Video Capture Question

Hi!

I am looking into getting a laptop (I was thinking Dell) and would like to know what I would need to capture video onto it i.e. to import video to the computer from an outside source, such as a VCR. I am getting very mixed up with video cards and graphics cards etc. (I presume it should be a video capture card) and would really appreciate any advice.

 

Given that your intended Dell purchase would not have an inbuit video capture card you would need a 'third party add-on'

http://dvr.about.com/b/a/171286.htm

I am not necessarly recommending that one and refer to the link so that you can see what you would need. External capture card have 'break out' boxes so that you can connect the various equipment to them.

Apart from the hardware you would need software to capture and manipulate the video(s). Most capture card come with such programs.

Up to you now to do the leg work and find out what it is that you want to import and make sure that the software package you will get with the product has good reviews (and equally does what you require).

Hope this helps

Good Luck

 

Thanks so much, that's exactly the sort of advice I was looking for!

Cheers!

 

You are welcome. Good luck with your purchase.

I use Ulead's video software. Got it as an add-on to my pci video captue card. I did read up on these progs prior to my purchase and this one seemed recommended. So I aimed my purchase accordingly.

As an aside, make sure you have adequate ram (1gb should be fine) and a cpu that has a bit of muscle since editing video, etc is cpu and ram intensive.

As a final point since these 3rd party harware is usb just be sure that you are getting usb2 (hispeed). I am sure you will but doesn't hurt to confirm as usb1 would be dreadfully slow.

Good Luck