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| Registered: March 14, 2007 | Reputation:  |  Posts: 4,245 |
| | Posted: | | | | So by the end of the year I plan on buying a new computer.
First I'll tell you what I want to use the computer for
1. Surfing the net
2. DVD Profiler
3. Dub video from VCR/VHS Camcorder and perhaps a DVD Recorder directly into the computer to make copies of programs from those
4. Ability to connect an audio receiver directly into the computer to make copies of old records.
5. Copy negatives from 35mm film into the computer and print off prints
6. I may get a digital camera, so need the ability to download those into the computer.
I don't need a computer for:
1. Gaming
2. Word Processing
I may use it to watch streaming video (haven't made up my mind)
So what sort of hard-drive and hard-ware features would and wouldn't need. |
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| Registered: June 3, 2007 | | Posts: 706 |
| | Posted: | | | | nothing real special in that list to be honest.
You will need a scanner that support slides
You will need a decent number of USB connections
I would suggest decent quality Sound card, BUT I have been out of the building side of things for a while, the built in stuff may have moved up in quality.
You will also need a Video card that supports video in, in the way you want to import it.
I suggest that you take a look over at hardocp.com forums and they have a new form to fill out and you post it for suggestions on building a system.
-Robert |
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| Registered: May 19, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 5,917 |
| | Posted: | | | | Pretty much any PC will have a built in 5.1 or 7.1 sound card on the MB, it's kind-of a standard now much to Creative's dismay. I think any mid-range priced PC will have the power to do what you need. |
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| Registered: March 18, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 6,461 |
| | Posted: | | | | I agree with all that has been stated. Only thing I would add is that a firewire port could make it more convenient to dub video from a digital video camera. USB is OK for digital stills.
The company Hauppauge (no affiliation) makes a bunch of gadgets that might interest you. I have used their HD tuners, video cards and HD Component DVR. | | | Thanks for your support.
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Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog. | | | | Last edited: by mediadogg |
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| Registered: March 14, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 4,245 |
| | Posted: | | | | So do most mid-range priced PCs have analog audio/video cable inputs. You know the yellow for video and red & white for audio. |
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| Registered: May 30, 2007 | | Posts: 36 |
| | Posted: | | | | make sure your video card supports "stream" or "cuda" technology, and with as much video memory as possible, you'll need it for accelerating the video rendering/processing speed, also all the latest versions of any graphic software uses this technology in concert with the video card's cpu, and better audio recording/processing software also benefit from this hardware technology. Get the best CPU you can, go up the intel i7 tree line until you meet your budget, even if you don't need it now, it will future proof your new PC. Get a second DVD player in addition to the burner, it cuts down on dubbing time, plus you can double test your recent troubled burns to make sure it's not the drive acting up. Get the biggest HDD possible, 1TB or more, and a second internal for AUTO back ups without the worries and hassles of an external drive... (forget to turn-on, external power brick, cables etc) make sure the MOBO has external eSATA ports... But by the end of the year, the list might change...  |
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| Registered: May 30, 2007 | | Posts: 36 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting CubbyUps: Quote:
So do most mid-range priced PCs have analog audio/video cable inputs. You know the yellow for video and red & white for audio. Video cards these days are complicated, you'll need to do some research and see how much you want to spend.. The better ones come with built-in S-video connection good for dubbing S-VHS tapes, all video cards are moving to HDMI connections, some even feature the latest connector which name I can't recall now,....but you can always purchase a separate USB adapter with both audio and video (composite-yellow cable)and s-video too for dubbing VHS tapes.. Some Software packages like Roxio even bring the USB adapter bundled in the box, they sell for around $50.00 (costco has sale right now), I use it and it works like a charm. | | | | Last edited: by mixmachine |
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| Registered: March 14, 2007 |  Posts: 2,337 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting mixmachine: Quote:
second internal for AUTO back ups without the worries and hassles of an external drive... (forget to turn-on, external power brick, cables etc) I never get bored to tell this again and again, but never backup on internal drive. Of course it's better than nothing, but while you're doing backups, you might as well do it correctly. Always backup on external drive, which shouldn't be connected to computer unless you're doing the backup. Takes more effort, yes, but in case of power supply failure you might loose your internal backup drive also. I've seen this too many times. |
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| Registered: May 19, 2007 | Reputation:  |  Posts: 6,730 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting CubbyUps: Quote:
4. Ability to connect an audio receiver directly into the computer to make copies of old records. For making copies of your old records I wouldn't connect the Receiver to your PC but the Record-Player. There are quite decent Pre-Amps out there already that will get the required Output-Level. Just watch out that the Pre-Amp matches the system of your Record-Player (MM (Moving Magnet) or MC (Moving Coil)). But before making copies of your records try to get them as Download from a legal portal. This is not nearly as time consuming (approx. 4 hrs for a decent copy) and the quality is at least equal if not better. | | | It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?
Registrant since 05/22/2003 |
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| Registered: May 19, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 5,917 |
| | Posted: | | | | Unfortunately, the quality of downloaded music media is fine for most humans but not close to the fidelity you'll get from a record or even a CD. |
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| Registered: May 19, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 6,730 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting Dr. Killpatient: Quote:
Unfortunately, the quality of downloaded music media is fine for most humans but not close to the fidelity you'll get from a record or even a CD. Agreed, but (even more) unfortunately the copying of a record to HDD is usually accompanied by a significant loss of quality. The next problem that shows up is that if you don't know exactly what you're doing the editing will do more harm than it improves things. So that for the first attempts the time for getting a satisfying result can easily go beyond 10 hrs. When starting to work with those Editors the most important rule is: Don't trust the "Automatic Recovery". It usually flattens out the dynamics, adds unnecessary (and in most cases unwanted) "improvements" to the sound (bass, bass, and bass). Anyhow I seriously doubt that on the common Stereo-equipments any listener will notice a significant difference between a good MP3 (320 KBit/s) and a CD or a record (except for the missing crackles). I'm not talking about those selected few that own one of these:  | | | It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?
Registrant since 05/22/2003 |
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