Before You Buy a TV Capture Card or Video Capture Card

There are many uses for a Video and TV Capture Card. Do you simply want to capture Video from a Camcorder or VHS tape? Or are you interested in a TV Capture Card that will turn your computer into a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), which will allow you to play and pause live TV and make scheduled recordings of TV shows, like a TiVo? Or perhaps you want a card that is designed for video editing? Whatever your need, there's a Capture Card for all of these functions, and some even do them all!

External Video and TV Capture Cards connect to your Computer with a USB 2.0 cable. Known as Break-out Boxes (BoBs), these cards are plug and play devices that require minimal labor for installation. Simply plug in the USB cable and AC power to the device and the USB cable to your PC and you're ready to capture!

An Internal TV and Video Capture Card requires you to crack open your PCs case and physically install the card. While this requires more labor and some knowledge of computer parts, interal capture cards are typically less expensive than external cards, and usually have more advanced functions.

Video and TV Capture Cards vary in the inputs and outputs they come with. Some cards capture only with a Firewire input (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.LINK), others capture with only Analog inputs (RCA and S-Video), while still others capture both Digital (Firewire) or Analog signals. Capture Cards that work like DVRs will also capture TV signals with coaxial inputs and include TV outputs.

Most TV and Video Capture Cards include software that will allow you to capture TV or Video and then burn to either DVD or Video CD. Some software packages are better than others, so pay attention to what software comes with the card before making a purchase.

Depending on the use of your Capture Card, the prices for TV and Video Capture Cards can vary. Check out my Top 10 list for TV and Video Capture Cards for product overviews and prices.