Diamond VC500: too much of a compromise?

[puleddu]

I am considering to avoid building a dedicated PC for capturing home made VHS from my childhood.

I already decided to invest some money in getting a good VCR and a good TBC, do you think it would be too much of a compromise to renounce to build a dedicated Windows XP computer and use a Diamond VC500 card on my MacBook instead?

[lordsmurf]

If building a dedicated capture system, and willing to install XP (which gives you access to the best cards), then skip the Win7/8/10-friendly cards like VC500, and go directly for the AIW.

Don't use a Mac, vastly inferior capturing experience (limited hardware, mostly DV, overall miserable software).

[puleddu]

OK – Let's take Mac out of the picture then.

Would a USB card with a recent PC be another compromise?
Not building a dedicated Windows XP system would be my actual intention. Maybe this wasn't clear from my previous post.

Of course, I'd avoid going with the dedicated XP machine only if the compromises in terms of quality would still be acceptable.

I've read you suggested one from ATI in a very popular post. Do you think it I could still do a decent job by using a regular modern PC with that USB card? I'd steal for a few weeks my brother's gaming PC

But I'm afraid that these cards wouldn't run on Windows 10 – would they?

[lordsmurf]

Depending on the exact build specs, and length of the project, I'm a proponent of:
- installing XP for now, doing the project
- when done, reinstall another/newer OS (Linux, Windows, Hackintosh) and reusing the system

I often stress to others that, unless you're in this as a longterm hobby or profession, you can resell or reuse equipment. It's not a forever purchase, not a forever commitment in terms of computer OS. If he has an extra unused system, borrow it, wipe it, use it, reinstall OS of choice. Or just remove his HDD, use another for XP install, and use the AIW USB with it. replace his HDD/SSD when done.

Windows 10 is very limited in hardware support, and you do make compromises. VC500 works, though ATI 600 USB also works. (And I consider the ATI the better option, though the VC500 usually isn't unusable or terrible.)

Capture systems must be lean. Odds are his gaming system is full of crap that will give you issues. A capture system is ideally a fresh install, no other random background tasks. And FYI, background tasks, especially the incessant need to update (connect online) is a major issue, which Win10 does too much.

[puleddu]

This might be the only time I will do this thing, but this isn't a good reason for me to do it poorly.
On the contrary, being these memories of our family, I'm even more motivated to do the best I can to transfer them properly.

I considered hiring professionals, but when I started reading this forum, I couldn't keep myself from getting involved

Thanks a lot for your advice, it's always supported by solid arguments – that's kind of refreshing.