great.
If you are going down tht track, the Hauppage PVR 150 seems to be the best (and best supported in GBPVR)

[KiwiKid]

Thx for the reply. I wasn't actually thinking of using GB-PVR for the capturing side. It was that I knew a lot of Kiwi's hung out of this forum - a lot with various TV/capture cards and knowledge about them.

Just looking for some advice on a good card with good software. I've never had one, wouldn't even know the correct questions to ask actually - but your comment about hardware encoding certainly helps. Thx

[csy]

I've done direct comparasions between ATI 550 and Hauppauge PVR150 for composite input capture (acknowledging your more interested in S-video but the capture engine should be the same).

The PVR150 has better input sensitivity, ie if the source signal is poor it has less line tearing than the 550 card.

On the flip side, the 550 has slightly better capture picture quality (subtle but definately sharper and clearer).

[KiwiKid]

Thx for that info. I've been doing further research and I'll add the ATI 500 to the list. I was looking at the PVR-150 IR blaster model so I could change the set-top box channel. Would make quite a difference for ease of capturing. Not sure if the IR blaster works locally on a MySky decoder???

On the other side, I'm also keen on the best quality. I've recently purchased a Panasonic stand-alone DVD Recorder. The image quality out of that in XP mode is really very good. Unfortunately, the hassle of writing out to multiple discs isn't (+ re-editing the parts). I guess at the end of the day you have to back your pony and move forward. Could be expensive if I don't like what I see - especially with a discerning eye.

[stustunz]

swearing at us talking about mysky
better of getting a second set top box and 2 pvr 150 's
loading gbpvr

then wasting money on dvd recorders why ?

[sub]

Not sure if the IR blaster works locally on a MySky decoder???

Ah, a NZ MySky owner.... Can you do me a favour? I've been wanting to ask someone who has one of these to look at the smart card and tell me what it looks like. Is it gold, like the regular sky digital smartcards or some other colour/picture? And does the serial number on the card start with "01" like the regular cards, or has it been incremented to "02"?

[KiwiKid]

Ah, a NZ MySky owner.... Can you do me a favour? I've been wanting to ask someone who has one of these to look at the smart card and tell me what it looks like. Is it gold, like the regular sky digital smartcards or some other colour/picture? And does the serial number on the card start with "01" like the regular cards, or has it been incremented to "02"?

Well the card has a multi-coloured face (mostly blue) with "SKY" plastered across it. At the end of the word SKY, is a circle with a triangle inside it looking like a "Play" icon. As for the serial number, it starts 00.

[sub]

Ah, interesting.

You're not in Wellington by any chance?

[KiwiKid]

swearing at us talking about mysky
better of getting a second set top box and 2 pvr 150 's
loading gbpvr

then wasting money on dvd recorders why ?

Making the decision to go with MySky is a long story. .

However, it is a rather brilliant little machine - records two channels at the same time and can still play something already recorded simultaneously. The EPG is great and everything works perfectly day in and day out. The recorded picQuality is excellent. I've had it almost two years and never regretted it once (Unlike some of the experiences I've had with PC's and HT stuff in general)

As for the DVD Recorder...not sure buying it was the right thing either. Like lots of tech, it's not until you've owned something that you discover all the pitfalls. The main reason I went this way - I wanted to upgrade to an HDMI DVD player (it is), it also plays and records on all DVD formats (my current DVD player only plays DVD-R). It also has all the timer thingees and a HDD for recording directly off Sky. The other bonus it up-converts to 1080p making commercial DVD's look fantastic.

Seemed like the way to go, but I didn't realise how much of a pain writing out to disc to get it on the puter would be. XP mode (best quality) only allows one hour on the disc, so the title has to be cut up and recorded across several discs then re-edited back together. Still, there is such a small amount of stuff that is actually worth keeping that it's doable.

On another note, it cost a fraction of the cost of a HTPC, was working from the box in about 2 minutes and I didn't have to go back to school to learn how to drive it.

As for GB-PVR, I've been following it for many years, and have been dreaming of the ultimate HTPC for even longer. I think my Sig says it all.