Capture Card help

[Guest]

I have an old-style Panasonic palmcorder (PV-IQ504A) and am interested in converting all my old videos into digital format and storage on my computer harddrive. However, I'm not sure which video capture card to purchase

I'm not even sure if the palmcorder records in digital or analog mode. The palmcorder stores the video on small vhs cassettes, which can be played in a VCR for home entertainment. My desire is to convert these tapes to digital, then do some small scale editing w/same. And eventually place same into mpg or dvd format

Can you please advice me as to which video capture card I need. Or in the alternative, what I should look for in selecting same (i.e. required capabilities to accomodate my outdated camcorder)

 

[Graham Hughes, MVP Digital Media]

If it records on vhs-c tapes, which I assume fit in to an adaptor which goes
inside the vhs player, then it will be analogue.
Depending on how many of these tapes you have, the quality you require and
how much you want to spend you have several options.
1. Does the camera still work ok? If you are considering upgrading then you
could buy a minidv camcorder which has analogue>digital pass through, you
could connect the old cam to teh new cam and import your files this way. You
would need other software as MM2 does not always work like this.
2. Internal capture card www.canopus.com and search for the likes of lets
edit rt.
3. external convertor box, again www.canopus.com and look for advc55 or up
the scale there are plenty more. Also in this range you have
www.pinnaclesys.com and teh dazzle box, and miglia www.miglia.com do some as
well. Canopus and miglia are probably the better quality.
Also see here for reviews on these products.
http://www.simplydv.co.uk/reviews.html

Be aware that digiat video is very large in file size, 1 hour is 13gb
approx, so you need huge amounts of space if working with lots of files.

Hope this helps.
Graham
--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.simplydv.co.uk

I have an old-style Panasonic palmcorder (PV-IQ504A) and am interested in

converting all my old videos into digital format and storage on my computer
harddrive. However, I'm not sure which video capture card to purchase.

I'm not even sure if the palmcorder records in digital or analog mode.

The palmcorder stores the video on small vhs cassettes, which can be played
in a VCR for home entertainment. My desire is to convert these tapes to
digital, then do some small scale editing w/same. And eventually place same
into mpg or dvd format.

Can you please advice me as to which video capture card I need. Or in the

alternative, what I should look for in selecting same (i.e. required
capabilities to accomodate my outdated camcorder).

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply Mr. Hughes. It was more than helpful. I'll definitely check out the sites you provided

The palmcorder still works fine, even though it's been collecting dust for several years now. But several vendors want to charge me a fortune to convert my tapes into DVDs. I'd like them on my computer first for editing purposes

That thing you mentioned about using a new camcorder to transfer the data might come in handy. I'm going all out this time and will soon purchase a Sony DCR-VX3000 MiniDV digital camcorder (my sis-in-law works for the company, so I'm getting it at half price!). I'll hold off on buying a video card until I try the camcorder option first

Thanks again

 

[Graham Hughes, MVP Digital Media]

It's been a long time since someone called me Mr Hughes Glad you are
sorted, or at least know where you going.
Graham

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.simplydv.co.uk

Thanks for your reply Mr. Hughes. It was more than helpful. I'll

definitely check out the sites you provided.

The palmcorder still works fine, even though it's been collecting dust for

several years now. But several vendors want to charge me a fortune to
convert my tapes into DVDs. I'd like them on my computer first for editing
purposes.

That thing you mentioned about using a new camcorder to transfer the data

might come in handy. I'm going all out this time and will soon purchase a
Sony DCR-VX3000 MiniDV digital camcorder (my sis-in-law works for the
company, so I'm getting it at half price!). I'll hold off on buying a video
card until I try the camcorder option first.

 

[Guest]

I went to your website with the posted reviews of the camera I plan to buy (the sony dcr-vx2100). Do you know of hand if that can help me with transferring my vids off the old camcorder, as you previously suggested

----- Graham Hughes, MVP Digital Media wrote: ----

It's been a long time since someone called me Mr Hughes Glad you ar
sorted, or at least know where you going
Graha

-
Graham Hughe
MVP Digital Medi
www.simplydv.co.u

Thanks for your reply Mr. Hughes. It was more than helpful. I'l

definitely check out the sites you providedseveral years now. But several vendors want to charge me a fortune t
convert my tapes into DVDs. I'd like them on my computer first for editin
purposesmight come in handy. I'm going all out this time and will soon purchase
Sony DCR-VX3000 MiniDV digital camcorder (my sis-in-law works for th
company, so I'm getting it at half price!). I'll hold off on buying a vide
card until I try the camcorder option first

 

[Graham Hughes, MVP Digital Media]

Best bet, to be sure, is to pose the question on the forum, as I haven't
used that cam!! I'd check on it for you, but I'm off out to dinner in 5 mins

It's only a site I frequent, not actually mine!! But it's great for
camcorder info.

Graham

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.simplydv.co.uk

I went to your website with the posted reviews of the camera I plan to buy

(the sony dcr-vx2100). Do you know of hand if that can help me with
transferring my vids off the old camcorder, as you previously suggested?