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Equipment Discussions >> Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy

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dvb
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 1922
Still confused about video grabbing
      #2358629 - 04/28/08 11:14 PM

OK -- I'm getting great images on my Speco 9"

Now it's time to grab some of those images, so I can show my wife some evidence of what I've been up to all night.

I have video grabbing software (the USB 2.0 Video Creator that Mallincam sells, based on Corel's ULead program)

I have two possible computers, an HP desktop and a Toshiba Satellite A100-TA9 laptop. The HPf1905 flat screen monitor has fairly handy brightness/contrast controls on its side.

It takes a fair bit of fiddling with the controls on the Speco to get the image right. Where does that fiddling happen on the computer to get the image right for capture? It doesn't seem that the monitor would do that, as it seems quite separate from the computer. Do I feed the image from the Speco?




--------------------
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Collapsible Dob
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C8 SCT
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100
Skywatcher ED80
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
AT Voyager
Skymaster 15x70
Mallincam HyperColor Plus



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smokin oakum
Pooh-Bah
*****

Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 1426
Loc: Wilmington, NC
Re: Still confused about video grabbing new [Re: dvb]
      #2358635 - 04/28/08 11:18 PM

Quote:

OK -- I'm getting great images on my Speco 9"

Now it's time to grab some of those images, so I can show my wife some evidence of what I've been up to all night.

I have video grabbing software (the USB 2.0 Video Creator that Mallincam sells, based on Corel's ULead program)

I have two possible computers, an HP desktop and a Toshiba Satellite A100-TA9 laptop. The HPf1905 flat screen monitor has fairly handy brightness/contrast controls on its side.

It takes a fair bit of fiddling with the controls on the Speco to get the image right. Where does that fiddling happen on the computer to get the image right for capture? It doesn't seem that the monitor would do that, as it seems quite separate from the computer. Do I feed the image from the Speco?







All you need to do is use amcap. It's free and easy tp use, and it will control the setting for you video feed on your computer.

Neil

--------------------
Broadcasting live views of the night sky @
Sparkcast
C11 CGE / Hyperstar
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
MoonLite Focuser
Round Table Platform
12" Parralax rings

Cape Fear Astronomy Club




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dvb
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 1922
Re: Still confused about video grabbing new [Re: smokin oakum]
      #2358835 - 04/29/08 01:43 AM

Thanks, Neil! (I'm kind of hoping to slip this one in under the "There's no such thing as a stupid question" category!")



--------------------
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Collapsible Dob
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C8 SCT
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100
Skywatcher ED80
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
AT Voyager
Skymaster 15x70
Mallincam HyperColor Plus



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Jack Huerkamp
Vendor - Waning Moon


Reged: 10/13/05
Posts: 518
Loc: Louisiana
Re: Still confused about video grabbing new [Re: dvb]
      #2359076 - 04/29/08 08:16 AM

Just start the ULead software that comes with the USB Adapter. Once the camera output is seen on the monitor, start the AMCAP program tha is on the CD under "Drivers". Under the video preferences is a tab for making brightneee, contrast, tint, etc. adjustments. As you make them in AMCAP, the view on the ULead window will change to match.

Jack

--------------------
Orion ED80
Coulter CT-100
Celestron 6" f/8 Refractor
8" Newtonian/Cassegrain on Byers 812 Mount
Classic C-8
Celestron 11" CPC 100 with HyperStar
Tricked-out 17.5" AstroSystems TeleKit
Life Member and ALCOR - PAS New Orleans

Waning Moon II Observatory


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Astrojunk
member


Reged: 11/02/06
Posts: 82
Loc: Australia
Re: Still confused about video grabbing new [Re: Jack Huerkamp]
      #2359258 - 04/29/08 09:57 AM

I strongly recommend the GSTAR Capture program. it free, and available here: http://www.myastroshop.com.au/guides/gstar/index.htm

It's optimised for the standard mintron, so you will capture a few duplicate frames on long integrations with the malllincam, but I think it is a very usable program.

I'm happy to share my knowledge on video imaging, but we may need to find another forum to do so ...

--------------------
Astrojunk
20" f5 Alt Az Newtonian


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ZielkeNightsky
sage


Reged: 10/01/06
Posts: 230
Loc: Denmark
Re: Still confused about video grabbing new [Re: Astrojunk]
      #2359869 - 04/29/08 03:05 PM

Hi

Downloaded the GStar Capture program. Its really great and made for astronomical use. It takes better raw files than Sparkcast. GET IT!

But I can't adjust the on screen view as well as on the Sparkcast player.

--------------------
Lars
10", 8", 4" Newton
80mm Scopos
4" Achro


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bseltzer
super member


Reged: 10/28/07
Posts: 198
Loc: East S.F.Bay, CA
Re: Still confused about video grabbing new [Re: Jack Huerkamp]
      #2360705 - 04/29/08 10:09 PM

Quote:

Just start the ULead software that comes with the USB Adapter. Once the camera output is seen on the monitor, start the AMCAP program tha is on the CD under "Drivers". Under the video preferences is a tab for making brightneee, contrast, tint, etc. adjustments. As you make them in AMCAP, the view on the ULead window will change to match.

Jack




Jack,

Here's another in the "No such thing as a stupid question" category.

When you say the "USB adapter", are you talking about the Dazzle device or the Video Creator from Mallincam? If it's the latter, I didn't know such a thing was available. How can I get a copy?

Thanks,
Bert

--------------------
Those who dance are often mistaken for insane
By those who cannot hear the music...

Edited by bseltzer (04/29/08 10:13 PM)


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Astrojunk
member


Reged: 11/02/06
Posts: 82
Loc: Australia
Re: Still confused about video grabbing new [Re: bseltzer]
      #2361438 - 04/30/08 09:13 AM

This is a fantastic device:

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=136212

I have two!!

A quick aside regarding GSTAR-Capture, It is optimised for PAL timings, so it's probably worth NTSC users selecting a level down - 96x rather than 128x for eg, just to get a better match. It isn't a big deal, but just be aware

--------------------
Astrojunk
20" f5 Alt Az Newtonian


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dvb
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 1922
Re: Still confused about video grabbing new [Re: Astrojunk]
      #2361537 - 04/30/08 10:03 AM

Good to hear it's a fantastic device!

The Belkin "Hi-Speed USB2 Video DVD Creator", which comes with the Corel ULead software, is essentially same hardware/software package that Mallincam sells as its capture kit.

As a note, Rock says the ULead v8 currently shipping is better than the current v11 for our purposes.

--------------------
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Collapsible Dob
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C8 SCT
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100
Skywatcher ED80
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
AT Voyager
Skymaster 15x70
Mallincam HyperColor Plus



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