Introduction:
VIDBlaster can capture video in variety of ways. There are many devices you can use to capture video depending on your production needs and your budget. Even with low-cost hardware amazing results can be accomplished especially if you use good lighting, reliable cameras, etc. Proper pre-production is essential in obtaining good results. The more you can plan ahead, including testing your production equipment and the location before shooting live, the happier you will be in the long run.
VIDBlaster does not capture audio through any video capture devices, so we are not going to focus on peripherals that include audio capture (FireWire will capture both audio and video however the audio stream will be ignored in VIDBlaster). The best way to capture audio is to use an analog mixer to send the final mix to the input of your computer's audio card to be able to monitor levels and obtain the best quality possible. USB mixers are not recommended.
You can capture video in several ways with VIDBlaster including FireWire, USB 2.0, dedicated PCI video capture cards and using the screen capture option within the camera module. Please note that FireWire & USB 2.0 require a direct connection between the capture device, the video camera and the computer. In other words, you cannot use a hub, nor can you have more than one capture device or cable attached to one card. For example, if your computer did not have a USB 2.0 port or a FireWire connection and you wanted to use VIDBlaster with 3 cameras, you would need 3 dedicated USB or FireWire cards; one for each camera.
Hardware Devices:
FireWire has been around for awhile and is easy to use and reliable. Some of the drawbacks include short cable lengths (IEEE 1394a spec states 4.5 meters or 15 feet, although some vendors claim their cables can be used in runs up to 75 feet) and lack of support by some video camera manufacturers.
The USB 2.0 spec states maximum cable lengths to be 5 meters or 16.4 feet. However attaching a USB capture device with composite cables (either with RCA or BNC connectors) lengths can be greatly increased with little signal degradation. USB 2.0 requires a hardware device which can be had for under $50. These devices work well and with good quality. One drawback is the drivers. Since these devices were created with only one capture device per computer in mind (these devices were designed for converting old VHS movies to DVD), XP or Vista can get confused in trying to recognize multiple instances of the installed drivers along with USB capture devices. However with patience there are some workarounds. There seems to be 2 flavors of USB 2.0 capture devices, the “EasyCap” and the VC-211V, the latter it seems employs better drivers that overcome this obstacle although it is a bit more expensive.
One more note about USB 2.0 cards. Some people have had a difficult time “syncing” the proper video format with their device. While all of these devices and cards support PAL, NTSC and SECAM, sometimes the drivers get “stuck” in a particular format. One workaround is using a program called Handy AVI. Just open a new window, go to video format and choose the appropriate video format (NTSC, PAL or SECAM). Now the drivers should behave properly.
Video capture cards like the Osprey series offer excellent video quality, multiple card support and driver recognition for more than one card. In many ways they can be easier to use since all of the components are installed in the computer and just by hooking up the appropriate RCA cables to your cameras, you are ready to shoot. While their spec sheets might be bit confusing, the Osprey cards roughly breakdown to the following criteria:
100 Series - 4 inputs, but only one channel (you can only capture video through one of the inputs, the others will be ignored).
200/300 Series - Much like the 100 series but with the addition of audio capture (not needed), stereo inputs and breakout boxes.
440 Series - 4 input, 4 channel card. Yep, that means it can capture 4 video/audio signals at the same time. Very nice but rather expensive.
You could buy (4) 100 series cards and have enough hard-earned cash left over to purchase a nice 500GB external drive.
Screen Capture:
While often overlooked, a really cool feature that VIDBlaster offers is the screen capture option in the camera module. Using a dual monitor setup (you could try this with a single monitor but it would be more challenging) you can quickly select an area of your screen that has a window of a video conference or live broadcast. You can then cut or dissolve to that camera module and you can bring the video/audio into your production even though the video may be originating thousands of miles away.
VIDBlaster can capture video in variety of ways. There are many devices you can use to capture video depending on your production needs and your budget. Even with low-cost hardware amazing results can be accomplished especially if you use good lighting, reliable cameras, etc. Proper pre-production is essential in obtaining good results. The more you can plan ahead, including testing your production equipment and the location before shooting live, the happier you will be in the long run.
VIDBlaster does not capture audio through any video capture devices, so we are not going to focus on peripherals that include audio capture (FireWire will capture both audio and video however the audio stream will be ignored in VIDBlaster). The best way to capture audio is to use an analog mixer to send the final mix to the input of your computer's audio card to be able to monitor levels and obtain the best quality possible. USB mixers are not recommended.
