4 Pin IEEE 1394 PCI Cards

gtghmgtghm New
edited March 2006 in Internet & Media
I have the HD Sony Handycam that is Sony I-Link 4-Pin out. The camera came with a full copy of Vagas Movie Studio so I don't think that I want or need (?) a true capture card but I want to get the right card...

My Dell Laptop has the 4 pin but I want to install an add-on card into my dual Xeon rig and actually use it for something... LOL

I have a vacant 64bit slot but I am using a 3Ware card in Slot 1 of my two 64bit slots.

I also have at least 2 regular PCI slots free.

A friend of mine does Video for weddings and stuff and he has a card that has a processor on board with componet inputs so he can render at full speed, anyone here heard of that and what they cost?

Is it REALLY necessary to have a card like that or can you get the same results using a IEEE card and then rendereing it via software like Premier or Vagas over a longer peroid of time?

Thanks,
"g"

Comments

  • CryptoCrypto W.Sussex UK Member
    edited March 2006
    My Dell Laptop has the 4 pin but I want to install an add-on card into my dual Xeon rig and actually use it for something... LOL

    Is this a 4 pin firewire input? If so it's all you need for video editing direct from your camcorder, plus a lead of course!

    I use Ulead Video Studio 9 with which I can capture in AVI format or direct rendering to MPG if your computer spec is up to it, all through the firewire port.

    I also have a seperate capture card but that is for analogue capture, ie TV input, Svideo etc. I use this card for transferring VHS tapes to DVD.

    By the way, if you need a lead, Sony's leads are about ten times the price of a Belkin, so shop around.

    Cheers

    Crypto
  • gtghmgtghm New
    edited March 2006
    Ok so I have the Sony HDR-HC1 which was reciently updated to the HDR-HC3 Here is a link to the exact model that I have

    http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/ProductDetailDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=1001602&navigationPath=n32080n100027

    It came with Vegas Movie Studio Platinum. I have the connector that will output the Video to Componet for capture and I have a seprate digital audio out.

    So, I am wondering, what is it that I realy need to add to my system to be able to do a good job.

    My system I'll be using for this is

    2.0 Duel Xeon's, 1 gig 400 Rombus (Corsair high speed stuff), GF3 500-TI, 3Ware raid card with 2 100gb WD specl's in Raid 0, 250gb WD specl, and an 80gb 5400, SB live SC, 10/100 Nic, and thats about it...

    The Xeons are HT Xeons. I have a Vacant 64 bit slot and 2 reg pc slots.

    It is a Supermicro board so if I remember right it will take the extra long Video card. (AGP PRO I think)

    This camera can do true 1080i out for capture (supposedly) I just need the space and the right setup to capture as much detail as it can yet speed is not a huge thing. I already found out that renerding detail in Video takes a long time no matter how fast your rig is. I am paticent and have more than one machine to use in my house so that rig can be tied up for as long as it needs...

    Given all that, what would be the recommended "adds" to my system to do the job?

    I initialy thought all I needed was an IEEE card which I have but it is the one with the huge plug, 9 pin I think its called... So now that I see no direct 4 pin to pin IEEE add on cards I'm not sure what to get or what it is that I realy need. Is the ILink or 4 pin to 4 pin the best way and quality to caputre the Video or should I get a setup that allows me to use the Componet to the computer with a seperate audio input?

    Or

    Should I look at an actual Video cature card, I have heard of them having a CPU on board them with RAM that allows them to render in real time, but I don't know where to look and how much to spend.

    -"g"
  • CryptoCrypto W.Sussex UK Member
    edited March 2006
    "g"
    your camcorder has an iLINK port, this is firewire. That's all you need to get your DV tapes transferred to your PC in AVI format. AVI format is the best for editing, it's a lossless transfer so by definition you don't lose any quality yet.

    You need a firewire input for your PC, the four pin device that you mentioned could be the one. Have a look in your manual. You only need four pins to transfer your files.

    The seperate capture cards usually convert analogue files to MPG format with their built in hardware. You need a fast processor for this. The downside of capturing in MPG is that editing creates potential problems, particularly with audio sync.

    To sum up, my two pence worth, get a firewire cable ( don't use the supplied composite) and capture your DV via firewire. Edit the AVI file with suitable software (I use Ulead Video Studio 9) and then render the final project to MPEG 2 and then subsequently burn to DVD.

    Good luck

    Crypto :)
  • gtghmgtghm New
    edited March 2006
    Cool thanks,

    "g"
  • drasnordrasnor Starship Operator Hawthorne, CA Icrontian
    edited March 2006
    Since your camera is digital then the video is already compressed in some flavor of MPEG (MiniDVs are MPEG2). Going to analog and then doing analog capture and recompression on your computer will result in a quality loss so it's better to just copy the MPEG2 stream over to your computer via i.LINK/FireWire/IEEE1394. If your computer already has 1394, just get a 4 to 6-pin cable; no need to buy another card.

    -drasnor :fold:
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