Terratec Cameo Grabster 200 - any good?

[Jkun]

The Terratec Cameo Grabster 200 is an external analog capture card (Svideo & Composite IN). It's connected to the PC via USB2.0.

They put Ulead MF2 SE with it, allowing you to capture in MPEG1/2 via software codec. Price is 99 Euro for the package.

I'd like to use it with other codecs. Does anyone know if you can use this device with a simple capture tool such as Vdub, and codecs like software MJPEG or HuffYUV?

Audio is recorded, like so many cheap capture cards, with a soundcard. Any problems with AV sync?

J-kun

[landrover]

Why would you want an external capture device?

[Jkun]

Why would you want an internal one?

Externals have several advantages: using USB or FW, they are much more compatible than PCI cards, have better interrupt servicing, better more stable drivers (generic class drivers), easy to transport, can be used when no PCI slot is free etc etc.

Not to mention less interference from all those electronics inside the casse --> noticeably less noise!

J-kun

[landrover]

All true, but they're much more expensive. Don't have experience on the Grabster, got an internal Terratec card, with no electronic interference either.

[Indiana]

I have the more expensive Cameo Convert (Firewire) and it's quite nice.
I use it for capturing on my Notebook.

[Dr Mordrid]

I'd go for the Canopus AVDC-100 every time. Rock solid, it has the very high quality Canopus DV codec chip, both analog and IEEE-1394 I/O, a video preview output and just flat WORKS.

Dr. Mordrid

[Jkun]

I have an ADVC100. I need capture with HuffYUV, and since I have problems freeing a PCI slot, I was looking at this alternative.

J-kun