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Video capture cards are now such a part of the technology mainstream that the vital roles they perform world of multimedia can only too easily be overlooked.

Indeed, in both professional and home environments, video capture devices can be indispensable, helping to bridge the gap between IT hardware and video of all kinds.

One key task in which video capture cards play a role is that of transferring analogue film from video cassettes in to digital format that can be viewed and manipulated on a computer. In this situation, the user will install a video capture card on to their computer (this is usually separate from the main graphic display in the system). They will then plug their VHS playback deck in to the capture card using an appropriate cable (e.g., SCART). They will then insert a video cassette in to the VHS player, press “play” and record the output direct on to the computer, using special recording software that comes supplied with the PC or MAC.

In a more professional context, video capture cards are used to record in real-time the screen activity of individual PCs on trading floors: a secure means of recording transactions for logging and compliance purposes. Such a professional application of video capture requires the kind of powerful, robust, industrial strength capture cards that we specialise in here at Datapath.

We could be just the right people to provide the fast, reliable video capture hardware you are looking for to meet your enterprise-level video capture requirements.

During the past decade or so the way we experience moving pictures has changed in three ways. First, digital video has increasingly becoming the norm. Analogue filming, storing images on celluloid, has been largely superseded by the classic zeros and ones that make up digital file formats. Second, high definition video has entered the mainstream of both the consumer and industrial markets, becoming available through HDTV and the internet. Third, streaming video over the internet is becoming increasingly commonplace.

Overall, this has led to consumers expecting high resolution video on their TV, cinema, and computer screens, even on their mobile devices.

This expectation produced something of a dilemma for hardware manufacturers. The problem was how to keep up with the rapid rise in quality when it came to capturing a piece of high definition video on a second device, such as a computer.

Here at Datapath, where we specialise in producing high-quality video hardware for specific industries, we feel we have more than risen to the challenge.We have produced a range of products which will capture HD reliably, and with excellent data transfer speeds. Our HD capture devices, for instance, can be used in the specialist task of recording the video shot by medical equipment, giving great benefit to the medical profession. Our video capture cards can also be relied upon to record stock market trading on individual workstations for auditing purposes.

All in all, we have produced a range of powerful, yet flexible products, which can only benefit those professionally involved in video capture.

If you wish to edit video on your computer, then you will need a video capture card. Capture cards allow you to import video from your camcorder, video or DVD player or digital TV receiver directly to your computer. However, not all video capture devices are the same. Take some time to look into the different models to find one that perfectly matches your needs.

• When shopping for capture cards, check whether they are installed internally or externally. External cards are quick and simple to connect to your PC, usually with a USB data cable. Internal cards will require you to open your computer up to install them. Because they can communicate directly to your computer’s motherboard, they are usually much faster.

• Check the connections that the capture cards have. Most will have S-video and RCA connections, and some will also have component and coaxial connectability. However, if you are going to be using your computer for capturing and editing HD video, you will need a capture card with a HDMI connection.

• Some capture cards come with video capture software. This will allow you to import video to your computer without using a video editing program. This generally makes the process much simpler and considerably faster.

• Before you purchase a capture card, you should make sure that your computer meets, or exceeds, the requirements for it. Ideally, you should have more RAM, and faster processing speed and more hard drive space than what is required.