You can capture video in several ways with VIDBlaster including FireWire, USB 2.0, dedicated PCI video capture cards and using the screen capture option within the camera module. Please note that FireWire & USB 2.0 require a direct connection between the capture device, the video camera and the computer. In other words, you cannot use a hub, nor can you have more than one capture device or cable attached to one card. For example, if your computer did not have a USB 2.0 port or a FireWire connection and you wanted to use VIDBlaster with 3 cameras, you would need 3 dedicated USB or FireWire cards; one for each camera.
Hardware Devices:
FireWire has been around for awhile and is easy to use and reliable. Some of the drawbacks include short cable lengths (IEEE 1394a spec states 4.5 meters or 15 feet, although some vendors claim their cables can be used in runs up to 75 feet) and lack of support by some video camera manufacturers.
The USB 2.0 spec states maximum cable lengths to be 5 meters or 16.4 feet. However attaching a USB capture device with composite cables (either with RCA or BNC connectors) lengths can be greatly increased with little signal degradation. USB 2.0 requires a hardware device which can be had for under $50. These devices work well and with good quality. One drawback is the drivers. Since these devices were created with only one capture device per computer in mind (these devices were designed for converting old VHS movies to DVD), XP or Vista can get confused in trying to recognize multiple instances of the installed drivers along with USB capture devices. However with patience there are some workarounds. There seems to be 2 flavors of USB 2.0 capture devices, the “EasyCap” and the VC-211V, the latter it seems employs better drivers that overcome this obstacle although it is a bit more expensive.
One more note about USB 2.0 cards. Some people have had a difficult time “syncing” the proper video format with their device. While all of these devices and cards support PAL, NTSC and SECAM, sometimes the drivers get “stuck” in a particular format. One workaround is using a program called Handy AVI. Just open a new window, go to video format and choose the appropriate video format (NTSC, PAL or SECAM). Now the drivers should behave properly.
Video capture cards like the Osprey series offer excellent video quality, multiple card support and driver recognition for more than one card. In many ways they can be easier to use since all of the components are installed in the computer and just by hooking up the appropriate RCA cables to your cameras, you are ready to shoot. While their spec sheets might be bit confusing, the Osprey cards roughly breakdown to the following criteria:
100 Series - 4 inputs, but only one channel (you can only capture video through one of the inputs, the others will be ignored).
200/300 Series - Much like the 100 series but with the addition of audio capture (not needed), stereo inputs and breakout boxes.
440 Series - 4 input, 4 channel card. Yep, that means it can capture 4 video/audio signals at the same time. Very nice but rather expensive.
You could buy (4) 100 series cards and have enough hard-earned cash left over to purchase a nice 500GB external drive.
Screen Capture:
While often overlooked, a really cool feature that VIDBlaster offers is the screen capture option in the camera module. Using a dual monitor setup (you could try this with a single monitor but it would be more challenging) you can quickly select an area of your screen that has a window of a video conference or live broadcast. You can then cut or dissolve to that camera module and you can bring the video/audio into your production even though the video may be originating thousands of miles away.
To help new users get up to speed quickly, we have assembled a list of hardware that works well with VIDBlaster. Please note that these are suggestions to help you achieve your goals. VIDBlaster & VIDBlasterUS are not affiliated with any manufacturers.
VIDBlaster Hardware Video Capture Devices & Drivers
EasyCap USB 2.0
EasyCap hardware capture devices are readily available all over the Internet. Their prices range from $20 - $45 depending on what is bundled with the hardware.
You typically have 4 inputs; 3 RCA (1 video, 2 audio) and one S-Video connector. Personally I have found that with multiple EasyCap devices attached to your computer, the drivers don't play very nice and the OS requires you to reinstall them each time your reboot.
While a minor pain, it still works. However if I had to choose USB, I would go with the VC-211V USB Devices (see below). Sometimes drivers can be hard to find, especially for Vista users.
You typically have 4 inputs; 3 RCA (1 video, 2 audio) and one S-Video connector. Personally I have found that with multiple EasyCap devices attached to your computer, the drivers don't play very nice and the OS requires you to reinstall them each time your reboot.
