Where can I find an all-in-one video capturing station that is compatible with major editing software titles?

Question

I need an all-in-one capturing station that has:

CD/DVD ROM Drive
VHS (actual slot for the tape itself)
Firewire / DV
USB
Memory Card (Various Sizes)
Multiple a/v ports

Do they make hardware such as this? I'd like it all in one piece of hardware that I can connect to my computer, and to where it is compatible with Final Cut Studio, Pinnacle, Vegas, etc. Do you know of anything on the market?

Answer 1

While highly idealistic for your situation, it is very impractical for this kind of setup. It reminds me of the day when they made rifles without interchangeable parts. Then the Pennsylvania Rifle came along and revolutionized the industry.

Digital Video hardware has done away with analog equipment on today's computers, and has done away with some of components you're talking about. Today's software tends to ignore the hardware of the past, so your solutions are limited to buying separate "parts" that enable you to import VHS to the computer using that software.

ADS Inc makes a product that converts analog video to firewire, which is pretty standard among today's computers. There are obviously similar products out there. Once imported into the computer the video is compatible with any video editing software already.

Pinnacle also makes analog to digital capture cards and devices. Again, once in the computer, the video files are compatible with any software doing video editing.

What you won't find is a device that acts like a VCR that hooks straight up to the computer. There's always going to be the need for a third device, here.