Video Capture Devices

Not all video capture devices are created equal. Here's a list of DVD recorders, capture cards and capture cables, along with what we know about them.

If reading this page to find out whether a specific device is good or not, take it with a grain of salt, as you would with any review. Most of these views are based on one person's experience.

See HDTV Lag for instructions on how to test a device's lag. The source PC/laptop should be connected to the device and the TV or destination PC/laptop's set to the appropriate channel. Each F2 (25/30fps) frame of difference on the screen is 40ms (PAL) or ~33ms (NTSC). When working out the lag in ms you should use a median number - e.g. if PAL lag is 2 or 3 frames, the stated lag will be halfway between 80 and 120 (i.e. 100).

Don't assume that your recorder has no lag just because you can't see any. Any digital recorder - which includes all these devices - has at least one frame of lag due to the way they work.

Inputs:

RF Analogue SD, low quality. Uses coaxial cable for audio and video. AKA "TV aerial plug", "PAL connector".

Cmps "Composite video". Analogue SD, medium quality. Uses a yellow RCA plug for video and one (white) or two (white/red) RCA plugs for audio.

SVid "S-Video". Analogue SD, high quality. Uses a black 4-pin Mini-DIN plug for video and RCA plugs (as Composite) for audio.

SCART Analogue SD, very high quality. Uses large rectangular connector for audio and video. AKA "Péritel", "Euroconnector". Europe only.

Cmpn "Component video". Analogue SD/HD, very high quality. Uses three (red/green/blue) RCA plugs for video and red/white RCA plugs for audio.

HDMI Digital SD/HD. Uses a single connector for video and audio.

Opt "Optical Audio". Digital. Uses a fibre-optic cable for audio only. Rare.

Want to add to this page? See the VCD List Topic on the forum for details.

DVD Recorders

PC Video Capture Cards

PC USB Video Capture Cables