While a minor pain, it still works. However if I had to choose USB, I would go with the VC-211V USB Devices (see below). Sometimes drivers can be hard to find, especially for Vista users.
Pinnacle Dazzle USB 2.0
I have included the Pinnacle Dazzle USB 2.0 since its been around for awhile and its occasionally mentioned on forums and other areas on the Internet. I have used this device years ago and I obtained acceptable results for the time as long as you don't use the incredibly slow software bundled with the device.
It looks dated and rather bulky. Once again, it was designed for only one unit per computer for capturing old analog tape to a DVD format. Prices are between $45 - $75.
It looks dated and rather bulky. Once again, it was designed for only one unit per computer for capturing old analog tape to a DVD format. Prices are between $45 - $75.
VC-211V USB 2.0 Capture Devices
Nestled high on the rung of the USB 2.0 capture device evolutionary ladder is the VC-211V USB 2.0. While similiar to the EasyCap in many respects, the VC-211V comes with a nice connector that attaches to your computer instead of the actual unit to your USB port. The drivers seem to be more advanced and there are testimonials from users who have incorporated several cameras concurrently with these devices hooked up to their computer with very good results.
Price ranges from $35 to $95. Besides packaging and graphics, if they all bear the VC-211V name and use the SW-1313 driver your should see similiar results. Out of all the USB 2.0 capture devices, this is the one I would purchase and use.
Price ranges from $35 to $95. Besides packaging and graphics, if they all bear the VC-211V name and use the SW-1313 driver your should see similiar results. Out of all the USB 2.0 capture devices, this is the one I would purchase and use.
Osprey is a known name in the video capture card field. The 100 Series allows for 3 RCA inputs and 1 S-Video, however it ONLY accepts one signal at a time. So if you need to capture 3 cameras, you would need 3 cards, along with 3 available PCI slots.
Osprey does offer a 4 input card, rightly called the 440. However since it also captures audio, it is more expensive than purchasing 4 Osprey 100 cards.
These are very nice cards and the drivers are terrific. The 100 Series cards range between $100 - $150. The 440 Series between $850 - $950.
If your budget allows and quality is of primary importance, this is an ideal solution.
Osprey does offer a 4 input card, rightly called the 440. However since it also captures audio, it is more expensive than purchasing 4 Osprey 100 cards.
These are very nice cards and the drivers are terrific. The 100 Series cards range between $100 - $150. The 440 Series between $850 - $950.
If your budget allows and quality is of primary importance, this is an ideal solution.
Osprey 100 Video Capture Card
Behringer 8 Track External Mixer
While sometimes you can pull an auxillary feed of the main board to go directly into your computer, there may be times it is necessary to mix down the audio from mulitple sources (MIC, line, etc. ) before sending it to your computer's audio card.
While there are several good companies offering audio mixers, I am partial to Behringer's quality line of mixers that offer sturdy design, battery power capabilities and affordable pricing. For about $150 you can own a mixer that can accept XLR, RCA or phono inputs along with a digital VU meter.
On a personal note, I have had one of these models for about 8 years and it is amazingly quiet, built like a tank and reliable.
While there are several good companies offering audio mixers, I am partial to Behringer's quality line of mixers that offer sturdy design, battery power capabilities and affordable pricing. For about $150 you can own a mixer that can accept XLR, RCA or phono inputs along with a digital VU meter.
On a personal note, I have had one of these models for about 8 years and it is amazingly quiet, built like a tank and reliable.
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Please use our contact form or email ( scott@vidblasterus.com ), especially if you have additional information to share with other VIDBlaster users.
Please use our contact form or email ( scott@vidblasterus.com ), especially if you have additional information to share with other VIDBlaster users.
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>>> Download the (EasyCap) Syntec 1150 Drivers (XP)
>>> Download the (EasyCap) Syntec 1160 Drivers (Vista)
>>> Download the (VC-211V) SW-1313 driver
>>> Download the USB 2821 driver
>>> Download Windows Media Encorder
>>> Download Flash Media Encoder 3
>>> Download the (EasyCap) Syntec 1160 Drivers (Vista)
>>> Download the (VC-211V) SW-1313 driver
>>> Download the USB 2821 driver
>>> Download Windows Media Encorder
>>> Download Flash Media Encoder 3
Video Capture Devices / Cards / Hardware - ( click on any of the images below for more information )
Drivers & Software: