Video Capture Question

I’ve been doing some digging but I can’t seem to find a resource to tell me if what I’m after is possible or not. So when all else fails… bounce it off the IDO membership.

Is it possible to capture in digital format component video coming from a video out? I’ve run across all sorts of video signal converters but none that would seem to be able to do what I need here. Ideally I’d like to convert that component signal to digital and then save that information directly to a hard drive for processing at a later date.

Anyone?

We’re talking regular video, like yellow plug rca? to component video? (red green blue) if so, I don’t think it can be done. But I’ve been wrong before.

Can’t really help you, but back when I was looking for some info I ran across This forum and there seems to be a good wealth of info there.

pretty cool LINK to just about all video questions.
148,000 users, and 1.7 million articles…
lots of info.
Jack.

I’ve been there but after 3 tries at registering I give up trying to get on there to ask up a couple questions. Apparently their account activation system is out of whack. Bummer… that site looks to be a good resource.

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We’re talking regular video, like yellow plug rca? to component video? (red green blue) if so, I don’t think it can be done. But I’ve been wrong before.

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I’m hoping to be able to capture a yellow plug rca signal and record it as DV. I have no idea if it is possible or not…. the search goes on.

I’m not sure if we’re on the same page but I bought a DVR with an 80hd that I use on the back side of some wireless security cameras run/split to a dvd burner and a dsl modem so I can view it anywhere with a internet connection or just burn a DVD. My cameras’ recievers are audio/video outputs. There is adapters too. I had to use Audio/Video to BNC to connect to my dvr.

Hope that doesn’t sound too confusing…..

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I’ve been there but after 3 tries at registering I give up trying to get on there to ask up a couple questions. Apparently their account activation system is out of whack. Bummer… that site looks to be a good resource.

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I’m a registered user I’ll PM you my Login info feel free use it all you want.

Correct me if I’m wrong…

Component = RGB cables

Composite = yellow video (RCA)

If it is the yellow, it should be easy if you have a DV camcorder that can ‘pass through’ a signal and capture it as DV (avi) or record it to your DV camera.

I can do it with my Digital 8 camera. I’ve got HDD space if you need some help.

What media type is this coming from?

If your talking capturing with a laptop, I bought video capture/TV cards for Doc and I on Ebay to do the video of the submerged boat I put on my web site. Plugs right in the PCMCIA card slot. Think I paid like $15 each.

Also, I think the guys from the Yahoo users group for side scan have been looking for a way to use the AquaVu DVR unit, like I use with the MAV unit, to record from the RCA port the Humminbird 1197 when its released.

A very recent post on BassHoles.com, the guy just got a responce by NatureVisons customer service they don’t have an adapter cord for the DVR yet but because of interest of recording from that new Fish TV, they’re working on it. Call back in 60 to 90 days.

I think the video card did the best quality but if you want to compare the two go to my site and check the Video page. The boat on bottom is with the laptop, the others are with a DVR unit. http://www.accuemap.com/ Right now I’m trying to find a suitable shelter that’d be warm enough to run the computer and gear in to do videos under the ice of “Fish Gone Bad”. Hopefully the only thing will stink might be my work.

There are bunchs of companies too, if you google, that make RCA/USB converters you can use with a laptop.

WarrenMN

I have a composite (yellow rca) signal coming from a color sony camera that does not have record capabilities.

I would like to convert that composite signal to DV (I have found a number of converters that can do this easily).

After the signal is converted is where it gets tricky. Or at least I think it does. I do not want to use a pc between the converter and the storage drives. Ideally I would like the converted signal to be stored directly to large drive for later use.

Am I dreaming?

The AquaVu DVR uses SD cards. There I’m suggesting the Sandisk Extreme III. You can get it up to 4gb right now. The reason on the Extreme III is I undertand they’re mademore rugged for bad weather conditions and its temp operating range is -13F to 185F. Toss in its 133 times faster than a standard SD card. Sale might be over but Circuit City was having a sale on the 2gb ones for $35 and one of the other guys on the side scan group found a price of $50 for 4gb on another site.

WarrenMN

651-982-1401 if you want to call

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The AquaVu DVR uses SD cards.

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Those DVR’s heavily compress the signal so it won’t work for my application and the size of the data file would fill that 4 GB card in about 4 minutes. I’ll need approximately 60 Gb per hour to do what I need to do… so I’m planning to record to a NAS server with a couple terrabytes of available storage. But thanks for the suggestion.

Your going to have to have a warm inside place then. Hard drives don’t like it cold. Thats why I had thought about contact Frabil on their R2-Tec for doing working out of. You can really turn up the heaters but I think that invites accidents with wiring.

