Video Capturing

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:09 am

I have a DVR which records the HD signal from my provider. It outputs both HDMI and Component (hooked up to TV with HDMI). Now I know HDMI is protected and probably won't let me record the video off of it but the component should be free of all DRM entanglement.

So I need a good Video capture card for my PC that can record component HD signals and store them without compression (don't want to lose quality here). Basically I want to record my football games and then store them on my PC for future viewings cause my DVR is almost full.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:02 am

hmm looks like the best option is the Blackmagic Intensity Pro. Looks like my PC won't be up to the challenge tho. Looks like I need a to set up a raid 0 array to be able to handle the bandwidth.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/suppor ... techID=177

From what Ive read 2 500GB SATA II drives in raid 0 should be fine. My current motherboard supports SATA II and raid 0 but I think this could be a great opportunity to upgrade my PC! hehe.

I have found the Intensity Pro for $300 in a couple places

Motherboard: (Im sticking with AMD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813186150

CPU: (Woo for quad)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103285

HDD x 2: (WD fan)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136073

Keeping my video card, other harddrive, ram (2Gb of DDr2 cant remember speed), DVD burner, PSU. Looks like a pretty slick computer.

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:46 am

Yeah, I've looked into the Blackmagic Intensity Pro a bit. Seems like a solid card, and about the ONLY option for HD capture that won't cost you a $1,000+.

Let me know how it performs, please!

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 12:45 pm

Err, wouldn't be easier and cheaper to build a MythTV or Media Center box to handle your DVR needs instead? There are even satellite tuner cards now.

Also, your DVR may kick on Macrovision if it detects a non-TV hooked up to it.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:11 pm

tom61 wrote:Err, wouldn't be easier and cheaper to build a MythTV or Media Center box to handle your DVR needs instead? There are even satellite tuner cards now.

Also, your DVR may kick on Macrovision if it detects a non-TV hooked up to it.

My HD cable connection needs the box to access the HD channels. I have heard of people using this method with my DVR so it will work.

Flo · Post by **Flo** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:29 am

I'm not sure why you insist on storing an uncompressed HD stream. The stream received by your cable box is already compressed using lossy compression and then just decompressed for output to your TV (or the capture card, for that matter). While recompressing it will exaggerate any existing compression artifacts, the effects should be minimal.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:08 am

Flo wrote:I'm not sure why you insist on storing an uncompressed HD stream. The stream received by your cable box is already compressed using lossy compression and then just decompressed for output to your TV (or the capture card, for that matter). While recompressing it will exaggerate any existing compression artifacts, the effects should be minimal.

This way I can use it on any HD signal like gaming systems.

Flo · Post by **Flo** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 12:25 pm

You talked about storing football games, though. Watching live streams and storing streams are vastly different applications.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:04 pm

Flo wrote:You talked about storing football games, though. Watching live streams and storing streams are vastly different applications.

Yes that is the initial intent of this. But you have to think of the future of what you want to do and build past your current specifications. I would rather spend a little more money here instead of having to upgrade again in the near future. Its called investment.

And in this application both require the same hardware.

And what I meant by

This way I can use it on any HD signal like gaming systems.

Is to store that footage. Why would I run a gaming system through my computer if I am not recording it?

Flo · Post by **Flo** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:07 pm

There's really no such thing as "investments" in the computer world. By the time you may actually need to record an uncompressed HD stream (as opposed to just watching it live, or recording compressed), the hardware required for it will be significantly cheaper.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:24 pm

Flo wrote:There's really no such thing as "investments" in the computer world. By the time you may actually need to record an uncompressed HD stream (as opposed to just watching it live, or recording compressed), the hardware required for it will be significantly cheaper.

What do you mean "no investments". When ever you spend money you are making an investment (besides utility bills and the like).

Definition from my Economics for Engineers book.

Investment - The purchase of a goods or products in the hope of improving future business.

When you buy lets say a Xbox 360 you are investing in the hope that it will bring entertainment value to you. Same goes for pretty much anything.

So do I want to spend $100 on a capture card now? and in 1 year time buy a new capture card and waste $100? Or do I want to spend $300 now and save in the long run? I need to upgrade my computer anyways as it is getting close to its 4th year.

What if I decided to record some HD footage in a month? Oh and why not capture the HD signal at the best level I can? Component looks great on my HDTV where as composite looks like crap. I don't want to compress the quality anymore then I have to. [/quote]

Flo · Post by **Flo** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:18 pm

Rekarp wrote:What do you mean "no investments". When ever you spend money you are making an investment (besides utility bills and the like).

As in gaining value.

Rekarp wrote:What if I decided to record some HD footage in a month? Oh and why not capture the HD signal at the best level I can? Component looks great on my HDTV where as composite looks like crap. I don't want to compress the quality anymore then I have to.

You were talking about compressed streams vs. uncompressed streams, not SD vs HD. Recording an uncompressed version of a stream that's already been processed using lossy compression is somewhat silly.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:31 pm

Flo wrote:
Rekarp wrote:What do you mean "no investments". When ever you spend money you are making an investment (besides utility bills and the like).
As in gaining value.

Rekarp wrote:What if I decided to record some HD footage in a month? Oh and why not capture the HD signal at the best level I can? Component looks great on my HDTV where as composite looks like crap. I don't want to compress the quality anymore then I have to.
You were talking about compressed streams vs. uncompressed streams, not SD vs HD. Recording an uncompressed version of a stream that's already been processed using lossy compression is somewhat silly.

Yes I am gaining value by not spending more money in the long run. Sometimes an investment isn't about making money it is about saving.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:08 pm

Isnt uncompressed 1080P video like 10GB/minute or something?

1080x1920x3x30x60 ?

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:51 pm

timmeh87 wrote:Isnt uncompressed 1080P video like 10GB/minute or something?

1080x1920x3x30x60 ?

1080i

I am basically going to do what this guy is doing except with my DVR.

http://www.halo3forum.com/montage-video ... y-pro.html