Recording to the Computer

Homestar · Post by **Homestar** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 3:23 am

I am currently trying to make a video-review of a video game (on the Wii), however, I am not finding any easy way to record the information onto my computer.

I am able to capture video live off my camera via fire wire in any format including HD, and I assume there is a similar way to do this off of the TV. My idea is to get an AV splitter for each of the red, white, and yellow cables. One set going into the TV, and the other being converted into a fire wire, S-Video, or USB. I can then easily capture the video through my video editing programming.

It doesn't seem this simple, as the last few people I've talked to have mentioned all sorts of complications, and "TV Tuners" whatever those are. I thought I'd bring it to you guys, as I'm sure one of you knows the solution...

How can I record my video gaming for less than $20?*

*note this does not include the bootleg camera pointed at a video screen method

Delnar_Ersike · Post by **Delnar_Ersike** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 3:33 am

Well, an extremely popular choice is Fraps. Just tell me: what video game are you trying to review? Bioshock?

Homestar · Post by **Homestar** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 3:38 am

This is for a video game on the TV, not on the Computer... unless Fraps works both ways...

F-Zero X

Post by **tr1p1ea** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 3:58 am

Your video-card doesnt happen to have DVI does it? Like an ATI all-in-wonder etc.

Either way your only real option is to use a tv-tuner/video-capture card like these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6815276002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6815100120

Post by **benryves** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 10:15 am

Belkin sold a cheap device that was pretty much an S-Video/composite connector on one end and a USB connector on the other. Hi-Speed USB 2.0 DVD Creator.

Post by **CDI** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 1:30 pm

I hate to say this... But get an old Power Macintosh, check in the back, you pull a 60% chance of it having S-Video in and AV in. I know out of my 4 Power Macs, 3 have it

and all you do is have something record the signal. But that is completely impractical.

I might suggest getting a cheap old PCI AV card and drivers for them [ I have 1 or 2 sitting around ] they have AV jacks on the back and S-Video for newer ones, then moving to coax and DVI. But chances are if you find a cheap old AV one, you're set. 8MB ones go for cheap and get good capture quality on nice systems

Andy_J · Post by **Andy_J** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 9:14 pm

Well the obvious first question is "does your video camera have video inputs", but I'm going to assume you checked that already or you wouldn't have asked.

Most recent video cards (nVidia at least) have some VIVO thingy which lets you capture video. Audio can go through the sound card's line in. If you don't have a card with VIVO, then you'll have to get a TV tuner or some other device as linked above.

King Harold · Post by **King Harold** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 9:43 pm

a completely bad idea but

*note this does not include the bootleg camera pointed at a video screen method

why don't you just point a camera at the screen?
atleast it would just work.. without all those complicated things..
if the camera is nice and stable, and the room is dark, then it can't be that bad can it..

thegamefreak0134 · Post by **thegamefreak0134** » Wed 22 Aug, 2007 10:16 pm

Kind Harold, I have never (in all my many attempts) gotten that method to work with any satisfactory results at all. Sorry...

Honestly, I am going to agree with the crowd, and say a TV tuner is all you need. That, or a video-in card, which is sort of the same thing. (A TV tuner usually has an RF (cable) plug, while a video in card will typically have either S-Video or the RCA (red, white, yellow) plugs. Of course, there are all sorts of combinations of the two.

What you might consider also is a DVD recorder. If you can get access to one of those, you can easilly rip the DVD video onto your PC with a few free programs on the NET. Other than that, my solutions are a bit limited. (I've wanted to do this for a while too.)

-gamefreak

Andy_J · Post by **Andy_J** » Thu 23 Aug, 2007 12:38 am

I have a Hauppauge PVR-150 card, and it has coax and composite (video/left/right) inputs. Most decent cards have both. And make sure you get something with a hardware MPEG encoder: They cost more, but are higher quality and don't tax your CPU nearly as much.