Good capture device for newbie??

[skiross]

I’ve been doing searches and reading all that I can but haven’t found exactly what I’m looking for. I have a lot of snow ski footage on my Sony digital 8 (Hi 8) camcorder. I need to capture and edit for basic home movies. Nothing professional but good. I plan on trying several of the free editing programs available but I need to capture the video first. Should I get Pinnacle Studio Moviebox, Pinnacle Studio AV/DV Deluxe or what? Can I use any editing software with these capture devices?

Thanks in advance for cluing me in.

Beau

[capbat]

You can try adobe premier pro 1.5 it handles captures on numerous type of camera, I am using it with my Digital 8 Sony cam. I thing adobe has a free demo version on their site. http://www.adobe.com

Give it a try.

[SFChuck]

Does your camcorder have a 1394 (Firewire) output? If it does, you may be in luck. You can get a $30 PCI Firewire card that will plug into the system board of your PC and will probably come with a cable to hook it to your camcorder. If not, cables are not expensive.

If you’re using Windows XP, either home or pro, you have — or can download for free — Windows MovieMaker 2, a rudimentary video editing program that has a surprising amount of capability. It will allow you to capture video, edit footage, etc.

If you don’t have a Firewire interface but only composite video or S-video outs, capturing analog video becomes a little more expensive. You can check the prices of the ADS Pyro capture card…or there are cards made by Matrox, Canopus, Pinnacle, etc. One caveat: some may be usable only with the manufacturer’s editing software.

[skiross]

I don’t have firewire output that’s why I’m more concerned with how to get footage from my camcorder to the PC. I have RCA and S video out from the camcorder, I need to get it to the PC. Once on the PC I can use various free trial software programs. So what is my best option to get
Digital 8 footage to my PC?

Thanks

[SFChuck]

Look at the capture cards and breakout boxes from ADS, Canopus, Matrox, Pinnacle, etc.

This link is a good place to start.

[Anonymous]

I recommend you the Pinnacle Studio AV/DV platform. It’s what I use. Good quality, stability and an integrated solution both for analog and digital.

[skiross]

How does the Pinnacle AV/DV plug into the PC? Is it USB or what?

Thanks
Beau

[SFChuck]

The Pinnacle AV DV is a PCI card, which means it plugs directly into the computer’s motherboard.

[Author]

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