- The Analog Capture Interface
- Connecting for Analog Capture
- Choosing Your Analog Capture Parameters
- Tuning the Incoming Video Signal
- Adjusting the Incoming Audio Volume
- Capturing Analog Video
- Viewing Your Captured Video
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Choosing Your Analog Capture Parameters
Now that the hardware side is squared away, it's time to start working on the software side by first selecting your capture source and then setting and adjusting your capture parameters.
To select your capture source
- Run Studio and enter Capture mode by selecting the Capture tab at the upper left of the screen (Figure 4.1).
- From the menu bar, choose Setup > Capture Source (Figure 4.12).
The Pinnacle Studio Setup Options dialog box appears.
Figure 4.12 Getting to the Capture Source screen.
- In the Video Capture Devices drop-down menu, select your analog video capture device (Figure 4.13).
Figure 4.13 Choosing your analog video capture device.
- In the Audio Capture Devices drop-down menu, select your analog audio capture device (Figure 4.14).
If your analog capture device has audio input, like the Pinnacle 710-USB I'm using, it should be one of the listed options.
Figure 4.14 Selecting your analog audio capture device.
Select the desired scene-detection option.
Remember that the option Automatic Based on Shooting Time and Date is unavailable because analog tapes don't store this information.
Click OK to return to Capture mode.
At this point, you should be in analog Capture mode, and your screen should look identical to Figure 4.1.
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To configure your capture parameters
- Open the Studio Setup Options dialog box set to the Capture Format tab by doing one of the following:
- Click the Settings button on the Diskometer.
- From the Studio menu, choose Setup > Capture Format (Figure 4.15).
Figure 4.15 Getting to the Capture Format screen via the Setup pull-down (or you can just click the Capture Format tab in the Setup Options screen).
Figure 4.16 For more information on these settings, read the sidebar "Navigating Your Analog Capture Format Options."
Choose the appropriate preset—Good, Better, or Best—for your project.
Studio also offers a Custom option that lets you customize capture options at will. See the sidebar "Navigating Your Analog Capture Format Options" for assistance with selecting the best preset parameters.
- Click OK to return to the capture interface.
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To capture audio and configure video input
- At the top of the Video Options tab (Figure 4.1), select the icon that corresponds to your physical cable connection (in this case, S-Video).
At the top of the Audio Options tab, choose the On button to enable audio capture, to make sure that the audio is up and running.
Once you know it's working, you can disable it if you want by choosing the Off button.
The moment of truth has arrived. Press Play on your camcorder.
You should see video in the Player and hear audio over your computer speakers. If you do, you've jumped a significant hurdle. Now you're ready for analog capture. If you don't get video and audio right away, take heart. I've installed hundreds of capture cards and rarely gotten it right the first time. Run through the steps in this and the previous task one more time. If you still have no signal, check your capture card installation.