Is there a way to make a homemade A/V to USB conversion? I really don't feal like shelling out $70 for the adapter piece they sell on the net. Any info would be helpful.
Hi DanandJen, The whole issue of importing video into a PC is dear to my heart, LoL because any PC with video-in is basically a TV y'know? You don't need an All-In-Wonder or an external capture device - if you have a video-in. Many folks have them (and don't know it) if their vidcards are VIVO or whatever, many Asus vidcards too. But YOU guys on laptop, you want to import video into your laptop, right? You need a capture device, this is a genuine device (in Device Manager) that must be present - and even if present on vidcard, must be specifically installed. You can watch TV/DVD etc on Nero (little-known fact, but you can). Nero just needs to be shown to the capture device, and you're away :^) Now to capture with Software (some kind of 'free' software, to capture from maybe USB2) the problem is, it won't do it in real-time. Even WITH a capture device, it takes a stout computer to capture good quality in real-time... Anyway, I have seen simple little USB capture devices but it seems to me you would be better to pick up an inexpensive USB TV gadget like this one from Leadtek: http://www.leadtek.com/multimedia/winfast_tvusb2_deluxe_1.html ...where it does all kinds of things (remote control & everything!) and then, you're cookin' with gas. What exactly do you wish to be able to plug into USB? To play on the laptop - or play from the laptop...? Regards
I want to transfer 5 8mm tapes from my Sony video camera to dvd. Unfortunatley, my camera does not have the i-link feature. Sadly enough the only way I can take the video off of the tapes is to either run the A/V cables directly to a VCR or other perepheril. I would rather use my laptop, the same way I run a 1394 firewire to record shows off my digital cable box. I see sites all the time for devices that attach to the laptop via USB and run to the camcorders audio/video cables. I would rather not spend $50.00 or more on something I only need for a one-time use. Since I now have a digital camcorder with i-link.
I always just use a DVD Recorder and set it to AV in with the camera plugged in. Record it to DVD then rip it off onto your HD in your laptop. I find you get a better quality if you have one of these DVD Recorders with Noise Filtering (I personally use a Panasonic DMR-EH50). Dave
