#Frame Grabber?
12 messages in this thread
Has anybody heard of a product called Frame Grabber? It's supposed to be able
to freeze a frame from a videotape and then be able to save it in a graphic
format in windows.
Is this the best product for such an application or are there better products
out there? Thanks! -Sholom-
Hi Sholom,
>> Frame Grabber << is a function of many cards. There are over 20 cards by
now that do frame grabing. To find the best you need to have a few things
clear first.
Do you want just still images?
Do you want only running footage?
What is the max size of the screen that you need?
If you want running footage, how long might the longest peice be
and how much disk space do you have for it.
And what price range are you looking at.
Is it for a lap top?
What bus is the PC?
Is it a PC or an Apple?
ken
>> Do you want just still images? <<
Yes, still images.
>> And what price range are you looking at. <<
about 2-300, possible?
>> What bus is the PC? <<
VESA
>> Is it a PC or an Apple? <<
PC
BTW, have you heard of a product which will do this attached to a paralell
port?
Thanks! -Sholom-
Hi Sholom,
There are two or more Frame Grabbers that hook up to
the parallel port on a PC. PC Zone sells a box
called the Presenter Video Capture 2 for $258.98
there number is 1-800-258-2088
ken
Sholom,
There is a new Frame Grabber from Play, Inc. called the "Snappy" that plugs
into the parallel port of an IBM Compatible and does a pretty good job
digitizing video for about $200.
-John
Sholom:
>Has anybody heard of a product called Frame Grabber? It's supposed to be able
to freeze a frame from a videotape and then be able to save it in a graphic
format in windows.<
I think "Frame Grabber" used to be card that simply captured still video frames
and digitized them to your computer. Since then, a number of video digitizing
cards have come out, most of which can grab either still frames or 15 fps
video.
I use the Intel Smart Video Recorder Pro for both still frame grabs and for
motion video capture. It works well w/Windows and gives you 640 x 480 pixel
images at 72 fps, which can be manipulated in PhotoShop (or another photo
editing program) to whatever size and resolution you need. There are other
cards out there that are either as good or better, or less expensive, depending
on your needs.
Hope this helps,
Tim Liebe
Contributing Editor,
VIDEO Magazine
Timothy,
So, what are our PCI capture options? In other threads here, I have heard
about the AITech, Matrox Marvel II, an future boards from Miro and
Thundervision. Any others that you know of? Any word on the quality of these
vs. best ISA options? You also mention that there are better options than the
Intel SVRP. Which are better in your experience? Regards, Robb.
Robb:
>So, what are our PCI capture options? <
That, I wouldn't know about–sorry. Others on this thread, tho, certainly do.
>You also mention that there are better options than the Intel SVRP. Which are
better in your experience? <
In my experience, again I don't know for sure–but like you, I've heard good
things about Thundervision, Miro, Matrox, etc.
Sorry, but my computer at home only has the Smart Video Pro card, and I'm not
yet blessed with the chance to review the real *fun* cards…
Tim
>> I use the Intel Smart Video Recorder Pro for both still frame grabs and
for motion video capture. It works well w/Windows and gives you 640 x 480 pixel
images at 72 fps <<
Isn't that very good? I mean, regular video is 30 fps, no?
Well, basiclly I need to be ablee to capture a frame from a VHS tape and print
it out on an Epson Color Stylus.
BTW, have you heard of a product which will do this attached to a paralell
port?
Thanks! -Sholom-
Sholom:
>> I use the Intel Smart Video Recorder Pro for both still frame grabs and
for motion video capture. It works well w/Windows and gives you 640 x 480 pixel images at 72 fps <<
>Isn't that very good? I mean, regular video is 30 fps, no?<
Well, if it captured 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps (60 fields/second), it *would*
be–but in 640×480 mode, it only captures @ *2* fps! So that's fine for frame
grabbing, but not so great for motion video…
>Well, basiclly I need to be ablee to capture a frame from a VHS tape and print
it out on an Epson Color Stylus.<
For that, the Smart Video Recorder's fine! It'll give you reasonably good color
accuracy and capturing single frames is pretty easy–you just click on the
single frame icon in its window and it captures it, then go into your file menu
and save single frame by whatever name you want. It only captures files in .DIB
bitmap format, though–which PhotoShop 2.5 doesn't seem to recognize–but you
can always rename it as a .BMP file (BTW, does *anyone* know why the SVRP
doesn't offer .BMP as an alternate still format to .DIB?–I mean, they're
pretty much the same…).
>BTW, have you heard of a product which will do this attached to a paralell
port?<
Not offhand–I've heard of external genlocks (for outputting computer images to
videotape), though, so I'm sure *somebody's* got a product that goes the other
way. I just don't know names or how it works, for now.
Best,
Tim
Sholom,
I use an Apple QuickTake digital camera for Windows to get medium quality full
color images onto my PC's with minimum hassle, i.e., connects via serial cable,
NO "frame grabber" card required. Cost was under $700 US. The images are
good, but the minimum focal length is 4 feet (1.3 meters) which is a limitation
for some work. I have been working with some 3rd party lenses for more close
up work. For higher end work, we are looking at Kodak and Fuji digitals.
Perhaps the QuickTake would meet your needs if you do not need to work from
video tape. Food for thought. Regards, Robb.
>> Perhaps the QuickTake would meet your needs if you do not need to work
from video tape. Food for thought. Regards, Robb. <<
Thanks, but it needs to be from video tape. -Sholom-