View Full Version : Capture Cards?
Alminox
16 Jul 2008, 10:14
Hello all.
I was wondering if VidBlaster is compatible with capture cards like the Osprey 210? If there was much to gain by taking the capture load off the CPU and on to the cards?
Basically I was wondering how big an improvement, if any, there would be, if I stuck 4 Orprey cards in a VidBlaster box...
/Nocturnal Project
VidBlaster works with every Windows compatible capture device, i.e. every device that comes with a WDM driver. I don't have any of the Osprey cards so cannot tell you how efficient their drivers are, but the cards that I have tried give performance increase over direct firewire and USB connection. Don't expect a spectacular CPU usage reduction, as when using firewire most of the work has also been done. The main reason I prefer to use capture devices is that composite video cables are much easier to use and extend, and cards like the Conceptronic (see help) are very fast and give no noticable delay (unlike most cameras on their firewire output).
If you're going to try an Osprey card, I would appreciate it if you can share your experiences here.
Alminox
16 Jul 2008, 11:14
I looked up the Conceptronic Home Video Creator and they look nice... ... and definately cheaper ;D
Can more then one be connectet to the same box?
/ Nocturnal Project
I assume you do not live in the US? I've tried looking for them there but could not find them (I live in the Netherlands).
Yes, I used 4 without problems. Another great thing about them is that you only need to install the driver, no tons of software you don't need/want.
Alminox
16 Jul 2008, 11:54
He he... I was wondering what an american was dooing online at this hour... I'm from Denmark...
--Randy--
29 Jul 2008, 21:40
My question is...what kind of capture card can I use to capture video on the box NOT running VidBlaster.....that will feed out a Firewire or USB signal, so I can run that into the box running VidBlaster.
I am wanting to Live Stream MS Flight Simulator and running that and VidBlaster on the same box appears to be a bit too taxing for it.
Thanks for any help on this.
I did a search for VGA-to-USB adapters and came up with this:
Epiphan VGA to USB Video Grabber
http://sewelldirect.com/VGA-to-USB-Video-Grabber_specs.asp
The only problem is the cost: $300.
I did find some VGA-to-TV adapters that produce analog video output but you would need your analog capture board (or video to USB adapter). That solution may be cheaper but I don't think the capture resolution for this would be good as the Epiphan solution. (That may not matter for a 320x240 video.)
Tom
--Randy--
30 Jul 2008, 02:37
Well Tom, I really appreciate all the effort you are going to.
When I thought of doing this I never dreamed it would be so difficult....ha!!
It seemed like such a simple idea....little did I know.
I will do some looking around now that I have an idea of what I am trying to accomplish.
Thanks again.
Just buy a cheap 50 bucks capture device and plug video out from the other PC in it.
--Randy--
30 Jul 2008, 13:56
Just buy a cheap 50 bucks capture device and plug video out from the other PC in it.
So let me get this straight.
PC #1 is running the application I want to capture the screen of....PC #2 is running VidBlaster.
I get a video capture card and put in PC #1 to capture the screen and it outputs a VGA signal. Then I get another capture card and put that in PC #2 and run VGA from capture card 1 to capture card 2 and VidBlaster will pick that up as a camera signal....right??
No. You take the video output (most PCs have a tv out, often called svideo) of PC 1 and input that into a cheap capture card. The capture card is plugged into PC 2 (either PCI or USB). It's no different from capture video from a camera's video output.
Just buy a cheap 50 bucks capture device and plug video out from the other PC in it.
I don't think the cheap capture devices will capture VGA video. The ones I've seen capture composite video (from VHS, camcorders, etc.). You still need a box to convert VGA to composite video or a more expensive VGA to USB converter.
Tom
No. You take the video output (most PCs have a tv out, often called svideo) of PC 1 and input that into a cheap capture card. The capture card is plugged into PC 2 (either PCI or USB). It's no different from capture video from a camera's video output.
I have four WinXP computers here and none have a tv out (svideo) signal. I've only seen that on some special Media Center computers.
Tom
I'm not going to turn this into a match, but I have about 20 PCs and seeing different numbers :) Note many don't recognize the video out, although I would think you do. Look up the VGA output and check if there's a small round connector with 4 (or more) holes next to it. If you happen to not have a video output on your PC, buy the cheapest VGA card you can find that has one. Should not cost you more than 20 bucks. Even the cheapest video capture cards have svideo in, so that shouldn't be a problem.
