Video capture is a software program that allows the operator to highlight a section of digital video from another source and save that section within the software program. The purpose of a video capture is to move streaming video from one tool to another and allow the user to modify the video as needed. This type of software can be found on the Internet or in a computer store.
There are a wide range of video capture software products available to meet these needs. The quality and price ranges from several thousand US Dollars USD for professional grade to free software for the casual home user. Each software product has different features and benefits.
The professional grade video capture tools cost anywhere from $500 USD to $10,000 USD and require computer hardware with huge memory capacity and processing speed. The video capture software is able to isolate video up to the thousandth of a second, capture and modify. The types of modifications available range from alterations of the video image to shifting the timing of video/audio integration.
Middle grade video capture software ranges in price from $50 USD to $2,000 USD and is widely available to the consumer market. This type of product is focused on the modification of home video in a digital format. The video must be on the same computer in order for the video capture process to work.
Free video capture software is also available over the Internet and provides very basic functions. User can highlight and capture video, save the file and add special effects. This file can then be distributed to other users for viewing.
A career in the movie industry requires the use of video capture software, in addition to a wide range of other technologies and video modification tools. Courses are available on the different software products to help staff learn these important skills.
Analog video must be converted to digital format before it can be edited with computer software. This conversion is done using an analog to digital video converter. This device reads the analog information and creates the digital equivalent, modifying the format.
Once this transition is complete, the digital video can be used with video capture software, video editing software and a wide range of related products. The actual digital file can now be saved on digital media, allowing access to a wider range of video reading devices. This includes DVDs, online video software and computer video streaming products.