PC - Laptop

Our focus in developing the software is to be able to provide you with as much video footage on your computer as possible. Based on the feedback we have recived this is far more important than superior quality as long as the quality is GOOD. For this reason we are compressing the videofiles that are beeing captured with default Microsoft MPEG4 video codec compression. The video compression is done "on the fly" while you analyze, and generally speaking - the stronger your PC engine is the easier the compression goes.

All Laptops with the latest Intel Core Duo processors handels the compression very good.

For older machines you should be fine if it has a Intel Centrino processors with a clockspeed >1,9 Ghz, or a similar processor from AMD. For desktop pc's the Intel Pentium 4 machines should be good.

Further more when you are going to buy a PC today and you want to work with video and multimedia, and you want as much as possible to stay away from PC trouble, please tell your delar that you want to buy a PC meeting these requirements

• Intel Core 2 Duo or similar AMD processor
• 2GB DDR-RAM
• Separate graphical card with > 128MB of VRAM
• A Fire wire is a contact on your PC that makes it possible to connect a video camera directly to the pc for instant transfer of video streams

Additions to your Laptop

Consider to buy these addons when you buy a new PC

• Virus Control & Personal Firewall
• 3 years warranty (most of these pc comes with a 1 year warranty, but can very easily be extended to three years. Ask your dealer)
• EXTERNAL MOUSE – makes your analyze easier
• BACK-PACK – Case to protect your pc

Additions in order to digitalize from video players, DVD players or tv

You will need a Media converter to convert your analogue signal to a digital signal that can be connected to the fire wire port on your PC.

• MEDIA CONVERTER. A typical connection is shown below. Your video stream is comming from an analouge device, like a TV, DVD or VHS Player. To get the stream to your laptop you need to send the signal through the Media Converter. In this example the signal is sent by using the following eguipment.
• From the Player we send the signal out by using a scart contact. In the oterh end of the scart contact we have RGB contacts that goes to the in section of your media converter.
• Then from the OUT end of your Media converter it connects through the PC through a fire wire cable. These cables are either 4x4 pin, 4x6 pin or 6x6 pin cables. In this case we use a 4x4 pin cable because the PC and the Media converter do both support the 4 pin fire wire contact

Cables and Contacts

Without cables you will not be able to get any video signal to your pc. The most commonly used cables are as follows;

• 4 pin to 4 pin, is the cable type that is mostly used between a PC and a video camera. Do ALWAYS ask for a video camera with a firewire out contact (called i-link in the Sony world). This will save you a lot of time. Before you by the cable PLESE DO CHECK the contacts on the devices you link together.
• It is also possible to buy an external fire wire contact for those laptops that does not have it. For laptops, ask for a Firewire PCMCIA card, and make sure you get a fire wire cable that fits the contacts you are going to use.

Video Camera

The main requirement for your video camera should be the FIRE WIRE out contact and its ability to take good video quality when the light becomes poor. The FIRE WIRE out will save you time when you want to do an analyze because you can connect the video camera directly to your PC and you can operat the play buttons of the video camara from within the Interplay-sports program.

Here is an example of a new video camera from Sony meeting the requirements described.

HDR-HC7 High Definition Handycam® CamcordeHDR-HC7

Stand

A very smart way to ensure good video footage is a Stand. I know you are strong, but most of us get tired after a while, so this is a good investment.