Thread: Dazzle Video Creator 80 or 150 ???
View Single Post
Old 18-04-2004, 17:52   #20
Mike
Inactive
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Age: 64
Posts: 2,242
Mike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful oneMike is the helpful one
Re: Dazzle Video Creator 80 or 150 ???
Quote:
Originally Posted by erol
I guess my prejudice comes from the USB connctions these external boxes uses. Certainly any USB1 device (like the dazzle 80) will be limited in the resolutions it can digitise at, because the USB1 port simply cannot move enough data quick enough for such video capture apps. With USB2 this is not a problem as it runs much fatser than USB1. Even so it just seems like an 'extra link' in the chain to me, and comming from the 'old skool' I guess I always look for the most direct path, though with the power and speeds of machines these days that may be an anoronism on my part. I guess the real advantage of an external (USB2) based box, over an internal solution is that you can easily move it to another PC, which may or may not be of use to some. Also if you are nervous of opening up your PC then an external box has obvious attractions.

An internal card will connect directly into the system bus, which to me is a more 'elegant' solution than a connection to the USB port which then in turn connects into the system bus. In theory at least this second method requires a bit more CPU resource than the first - but as I say that's probably not that much of an issues these days, given the power or average home machines today.

My _personal_ choice would be for an internal card. In the 'old' days before video in functionality was common on graphics cards I used a miro dc10 video capture card (no longer made / sold I think). Since then I have simply looked for video in features on my main graphics card. First via an nvidia FX5600ultra card and more recently via an ATi 9800se AIW card. I must say I very happy with this latest card. The video capture features work fine, capturing at 720*576 @ 25fps with ease (no dropped frames) even with minimal CPU usage from other apps running at the same time. I love the remote control that comes with this card (as I have my PC linked to my telly) and I really love the PVR functions - recording from sat TV and pausing live TV with ease.

Its really a case of horses for course I guess. For some an external box like the dazzle 150 is a perferctly acceptable and even optimal solution. For me I prefer an 'intergrated onto my graphics card' solution.
Erol

With the ATi 9800se AIW card does that mean you can record direct from the TV...........I was going to buy (in the future !!!!) and recordable DVD player but could this be my answer.....and easy to 'sell' the purchase to my wife

Regards

Mike
Mike is offline   Reply With Quote