The video input cards can run higher rates too, like AVI or MPG4. You might want to consider a laptop and then save to an external very large hard drive or drives. I like my Panasonic Tough Book cause it has a heater built in under the hard drive but thats battery time if your traveling light like I do.

Some thing else to remember is these cameras aren’t going to give you the same quality video to start with as a big shoulder unit.

WarrenMN

James,

Did you check out this manufacturer?

hauppauge

I think you will need a PC in between your NAS device and the camera. I can’t imagine any NAS device having the proper GUI/Interface to capture directly. I’m not saying there isn’t such a beast, just not something I’ve ever run across.

If you can’t find the solution you are looking for and end up going down the PC route, make sure you get the fastest connection possible from the PC to the NAS device. I would also recommend your PC be a beefy pig.

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James,

Did you check out this manufacturer?

hauppauge

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I did, and they have some cool products, but I can’t find a way to get around the pc requirement. I think I’m barking up the wrong tree.

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I think you will need a PC in between your NAS device and the camera. I can’t imagine any NAS device having the proper GUI/Interface to capture directly. I’m not saying there isn’t such a beast, just not something I’ve ever run across.

If you can’t find the solution you are looking for and end up going down the PC route, make sure you get the fastest connection possible from the PC to the NAS device. I would also recommend your PC be a beefy pig.

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Really waht I’m hoping to find is a converter that has a simple interface that allows me to dump to a NAS or portable drive.

It is starting to look like I’m dreaming. There are other ways to do it… but minidv cameras with video in get a little pricey.

Thanks gents. The search continues.

I’m questioning how the camera knows where to store the raw video. Maybe it doesn’t care it just knows to dump the video out the RCA port.

If so, then the device gathering the data must know to accept it and where to store it. Typically NAS devices have CIFS shares(Windows) created on them or the Linux equivalent of course. Once the share is created, you then have a pot of storage to utilize.

What type of interfaces do you have on your NAS? Ethernet only I suspect. Hence, NAS, network attached storage.

You got me scratching my head.

I think your best solution is a Minidv camera with video input. I dont know how you would do that direct.

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I’m questioning how the camera knows where to store the raw video.

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I don’t think it does. It is just sending the signal down the composite cable.

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What type of interfaces do you have on your NAS? Ethernet only I suspect. Hence, NAS, network attached storage.

You got me scratching my head.

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Ethernet and 2 – USB 2.0 ports for connecting other devices… like a video converter box.

My gutt tells me it wont work without a way to interface the converter with the NAS and tell it where to dump the video files.

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I think your best solution is a Minidv camera with video input. I dont know how you would do that direct.

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That’s what I’m doing now. But when you have 4 – 6 cameras being recorded by 4 – 6 cameras… we have equipment EVERWHERE. We’re carting 4 VCR’s, about 20 – 12 volt batteries, inverters, underwater cameras… and now we’ve added a generator.

I’m going to find a way to streamline this.

Man, Kooty sounded smart there for a second

I am just following along because I get to share in hauling all that gear. I am waiting for someone to come up with a solution..please

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Man, Kooty sounded smart there for a second

I am just following along because I get to share in hauling all that gear. I am waiting for someone to come up with a solution..please

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Yahhh, mule!

It is getting out of hand. And that list doesn’t include any fishing gear or the camera guys gear.

I’ll keep digging and I plan to make some phone calls later this afternoon to see if I can get on a trail to chase. So far… without a fleet of lapt tops… I’ve got nuttin’.

I’m getting head spins just trying to keep up with you guys. Maybe you should just plug your dohicky into the whatchamacallit and call it a day.

James,

So if I understand correctly, you want something like this:

hammacher

but instead of going to an Ipod you want it to go to an external hard drive right?

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James,

So if I understand correctly, you want something like this:

hammacher

but instead of going to an Ipod you want it to go to an external hard drive right?

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Exactly. And I wouldn’t want the image compressed to a smaller size. I would want it to retain the original image scaling.

That unit is close, very, very close!

And here I’m fussing around trying to set up some thing for myself that could be pulled out by hand. Totally different worlds. I’m only looking towards WMF web streaming.

WarrenMN

Sorry James – I’ve done a lot of research, spoke to some techies and posted your question on some AVS forums and the consensus is it’s impossible to do what you want to achieve without using a PC.

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Sorry James – I’ve done a lot of research, spoke to some techies and posted your question on some AVS forums and the consesus is it’s impossible to do what you want to achieve without using a PC.

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I thank you for digging my friend! I came to the same conclusion… no can do. That Ipod device is awful darn close though.

James,

Did you check this one out?

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