<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="SGML-Tools 1.0.9"> <TITLE>VCR-HOWTO - Using your GNU/Linux computer as a VCR: Technologies</TITLE> <LINK HREF="VCR-HOWTO-3.html" REL=next> <LINK HREF="VCR-HOWTO-1.html" REL=previous> <LINK HREF="VCR-HOWTO.html#toc2" REL=contents> </HEAD> <BODY> <A HREF="VCR-HOWTO-3.html">Next</A> <A HREF="VCR-HOWTO-1.html">Previous</A> <A HREF="VCR-HOWTO.html#toc2">Contents</A> <HR> <H2><A NAME="s2">2. Technologies</A><!--VCRHOWTO!technologies--></H2> <P> <!-- VCRHOWTO!technologies --> This section describes the different technologies used to build your own Linux VCR. <P> <H2><A NAME="ss2.1">2.1 Tuner or Capture Card</A> </H2> <P>You will need to install a supported video4linux capture card in your computer. I currently use the Hauppauge WinTV tuner card which I purchased from Best Buy, but many other cards should work just as well. I don't have a suggestion for which is best, I can only comment that the one I own works for me. <P> <H2><A NAME="ss2.2">2.2 Kernel video4linux driver</A> </H2> <P>Many GNU/Linux distributions already provide a Linux kernel that is configured to support video4linux devices. The Hauppauge WinTV card is supported by the 'bttv' driver. I have to load two modules into the linux kernel to support my card, namely the 'tuner' and 'bttv' modules. Check out the <A HREF="http://roadrunner.swansea.linux.org.uk/v4l.shtml">V4L homepage</A> for details on supported tuner cards. Also check out <A HREF="http://lhd.zdnet.com/db/searchproduct.cgi?_catid=17">ZDnet Linux Hardware</A> for information about Linux tuner cards. <P> <P> <H2><A NAME="ss2.3">2.3 Frame Capture Software</A> </H2> <P>Recording with your digital VCR of course requires frame capture software. As I become aware of available software for capturing audio/video to mpeg/avi formats, I will place it in this list. If you have any suggestions for good software please let me know and I'll add it here. <P> <P> <HR> <A HREF="VCR-HOWTO-3.html">Next</A> <A HREF="VCR-HOWTO-1.html">Previous</A> <A HREF="VCR-HOWTO.html#toc2">Contents</A> </BODY> </HTML>
