Home > Consumer Reviews > New EasyCAP SNAPSHOT USB 2.0 Video capture with Audio + DVD/VCD Maker from video source: VHS, V8, Hi8 for laptop/PC,video recorder, camcorder, DVD player or Satellite TV receiver (Includes software ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD 2, NTSC and PAL Compatible, Support SNAPSHOT, supports Windows XP/Vista 32 /Vista 64/Winodws 7) +Supports Xbox 360/PS3 colour recording +**FREE Licensed Blaze Video Magic 3.0**+FREE AV cable 3-3

I purchased this for transfer from VHS to DVD.

My VHS machine has only a SCART output, so I used a scart to rca adaptor and a triple RCA cable (male to male) to go into the female rca inputs of the unit. I haven't tried the S-VHS input. I then used a 10m usb extension cable (female to male) to go to the pc, which is a pentium 4 3.2GHz running XP pro SP3.

There are instructions on the box to install the drivers first (before plugging in the device), so I followed these and although the actual prompts were nothing like those described on the box, I was able to follow the instructions to confirm that the drivers had installed.

I then installed the Arcsoft Showbiz DVD 2 software and when I ran it in capture mode, it found the device, but said no video. I found the scart adaptor was switched to input rather than output and when fixed there was video and sound from the preview screen.

My first recording had no sound, but I found you had to select sound recording by ticking a check box. When I did this and set up the options there was sound on the recording. The problem is that if you come out of the capture software and go back to do another recording, the box has unchecked itself and you get no recorded sound even though you hear it while the recording is being made. This applies if you come out of the Arcsoft altogether or just switch to edit mode and then back, so it is easy to miss checking the box each time. If you can remember this, the recording is good quality, vision and sound, with the 352 by 576 lines mode being entirely adequate for putting VHS on DVD.

Pressing the big button on the device captures a single frame as a still picture file.

The editing mode is rather limited and if you try to use some of the slider controls, the pc goes off and thinks very hard for several minutes. You can import files to the software for inclusion in the editing, but it doesn't know anything about 16:9, which is rather a limitation thse days.

The transfer to DVD and setting up the DVD menus part of the software is quite easy and gives a good result.

I have also used the EzCAP device with Ulead Videostudio 11plus and that works okay in many respects, but that software is not without its own issues - it doesn't have the sound problem though.

To summarise: I can't fault the EzCAP device, I think all the problems come from the software, although for less than £20 total it is very cheap.

Bought one of these so that I could capture the output from a bird box camera on my laptop. I'm a novice when it comes to all this video processing stuff, so I was relieved and delighted when the device installed without any problem on my Vista laptop and within a short time I was watching the activity inside the bird box. All set for Spring now, when the baby birds appear and I can capture their development in video clips.

Very good service from ClimaxDigital (shame about the name!).

This was simple, I connected this to my VCR, installed the drivers, plugged it in to the usb port and away I went.

I actually use Roxio 2009 and capturing my old VHS tapes is proving to be doddle.

Quality is dictated by the quality of he tapes, not the hardware.

What more can I say very happy with this product

At first I thought I was losing my mind as getting the device to capture (with sound) was patchy. I tried on my more "posh" laptop but Vista would only advise the audio drivers had failed.

The video quality was frustratingly great.

Then has a brain wave - could you link the EzCap video grabber to Windows Movie Maker? Yes you can - with great results. Sound great & video capture spot on. My prime objective was to drop the finished "movie" into a PowerPoint presentation. Looks great.

You can then save & export on CD.

The supplied ArcSoft is not bad it just did not fit for me. Simply had no sound.

But creating a marriage with WMM is so good - just try it!

The EasyCAP Snapshot USB2 also known as EzCAP116 is one of a number of similar products available from the same manufacturer. Like the previous reviewer, I too purchased this primarily for capturing footage of wildlife from a stand-alone video camera onto a laptop.
The product comes with an installation CD with straightforward instructions and the drivers were installed without any problem on my PC running XP Pro. ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD 2 software is also supplied and although only basic instructions are supplied for use with this software the excellent customer service from the supplier will provide a tutorial guide and comprehensive manual pdf downloads if required.

Using it couldn't be easier - simply connect the video source to the USB device, open ShowBiz application (the device also works with other programs)and a live image, with sound if applicable, is immediately displayed. It is possible to adjust all the usual parameters e.g. brightness, contrast, saturation etc. Hit "Record" when ready and you are away.

To sum up: a simple device, easy to operate and if you run into any problems contact the very helpful customer service.
Recommended!