Capturing pinhole cam to PC?

Mark A · 1 Mar 2006 at 22:35

Hi,

I have a pinhole camera installed in a bird box outside and id like to capture the footage to my PC. The wire coming from the cam is A/V and connects to my TV's A/V sockets, id like to know if theres a TV card or usb device i could use to watch through my PC then record when i need to.

cheers

Mark

mrgubby · 1 Mar 2006 at 22:58

Any graphics card with video in should do it or there are loads of cheap & cheerful USB to Video boxes that work as well .I've had a IR video camera in a bird box for a couple of years now with the live feed streamed on the web with webcamXP

Mark A · 1 Mar 2006 at 23:14

thanks for the reply. My gfx card has s-video socket on it but i think this is video out?. Id much rather go with a USB device but do they capture the video in as good quality?. Ive had a quick look around and found this, Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 DVD Creator, this sounds like itll do the job, any one used this product?. It seems a bit dear at £50 though.

Also how would i capture sound with this device?, it looks like it has a lead with audio inputs red/ white then a 3.5mm jack at the other side, would this connect to the microphone socket?.

Thanks

Mark

mrgubby · 2 Mar 2006 at 08:47

I don't think it handles the audio , normally the audio goes straight into the PC sound card. Belkin are not the cheapest supplier , you could get the same type of thing with a TV tuner built in from other suppliers

themask70 · 2 Mar 2006 at 16:12

i would personaly go to Belkin, may be a bit more but they are more reliable

Mark A · 2 Mar 2006 at 18:58

I don't think it handles the audio , normally the audio goes straight into the PC sound card

Unfortunately i don't have a sound card i have on board sound, so where would i have to plug the 3.5mm jack in to record the sound?.

Mark

mrgubby · 2 Mar 2006 at 19:19

Mark A said:
Unfortunately i don't have a sound card i have on board sound, so where would i have to plug the 3.5mm jack in to record the sound?.

Mark

Depending on your motherboard it should be the line-in connection,

Mark A · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:13

Thanks for all your help, my mobo is an Abit AV8, i cant see a line-in but then i dont know what one look like.

Here is a picture of my I/O port, if you could tell me if i have a line-in and which it is that would be a great help. If i dont have a line-in will i need a sound card?. The pink 3.5mm socket on the back has a small picture of a microphone if that helps. Id really like to get sound on as well as a picture as I'm also toying with the idea of putting the cam on my RC car with a wireless transmitter.

Mark

mrgubby · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:50

From the AV8 manual :-

so that should be the blue 3.5mm socket

Mark A · 2 Mar 2006 at 22:47

Ahh excellent i knew there must be one on there somewhere, i was just looking for my manual but couldn't find it. Ill get the belkin i think, Ive looked on google but there doesn't seem to be anything external thats cheaper. There was one i found that was £35 but a reviewer said it drops frames and was low quality, but thats just one persons opinion and they might have an old pc or something so i dont know which to choose. Thanks for the help ill let you know if it works

.

Mark

Mark A · 3 Mar 2006 at 03:06

you could get the same type of thing with a TV tuner built in from other suppliers

I think i have found something abit better, its similar to the belkin product but it has a built in tv tuner, its made by Hauppauge, are they any good?. Heres a link to the product, its the manufacturers website so shouldn't break any rules. Let me know what you think and if anyone has used this for video capture id appreciate your opinions.

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/products/data_usb.html

Thanks

Mark