My search powers fail today, need that device which allows me to hook up consoles to my laptop (USB)

[The Stig]

Ok long story short, I tried to find a device someone recommended (on here) which basically is a USB thing that has the 3 inputs (the yellow, red and white sockets) which can be used to plug in your consoles (PS2/Wii, etc) where it will then allow me to use my laptop as a monitor in a WINDOWED mode, so I can record videos or take screenshots and stuff (and maybe even play!)

Anyone know of the name? I forget the technical details so my digging around on ebay is failing...

But the important thing is that it MUST allow me to run in Windowed mode, I do not want to lose my "multitasking" abilities.

Also I have Vista 64bit if it "helps" (with compatibility), I recalled clicking on the link before and it basically said XP only (but I'll try anything)

EDIT: The link someone posted was within the last 2 months.

[fishstix]

any usb tv tuner will do, well ones with the mentioned a/v connections

here's what an old ATI TV Wonder USB looks like, spoiled for bigness so you have an idea on what to look for

Spoiler: show

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/17/tv-wonder_1.jpg

as for windowed mode, that'll depend on the bundled software, however most that I've seen and worked with will allow it

here's an example of something http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815144028 not all devices or supported software are built the same so I'd so a bit of digging before getting one you like. Some come with a built-in tv tuner, something that can decode tv signals from an antennae or cable/satellite tv source, the one I linked doesn't.

[The Stig]

OH! thanks!!

It's just a TV Tuner I needed, lololol. Didn't know that.

That'll be good then, buy some pimp one with such feature ANDDDDD get to watch (probably shitty, signal wise) TV.

I found this one:

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/748282/Hauppauge-WinTV-USB-TV-Tuner-Model-566/Product.html

Has the following description; I highlighted the important bits which I think SHOULD be what I am looking for (so I can shove the red yellow white cable into it)

WinTV-USB has these great features:
No need to open your PC - plugs into the USB port on your PC or laptop.
Live TV from Analouge TV tuner or from external audio/video source (S-video or composite), TV-in-a-window (any size) up to full screen. Channel surf function.
Still video image capture in BMP, TIF, TGA and JPEG formats.
Video movie capture in Microsoft AVI file format, from TV or any video source.
Videoconference with Microsoft Netmeeting or Windows® Messenger by adding a video camera.
Microsoft® Windows 98/Me/2000 or XP compatible.
window.

Entertainment: The Hauppauge WinTV-USB application has exclusive features like "channel surf", "no-title mode" and "always-on-top mode", making WinTV easy and fun to use! Watch TV-in-a-window or full screen from the analogue TV tuner. WinTV-USB will also display video from a VCR, camcorder or any other video source.

System Requirements

PC with Pentium® processor (333Mhz MMX min.)

Microsoft® Windows® 98/Me/2000/XP

USB port on your PC

Sound card

CD-ROM drive

Included in this package

WinTV-USB with analgoue TV tuner (mono audio)

Audio cable for connection to sound card

Composite to S-video adapter for auxiliary video inputs

WinTV CD-ROM includes:

WinTV application for TV in a window

Installation and reference manual

The bolded bits above = what I need?

I can see the words "composite" just underneath that pic you posted, I'm assuming that's the "converter" ?

Gonna dig around for a bit more but this is going to be easier than I thought.

I can then join the sheep and flood youtube with LETS PLAYS LOL or something like that.

EDIT: Just noticed this is for XP or below, I think Vista should be OK, but I will triple check in all cases.

[fishstix]

I'm not really sure what you're referring to for the converter. "Composite to S-video adapter for auxiliary video inputs" is a physical adapter piece that'll convert an s-video plug into the composite RCA plug. I'm not really sure why it's called composite, but it's just the name of the yellow RCA video plug. However, it's not the converter for a TV signal.

The one you linked looks pretty standard. I had a Hauppauge PCI tv tuner card, I can't remember if there were vista drivers, but it definitely doesn't work in windows 7. The bundled WinTV software felt clunky and slow, but it got the job done. It might be better now though, as when I used it, that was in 2002.

One thing you have to be careful about though, this model doesn't specifically mention digital TV signals anywhere, only analogue. If you're in the US, the signal is all broadcast as digital now so hooking up a regular rabbit-ears antennae into this wont work to pick up local channels. You'll need to hook up the antennae to a digital tv converter box first and then into the tv tuner in order to get channels. Some models have this analogue>digital converter built in so you wont need the extra box.

[The Stig]

Thanks fishstix

On my search I've come across a link in amazon, apparently visited 1 month back of when I actually looked:

ClimaxDigital EzCAP DC60+ USB2.0 Video capture with: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

This is exactly the thing I am looking for. After some lengthy research I think I can conclude this is what I need (as described by other users).

I'm just doing further research now as to the usage of it before forking out the money. Specifically it seems to be an issue in the older models recording 60hz stuff (NTSC) whereas the one I linked to now can do that.

[Kaisha]

Just make sure it's one fast enough for realtime use in gaming.

Some tuners introduce lag, which is fine for watching shows on, but is shit for gaming.

[The Stig]

Yeh I'm going around digging up info and will Youtube for more info when I get home, lag is the next thing I'm worried about.

[Kaisha]

The only one I know of designed specifically for console use is GameBridge, but it appears their software is shit, with some people having no problem with it, and others having audio/visual sync issues.

[The Stig]

I did come across Gamebridge but it only supported 50hz games (PAL) whereas the games I feel like recording would ideally be 60hz/NTSC

No worries though even if it doesn't capture (video) stuff fully I can still just capture some for my own purposes (stills)

[Blabj]

If you're recording games, you have two choices.

Hauppauge HD PVR USB Hi-def H.264 Video Capture: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo or Spawn Labs

Accept no substitutes.

[The Stig]

Ah but blabj, both are unreasonably expensive!

Still, if it's to go online into Youtube or equivalent, although people have fast connections these days, I think it's still a bit overkill to record in HD.

But otherwise, if not recording I will be using it to play games, I'm sure the quality will be fine even if I have to stretch it across my monitor, it's nothing serious but to pass time hehe.

[Blabj]

Yeah, Vimeo used to be the main reason people wanted to capture in HD because they actually have decent HD support (it doesn't just lag out your computer even with a decent dualcore - youtube...)

Playing back in Composite will work just fine, the resolution wont be as high understandably, but it'll be just as good.

[fishstix]

I think you can buy an a/v splitter so you can output video to both your tv and tv tuner at once. That way there's no noticable lag while playing.

[The Stig]

Yep, I was doing some heavy research yesterday and found that the device I have in mind does have lag, of about 1 second.

That's fine for games where instant command isn't required (i.e. RPGs), but for all other cases I'd need a splitter. My primary plan was to use a laptop as a monitor but I don't think that's possible now, not without an external monitor of some sort (I have a VGA-Composite box, but was hoping to avoid the use of a monitor/TV as I move around a bit)