Media servers allow the lighting designer to easily call up and play back video clips in real-time via a lighting console. Another advantage, however, of using a media server is having the ability to integrate live video into the show. Since the media server is a computer, it can be simple to connect a digital video camera and incorporate live images into your lighting cues.
Most media servers come stocked with, or provide as an option, some type of video card that accepts digital video input via Firewire (IEEE1394), S-Video, and/or composite. This capability allows live video to be called up and displayed in real-time during the show through the media server, displaying the live output from the camera when the video input channel is enabled from the lighting console. For this type of application, a video card (which the manufacturer will typically recommend and install prior to leaving the factory) with an S-Video, composite or Firewire input is all that you will need. But in some cases, you may find that you want to capture a specific live image and replay that image later on in the future. This is where a video capture card comes in handy.
Video capture cards are either internal or external devices that record video or TV to your computer’s hard drive. Internal video capture cards can be installed in a PCI slot on the computer’s motherboard, while external cards often attach via USB. Much like standard video cards, there are video capture cards that record digital video via Firewire or using analog inputs such as S-video and composite. Specific cards are also available that allow you to capture and record output from your TV with a coaxial cable input, for instance, in your house, to record your favorite TV shows. Since applications can vary widely, there are many choices for capture cards, so it’s important to know the options that are available when deciding on your approach. Here’s an overview of some of the different types of video capture cards from which you can choose.
Video and TV Capture Card
A video and TV capture card is used to record an analog video or TV signal and will usually have S-Video and composite inputs to record both video and audio. These types of cards can be attached via USB or installed internally in a PCI slot, and usually come bundled with a TV and/or video capture software package. A big advantage of these types of cards is that they can also be used to record analog video from a camcorder, DVD player/recorder or VCR. And trust me when I say that it’s not unusual to be asked to incorporate a clip from a pre-existing DVD into a production from time to time.
Video-only Capture Card
A video-only capture card is typically used when you want to edit the video being captured. These cards capture with DV/Firewire inputs from digital camcorders, analog signals and/or hardware such as DVD, Video Compact Discs (VCD) and Super Video CD (SVCD) while also providing excellent control of video capturing aspects including constant or variable bit rates, video digitizing, oversampling and comb filters such as brightness, contrast, chroma, saturation and hue.
TV Tuner Card
The TV tuner capture card captures TV from a coaxial cable input, tunes the channels available from your cable company or from an antenna , and allows you to watch TV directly on your PC in a window or full screen. They will typically provide an electronic programming guide so you can easily schedule recordings in advance. They may also function as a digital video recorder, so you can pause and rewind live TV and record TV programs to disk in formats like MPEG or DivX®.
Some capture cards function as video capture cards as well as TV tuner cards. They include analog inputs as well as a coaxial cable input, Firewire connectors to attach to digital video (DV) camcorders as well as RCA, S-Video and stereo audio inputs. Many come bundled with TV and video capture software, video editing software and/or DVD authoring and burning software that you can use to edit your DV movies on your PC, add effects, then record back to video tape in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios.
Video capture cards, like video cards, range in price depending on the processor and amount of memory that is needed for the application. When purchasing a video capture card, make sure to understand what your requirements are, because these cards do vary in features, and one size does not fit all.
When working with video, there are many options to consider when choosing an approach to integrating and programming the show with a media server. While there are all kinds of video equipment available that do these sorts of tasks, the advantage of using a media server is in its flexibility and concise package. When one piece of equipment can deliver the desired results, then it’s an attractive option to the time, money and energy spent rounding up the gear and the manpower to operate it. Just remember to weigh the options before committing to one direction only to possibly later find it doesn’t suit the application. In other words, choose the option that makes the most sense.
Vickie Claiborne (www.vickieclaiborne. com) is an independent programmer and training consultant and can be reached at vclaiborne@plsn.com.
;){kind=link}