CompuServe Thread

DCTV v. Framegrabber ?

2 messages in this thread
#14687From: Bill ForcadeJan 5, 1992 11:25 PM
Hi All: I have been considering both the DCTV and the Framegrabber to augment my video stuff. The DCTV seems more to my liking because I can live with the 6-10 sec video capture time and it seems to offer some neat image display options that might improve the quality of images I send to videotape compared to my current VIP video encoder. Can anyone tell me whether I might get poor results with the DCTV compared to the framegrabber in captured image clarity and color. (I have a pretty decent S-VHS/VHS freeze frame VCR). I'm worried that the framegrabber will capture both frames or scans of the image, while the DCTV would only capture the one frame or scan since the VCR is stopped. (Caution: I'm quite a video novice so explain in simple terms). Also, are the DCTV images sent to the VCR or equal or poorer quality thant those sent to a VCR by a genlock (Most of the magazines strongly remind you that the DCTV image is "only NTSC", but don't tell me whether that means a poorer quality than would be produced by a genlock. Thanks for any help. – via Whap!…….from Chicago
#15066From: Patrick DohertyJan 17, 1992 8:55 PM
I dont have any experience with Framegrabber – so I cant help you there. I do have a supergen genlock and a DCTV. The additional colors available with the DCTV allow the NTSC output to look much better than a ham image output through the genlock. VistaPRo output through the DCTV is soooo much better than ham you wont believe it until you see it. If you are undecided buy the DCTV:A GUIDED TOUR ($20) or borrow it. The short section on examples will sell you. I use an AG1950 VHS vcr and was always disapointed with the degradation involved in taping graphics or animations. The taped DCTV output (even on regular VHS) is indistinguishable from direct output! Patrick