Top Video Capture Devices

Hauppauge 1212 High Definition Personal Video Recorder (USB - NTSC, PAL, SECAM)

534 Reviews

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	Price: $209.99
	Price: $179.99
	Price: $210.69
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Pros: Simple USB hook-up. Great high-def picture.
Cons: Set-up can be complicated. Limited recording capabilities.

For those who have encrypted digital cable channels, the Hauppauge 1212 High Definition Personal Video Recorder may be the best recording solution on the market. While the 1212 is not a true tuner like other Hauppauge products, it can record video via a component input plug. The result is that you can record QAM encrypted digital cable signals without having to resort to installing a cable card system. The USB plug makes hook up a snap. What makes the 1212 even more of a standout is that by using the included TotalMediaExtreme software, you can create Blue-ray compatible DVDs on your computer using regular DVD-R/RW disks. The TME software also lets you convert H.264 HD recording into popular MP4, MOV or WMV formats. The 1212 has audio in/out, component video in/out and optical audio in/out plugs. But the 1212 falls short in the areas of recording. It can't record two programs at once while it plays back a third, unlike many DVRs.

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1850 MC-Kit Hybrid Video Recorder (PCI Express x1 - ATSC, NTSC)

461 Reviews

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	Price: $94.24
	Price: $149.99
	Price: $198.98
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Pros: Inexpensive. Remote and digital turner work well with recorder. Extremely compatible with Windows Vista.
Cons: Included software difficult to install

The Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1850 MC-Kit Hybrid Video Recorder is a relatively inexpensive way to play and record high definition television programs to your computer screen, in addition to serving as an FM tuner. The HVR-1850 is a plug-in card that contains two tuners designed to receive ATSC and QAM digital TV channels and a second that is a 125-channel cable-ready tuner. With the ATSC and QAM, all 18 ATSC signal formats can be watch on your computer or converted into an MPEG-2 stream to record to a disk. The HVR-1850 can also record analog cable television programs to a disk through an integrated MPEG-1/2 encoder. Playback of both the ATSC/QAM and analog recorded programs can be performed MPEG-2 software. The HVR-1850 has one FM antenna input and two TV antenna inputs, a feature sought by many buyers of this type of product. Many users, however, have noted problems with the included software. Nevertheless, using the Microsoft Media Center seems to have solved the problem for many of them.

Hauppauge 1196 WinTV HVR-1250 Hybrid Video Recorder (PCI Express - ATSC, NTSC)

423 Reviews

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	Price: $64.99
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Pros: Inexpensive. Handles both analog and digital tuning. Smooth playback. Supports 64bit.
Cons: Lacks an MPEG Encoder chip. Cannot record HD programs.

Those looking for a basic, no-frills tuner/video card for their computer will find one in the Hauppauge 1196 WinTV HVR-1250 Hybrid Video Recorder. The HVR-1250 allows you to watch, record and pause digital and analog television programs on your PC screen. Add PVR software and you can record programs to your computer's hard drive to view later without affecting your PC's performance. The HVR-1250 also lets you record and watch QAM channels, the most common format for digital cable channels. Video can be converted to MPEG-2 or other formats once they are saved to your hard drive and can be burned to a CD or DVD. They have been reports of the WinTV software crashing, so this could be a problem. And the WinTV HVR-1250 has only one antenna slot, so this could also be a factor in your decision to purchase.

Silicondust HDHomeRun Prime HDHR3-CC External TV Card (HDTV)

142 Reviews

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	Price: $195.24
Microsoft Store	Price: $299.99
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Pros: Easy to set-up, Works great with Windows 7 Media Center, Can tune 3 programs simultaneously
Cons: Cable card activation may take a while

Having a great job doesn't equate to missing all the episodes of your favorite TV shows. With the Silicondust HD HomeRun Prime, you can work all you want and at the same time, have the peace of mind knowing that you can watch your most awaited shows as soon as you get home. All computers on your network can use the device and it also works well with other HDHomeRun devices, in case you're planning to expand your network. There have been no reported issues with Windows 7 Media Center. With that said, you won't forget when the next episode will be aired. You can easily organize and schedule future recordings ahead of time. The HDHR3-CC is a multiple tuner, meaning it can tune three programs simultaneously and allow you to watch one while recording another. It can record in full 1080i resolution, making sure that images are sharp and that there's no lost in quality. You can also pause, rewind and record so that you won't miss any scene. The Silicondust HD HomeRun Prime has a slim and smaller form factor that takes up less space than bulkier models. It only requires a Dual Core PC with Windows 7 operating system, 2GB RAM, 100 or 1000Mbit Ethernet network and subscription to digital cable service to run. Set-up is fairly easy. However, it requires the help of your cable company to activate. Depending on your cable provider, cable card activation may or may not take a while. But once you get past that, you can just sit back and enjoy the pure convenience of having your own TV tuner without any further hassle.

AVerMedia HD Duet PCTV Tuner Card (PCI Express x1 - ATSC - Retail)

11 Reviews

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	Price: $74.82
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Pros: Supports recording from digital ATSC signals, HD video and Audio, Watch and record on different channels at the same time
Cons: No analog cable support, Single input jack, Issues with computer hibernation

If you're a TV buff but can't seem to find the time to watch television because of work or other concerns, your best recourse is to tape your favorite programs for later viewing. While you can use third-party digital video recorders to do this, such devices often come with costly subscription packages. A better and somewhat more affordable alternative, especially if you have a home theater PC, is to install a TV Tuner, like the AverTVHD Duet, from AverMedia. This Windows 7-compatible media device allows you to capture video directly from TV signals, but with the edge of being able to receive, decode and capture from free-to-air ATSC signals as well as the Unencrypted ClearQAM Digital Cable. It also supports HD audio and video up to 1080i. The dual tuners that give the device its name allow you to watch and recording of different channels at the same time, as well as the usual PVR features like timeskipping, and on-the-fly or scheduled recording. You can select output formats from traditional MPEG recording or the newer H.264 codecs. It even saves clips in a format that is compatible with mobile devices like the iPod, iPad and the Sony PSP. With regards to hardware, the AverMedia AverTVHD Duet requires an open PCI-E x1 socket and an input source to work. However, it can only work with a single source at a time as it only has one input jack. This tuner does not support analog sources though, so if you have that kind of cable connection, it would be better to consider other tuners that offer that feature. As noted, it works with Windows 7, plus it is also compatible with the Media Center 2005 edition of XP and the Home Premium and Ultimate versions of Vista. On the other hand, while the drivers and programs bundled with this TV tuner are well designed, it has been reported by some users that this tuner has conflicts with the hibernation or power-saving mode of some computers, which leads to the device not being detected by the system. All in all, if the build quality of this product could be improved, this promises to be a great addition to your entertainment package.