Looking for options for recording competition video feed?

[Mr MOE]

Happy New Year everyone!

I am in looking to purchase a video recording device to tap into the video feed at FIRST competitions. In the past, I have used an old VCR to record matches. I know many people have entered the 21st century (admittedly, I am still in the 20th) and have portable recording devices they use instead.

Any recommendations on options for devices to use. I am looking for specific models and pros/cons if you can provide.

Thanks!

John

[reedg01]

Originally Posted by Mr MOE

Happy New Year everyone!

I am in looking to purchase a video recording device to tap into the video feed at FIRST competitions. In the past, I have used an old VCR to record matches. I know many people have entered the 21st century (admittedly, I am still in the 20th) and have portable recording devices they use instead.

Any recommendations on options for devices to use. I am looking for specific models and pros/cons if you can provide.

Thanks!

John

When my son was on Team 007, I used to bring my ReplayTV DVR to Chesapeake and hook it up to the AV feed and set it to do several manual records. I would then use a shareware program called DVArchive to move the recorded files to a PC for editing. (A Mac version is available as well.) Standard video editing from there.

The ReplayTV units are currently available fairly cheap on eBay, as they no longer receive TV Guide listings, so they can only record in manual mode, even if you have an analog feed to attach to them. Specifically, look for 5000 or 5500 series models with Lifetime Subscriptions. You will want enough recording capacity to use the Medium recording setting (2 GB per hour) for the length of time you are looking to record. There is a way to put in a larger HD if desired.

I would just bring a remote and a flat screen monitor and be all set at the Regionals.

[Clinton Bolinger]

Pinnacle Video Transfer is a great option that will allow for you to store the recordings on a portable hard drive or usb jump drive. People have talked about this previous on CD

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSit...o+Recorder.htm

Also our team use a Mac and Elgato Video Recorder to record the individual matches. Then we upload them to YouTube after each match, that way there is no need to separate the matches later. Examples can be found at www.youtube.com/firstinmichigan

Elgato: http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/main...oduct1.en.html

-Clinton-

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Clinton Bolinger

Pinnacle Video Transfer is a great option that will allow for you to store the recordings on a portable hard drive or usb jump drive. People have talked about this previous on CD

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSit...o+Recorder.htm

I agree that these are the easiest option. Unfortunately, they've been discontinued, are hard to find, and sell for a significant premium on ebay ($200+).

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

,
Handi cams have become so cheap it is worth it to buy one. You need to be sure the device has an external video and audio inputs.

Al, do you have any recommendations? Every time I've seen a cheap camcorder in the last year, it hasn't had external audio and video inputs. Cheapest (new) ones that I can find are in the $400 range.

[Mr MOE]

Thanks for the suggestons and discussion so far. Keep 'em coming. I'm learning more with each post!

-j-

[Mr MOE]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

Al, do you have any recommendations? Every time I've seen a cheap camcorder in the last year, it hasn't had external audio and video inputs. Cheapest (new) ones that I can find are in the $400 range.

Joe - I concur with you here. Need the external AV inputs on a camcorder that is less than $300.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Getting external A/V for under $300 is going to be a trick. If you are that limited, there are other options. I have a Pinnacle tuner that I am happy with. I know the Pinnacle has some video capture devices for USB that can be used with a computer/laptop. Other manufacturers as well.

[sanddrag]

I used an old Phillips Tuner/Capture PCI card in an old PC and used Windows Media Encoder to record. Worked great.

[Eugene Fang]

Happy New Year everyone as well!

The most cost-reasonable method I've come up with is using a video capture device (fairly cheap one shown here http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10810&cs_id=1081003&p_i d=5616&seq=1&format=2), which plugs into your computer via usb, allowing you to record the video to the computer.

A side benefit of this method is that it also potentially allows you to stream the video as a webcast, depending if the computer/internet at the venue is good enough.


On a side note, I'm currently working on some revisions to MadStream (for those of you who don't remember, it's a webcast aggregator by Team 1323, and we used the site for the CalGames and MadTown Throwdown off-season competitions). I'll be working on some documentation for how to stream/archive in detail and hopefully work some more with the guys at TBA to make the process easy enough so that more regionals get streamed/archived. If anyone has any ideas and would like to help, please send me a PM.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

John,
Handi cams have become so cheap it is worth it to buy one. You need to be sure the device has an external video and audio inputs. But you will then have a dual purpose device that will allow you to record off the field when you need to archive team activities. Most also have some form of outputing to a computer. Certain software allows you to tag individual clips while importing the files. Many even record to flash drives, memory sticks, or other solid state media.