[AG-TECH] Video capture for Linux (reloaded)

Christoph Willing willing at vislab.uq.edu.au
Sat Jan 13 18:49:21 CST 2007


On 14/01/2007, at 6:29 AM, Andrew Daviel wrote:

>
> .. as in the Matrix reloaded (the movie)
>
>
> All the Linux systems I've set up over the last few years use one  
> or more Bt878-based video capture cards, usually the Hauppauge one  
> without a tuner. It's cheap, it works, it has multiple inputs ...  
> but it needs a 5V PCI slot. Last time it was hard to find a dual- 
> CPU system with 3 of these slots. This time I want 2 cameras, on a  
> budget, and Dell's current 1-CPU tower has only 1 slot.
>
> So, what are people building today ? I note the comments about winnov.


Andrew,


There are a few 4 input cards available - see:
	http://www.accessgrid.org/taxonomy/term/16/0/

We use a quite a few of the IVC-200 cards in different systems (all  
Linux). They're quite cheap and reliable. The link on the page above  
page is shows an Australian supplier for the IVC-200. A supplier  
closer to you may be:
	http://www.voxtechnologies.com/Industrial_PC_Peripherals/ivc200.htm

If you have 64bit PCI slots available, the Viewcast Osprey-440 also  
works without setup under Linux but is not so cheap (AUD1500 compared  
with about AUD200 for the IVC-200)


> I want a triple-head display card so an all-in-one card may not be  
> an option (if they still exist, if there's support etc.).

Nvidia NVS 440 will give you up to 4 outputs if your machine has a  
PCI-Express video slot.


> I had had some cheap fixed-focus NTSC cameras in the past and might  
> try
> them again - the Sony EVDO cameras are nice but as I say I'm doing  
> this one on the cheap. Which probably rules out Firewire cameras  
> etc. unless
> there's some under $500. Even if they work with Vic.


We have developed a version of vic to support DV and HDV input (also  
a working H263 from standard analogue inputs). Its undergoing a lot  
of testing at the moment. The picures look great, although bandwidth  
usage is quite high. DV/HDV cameras aren't very cheap, but ordinary  
composite output cameras can use relatively cheap converters (e.g.  
Canopus ADVC110 or ADVC550) to convert to firewire DV.



> In general, though, what's the current lineup of A/V stuff that works
> with Linux ? I know this isn't exactly the right forum for the  
> question,
> but maybe someone's built a system recently and might know.


If you have 2 PCI-Express video slots available (not sure if Dell can  
supply dual 16 lane video slots yet), you'll have better performance  
with 2x dual output cards e.g. FX1400 is great and the GeForce 6600  
is cheaper but still very good.

If you're not tied to Dell, I recommend anything based on the Tyan  
2895. It has dual AMD cpu's, 2 PCI-Express 16 lane video slots, 1x  
32bit PCI slots, 3x 64bit PCI slots (and firewire inputs for DV/HDV).  
We now have a number of these systems and they are just terrific.



> BTW, Polycom's got a new USB audio echo-cancelling speakerphone.  
> It's sold for use with Skype but they say it will work with other  
> things.
> About $125 US as I recall.

See:
	http://www.accessgrid.org/taxonomy/term/23

The entry for Phoenix Audio Tech "Duet PCS" only mentions Windows &  
Mac platforms. However I have its stablemate, the "Duet Executive",  
working under Linux on my home AG node.



> (I could, I suppose, go over to the dark side and install XP. We're  
> registered as a charity for some reason and can get it at a  
> reasonable price, and it seems pretty stable. I still find it hard  
> to use and
> maintain, though, and it's a matter of principle - Bill and the  
> monkeyman have enough money already :-).  Anyhow, similar question  
> - what's good for capturing 2 video streams nowadays ?)


As above, the IVC-200 captures upt to 4 streams in a single card and  
works in Linux without any particular setup needed.


chris



Christoph Willing                       +61 7 3365 8350
QCIF Access Grid Manager
University of Queensland






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