Capture equipment?

[diesel_dan]

Hi guys!

I've recently started a video game blog (which I'm very excited about--check out the link in my signature if you want to take a look) and would like to add videos and screen caps. I'm a complete beginner when it comes to this sort of thing, and would love some advice to get me started. What equipment and software will I need? Can anyone point me in the right direction?

For what it's worth, I'd like to be able to record anything from the Atari 2600 all the way up through the modern consoles.

Thanks for the help!

[Redifer]

I can't really recommend anything specific on a budget which is likely what you are looking for. But you can try some capture devices and take them back to the store if they don't work particularly well (make sure the store has a good return policy). For capturing consoles like Atari 2600 and whatnot which only feature RF, you'll need to hook the console up to a VCR and then take the composite out of the VCR into your capture device. Good luck!

[eSPy]

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/easycap-us ... port-26319

ive got one of these and it works pretty great for turning my laptop into an alternate TV. i haven't really used it for capturing though even though that would be its main purpose.

pretty affordable and can handle ether composite or S-video.

[Hazerd]

i recommend the ones from http://www.blitzcast.com/ although i dont own any, but they seem very easy to use and at a solid price.

[mugenmidget]

I've had trouble recording from the Genesis and 2600 with most capture cards I've tried. One I've found to work is the Dazzle DVC 100, which is relatively cheap on eBay. The quality is fairly good, but it only accepts Composite and S-Video so you'd still need a VCR workaround like Joe mentioned if your 2600 isn't modded.

[alienjesus]

I just use a dirt cheap easycap capture card (the DC60 model). The quality isn't fantastic, but it's certainly not as bad as you would expect. It accepts AV/Composite or S Video input too. The only downside I had was that it was a pain to install on my PC, but my girlfriends laptop installed it no problem.

If you want to record footage of the game though, dont forget to invest in some splitters to send the signal to the capture device and the TV. The lag during capture makes games unplayable on the PC screen.

For Atari and other console where you might only have an RF/Coax signal, some old VCRs allow you to put RF in and output in S Video or Composite in order to allow it to be captured.

[diesel_dan]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, guys! I'll check these out and let you know what I end up with. Can't wait to get started.

Cheers!

[Redifer]

i recommend the ones from http://www.blitzcast.com/ although i dont own any, but they seem very easy to use and at a solid price.

I'd really like to try this, but I doubt they are sold locally (buying online only to find out it does not meet my needs is very prohibitive). Very few devices allow component video capture and that is how I'd like to record my system footage. With the Genesis I am limited to composite (my capture devices FREAK OUT when I try to put Genesis s-video into them). All other systems I capture S-video or component. I do have a Blackmagic capture card which will do component and HDMI, but it refuses to see 240p video signals (basically anything below the Dreamcast) so I can't capture retro systems with that. Everything is working against me!

[mugenmidget]

Yeah, it is a shame. It'd be nice if someone developed a device dedicated to 240p capture, especially if it meant I could easily stream game footage live at 60 fps. I'd love to buy something like that...

[Redifer]

Micomsoft does make a PCI card that can do this, but it is available in Japan only, the manual is Japanese, the software is in Japanese, good luck. When I asked Blackmagic Design why their Intensity Pro card can't see a goddamned Sega Genesis, they replied and said it was because they only focus on "Professional Broadcast Standards". I'm sure their nose was pointed upwards as they typed it, too. Damn it, if my TV can see it, I want the card to see it, too.