I scoured archives for some recommendations for external video capture devices (for working with composite video sources).

What are my chances of getting processing (Capture/JMyron) working with a external PVR style capture device (USB2.0/IEEE1394).  I'm ignoring fire-wire because my PC laptop doesn't have it.

Am I better off purchasing a USB model that only does software encoding, hence the uncompressed stream?  Or is that a non issue?

Are there any key words to look for in the tech specs on the models that would be a good clue?  Specific model experiences?

I don't mind blowing 20$ on webcams to trial, but 100+ on a capture device is another story and seek any advice.

Thanks in advance.

PS, reason for this approach is because the model cameras I want to experiment with are all composite only.  I already have a webcam+processing combination functioning.

(marking this topic so that it sticks around since it's a FAQ... input on success with various capture devices is most helpful)

I have been using the Pinnacle PCTV Pro USB.

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/PCTV+Tuners/PCTV+Analog+PVR+%28cable_antenna%29/PCTV+Pro+USB

clickykbd wrote on Jul 29^th, 2007, 4:39am:


Happy to report!  the Pinnacle HD Stick Pro (80$) works well with both Capture library and JMyron, although so far I have only tested composite camera sources with it, and not taken a crack at digital TV and other HD sources.  Just watching those is hard for this laptop, so testing will have to wait for faster system.

I got mine here:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pinnacle-PCTV-HD-Pro-Stick-230100090/sem/rpsm/oid/169034/catOid/-13043/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I solutionned my problem by installing macam on Mac OS X
link:
http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/cameras/index.php

Dude, seriously, if you are even going to bother doing something like this then you're going to be much happier if you spend a bit of money and gets some good hardware. If you go cheap your video quality is going to be so bad, and so un-shareable, you're going to wish you never bothered.

I am using the video library to capture video.I am doing a project similiar to chromakey.I am to change the background with a chosen background image that i like by using a green background.By doing so,I can change the green background pixels with a still image pixels in the Data folder to change whatever background image that I like to have.
This is achieved by  reading the color of one of the captured green background pixel,then compare the whole frame pixels with the green pixels,therefore leaving behind only those pixels that does not have the green pixel.
The effect that i get is quite bad which i believe is the limitation of the processing and the camera.I try to smoothen out the effect by making an offset in the range of comparing the R,G.B of the green pixels,however the effect is still very bad.
The code is as follow:
import processing.video.*;

Capture video;
PImage img;
PImage img2;
float bgcolorR,bgcolorG,bgcolorB;
float videoR,videoG,videoB;
float imgR,imgB,imgG;
float offset=60;

void setup() {
 size(200,200);
 strokeWeight(5);
 // Uses the default video input, see the reference if this causes an error
 video = new Capture(this, width, height, 24);
 numPixels = video.width * video.height;
 noCursor();
 smooth();
}

void draw() {
 if (video.available()) {
   video.read();
   video.loadPixels();
   img = loadImage("sunflower.jpg");
   img2 = loadImage("ship.jpg");

   int threshold = 127; // Set the threshold value
   float pixelBrightness; // Declare variable to store a pixel's color
   loadPixels();

     for (int y = 0; y < height; y++ ) {
   for (int x = 0; x < width; x++ ) {
     int loc = x + y*width

     videoR=red(video.pixels[loc]);
     videoB=blue(video.pixels[loc]);
     videoG=green(video.pixels[loc]);
     
     
     
     bgcolorR=red(video.pixels[0]);
     bgcolorB=blue(video.pixels[0]);
     bgcolorG=green(video.pixels[0]);
     
     //comparing the video pixel with the green pixel with some offset value
     if((videoR>bgcolorR-offset&&videoR<bgcolorR+offset)&&(videoB>bgcolorB-offset&&vi
deoB<bgcolorB+offset )&&(videoG>bgcolorG-offset&&videoG<bgcolorG+offset)){
     color imgcolor=img.pixels[loc];
     
      imgR = (imgcolor >> 16) & 0xFF;
      imgG= (imgcolor >> 8) & 0xFF;
      imgB = imgcolor & 0xFF;
     

     pixels[loc] = color(imgR,imgG,imgB);
     }
     else
     {
       pixels[loc]=video.pixels[loc];
     }
       
    // pixels[loc]=video.pixels[loc];
     
   }
   }
 
 
   updatePixels();
 
}
}


I wonder if anyone has done similiar thing before.
Thanks for any help and advice

GaryCl wrote on Feb 6^th, 2010, 11:44am:


I have one of these cards laying around collecting dust, How is this working out for you quality wise. Is the frame rate acceptable with this card. Also, how much system resources does it use since I dont believe that mine has a lot of processing power on the board.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Jim