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How to Buy a Video Capture Card

You use a video capture card to get analog video from a camcorder or VCR onto your computer (that is, to digitize the video) or to transfer video from a digital camcorder to your computer. Consumer video capture cards cost between $200 and $1,000. Several types of external video capture devices cost about $200 or less. Many cards bundle video editing software with the hardware. Instructions Difficulty: Moderate Steps 1 Step One Read reviews in computer and video magazines and on the Internet to narrow your choices. 2 Step Two Compare features of any bundled video editing programs. 3 Step Three Consider a multipurpose video card to save money. 4 Step Four Look for a card with S-VHS quality for better video, or a FireWire (IEE1394) port if you will be using a digital camcorder. 5 Step Five Compare the audio and video inputs and outputs on the cards. Look for an S-video jack if you will be using video hardware with S-video input or output. 6 Step Six Find out the transfer rates of cards under consideration. Expect to pay more for faster cards. 7 Step Seven Compare the capture resolution and color-depth capabilities of cards. 8 Step Eight See if the card allows you to transfer digitized video back to your camcorder or VCR, so you can watch your edited movies on TV. 9 Step Nine Consider external devices such as the Iomega Buz, with SCSI card; composite and S-video in and out jacks; stereo audio in and out jacks; and full-screen playback. 10 Step Ten Consider a Pinnacle Studio series product for software-controlled video editing without video capture. 11 Step Eleven Consider an external device such as a Snappy video digitizer for still-image (only) capture. Tips & Warnings Make sure your computer meets the system requirements of any card you buy.