--Randy--
30 Jul 2008, 14:38
Sorry to start a controversy here...ha.
I checked and I have an svideo out on my video card so looks like I am in luck.
Hey thanks a bunch guys......now kiss and make up.
Randy
Only if you shave first Tom :-*
I'm afraid shaving won't put svideo connectors on my PC. :)
Buying a cheap video card with svideo output is a good cheap solution.
I just purchased EasyCap from EBAY - 24 Bucks has Composite Video in and S-Video In. I will test it out and see if I can make it work and Poast back here when I find out if it works.
the EastCap caputer device I purchased from ebay works great, I am so happy with it I just purchased another one to have for my other camera. It worked great, install and set up was easy, a quichk reboot and I was up and running. ;D
Did you have to install the full Ulead video software in order to use the EasyCap or could you just install the driver?
Tom
I just installed the drivers, I use Pinnacle for editing . I tryed it on another computer where my editing software was not installed and I installed the ulead and it also worked fine. What is the experience your having?
cbudrecki
06 Nov 2008, 03:56
Just buy a cheap 50 bucks capture device and plug video out from the other PC in it.
So let me get this straight.
PC #1 is running the application I want to capture the screen of....PC #2 is running VidBlaster.
I get a video capture card and put in PC #1 to capture the screen and it outputs a VGA signal. Then I get another capture card and put that in PC #2 and run VGA from capture card 1 to capture card 2 and VidBlaster will pick that up as a camera signal....right??
sorry to bring up a dead topic, but a device called a scan converter will do the trick. It takes a VGA input (from Computer 1) and gives you a composite, or S-video, output. You would then take that output and connect it to a capture card on computer 2 like any other camera input.
abouvette
21 May 2009, 17:22
Has anyone tried an Osprey-440 card (or similar) with VidBlaster? I need to know if I can plug in (up to) 4 cameras and have them all available at the same time (as if I had 4 separate connected devices) in VidBlaster.
Thanks in advance!
Has anyone tried an Osprey-440 card (or similar) with VidBlaster? I need to know if I can plug in (up to) 4 cameras and have them all available at the same time (as if I had 4 separate connected devices) in VidBlaster.
Thanks in advance!
Not sure about the 440card but,
If you have the budget try an Osprey-450e @ http://www.viewcast.com/product_osprey450e.asp.
Not cheap but able to able to capture 4 channels simultaneously at full frame.(640x480) at 30fps. Plus it can capture audio also so you can run your mixer in to one of the channels and VB can be set to that channel for audio. This card is designed for streaming multiple inputs to multiple streams if you use their propriatary software. VB doesn't need that. Base price about $1000 US.
I stream weekly at www.1goodshepherd.org/live. I also be record to DVD direct in full frame and archiving to wmv for web storage.
Works great for me! Hope this helps!
abouvette
22 May 2009, 15:27
Has anyone tried an Osprey-440 card (or similar) with VidBlaster? I need to know if I can plug in (up to) 4 cameras and have them all available at the same time (as if I had 4 separate connected devices) in VidBlaster.
Thanks in advance!
Not sure about the 440card but,
If you have the budget try an Osprey-450e @ http://www.viewcast.com/product_osprey450e.asp.
Not cheap but able to able to capture 4 channels simultaneously at full frame.(640x480) at 30fps. Plus it can capture audio also so you can run your mixer in to one of the channels and VB can be set to that channel for audio. This card is designed for streaming multiple inputs to multiple streams if you use their propriatary software. VB doesn't need that. Base price about $1000 US.
I stream weekly at www.1goodshepherd.org/live. I also be record to DVD direct in full frame and archiving to wmv for web storage.
Works great for me! Hope this helps!
Hi Allan,
I believe it does help. I think the 450e is more or less the same card but PCI express bus instead of PCI. Its a couple of hundred dollars more than the 440.
I would recommend that you go to that website(Osprey-450e @ http://www.viewcast.com/product_osprey450e.asp.) and contact support and explain you needs. That is what I did and they were VERY helpful. If I remember correctly, the 450e is PCI express 2.0 and they advised me to keep the full frame with no latency, I needed that. I can say that there is no lag at all.
BTW! last I checked none of the driver support for any of their cards have Vista or 64 bit drivers. I run mine on Vista 32 bit machine with XP 32 bit driver (per osprey support recommendation)
Good luck!
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