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Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version from NCH Software turns your computer into a flexible, capable video capture and recording device. It can record video from a wide range of sources, including VHS VCRs, and save it in many formats; it can also capture screenshots and save them as JPEG stills. It will even capture and record video playing on your PC's screen. When all else fails but you've just got to save that clip, Debut can save the day.
Debut detected our video capture and playback devices, but it will automatically configure itself as a screen capture tool if no such devices are present. A full-featured, up-to-date interface let us not only capture and record video but also schedule and manage recordings. We pressed the first button on the toolbar, Webcam, and immediately our system's camera became active and started recording video. Clicking Device accessed a VHS video recorder via the line-in jacks on our video card; clicking Screen displayed our current screen view. The Schedule and Recordings functions needed no explanation, but the Selections tool proved more intriguing. This let us drag open a rectangular capture window on our desktop, or capture an entire window, and save only our selection, excluding the rest of the desktop. This greatly simplifies editing screen-captured video displayed in a small window. The program's options are basic for the genre, though we could configure snapshot quality, select a camera shutter sound, and defeat Debut's window in video recordings to prevent mirror effects. Debut also works with NHC's BroadCam live video streaming software to stream your video online, a capacity we didn't test.
Recording VHS video with Debut proved as easy as recording any video input via our system's video card (hooking a VCR up to a PC is the tricky part). We consider the results excellent: VHS-to-PC is limited by the quality of the source, which in this case is far inferior to your PC's screen. However, your digitally dubbed tapes will look normal when played back at the correct resolution on your TV. The ability to work well with a wide range of such devices sets Debut apart from less capable shareware and freeware video recording tools.
Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.49. The trial version is limited to 14 days.
Publisher's Description
From NCH Software:
Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version is video capture software that lets you capture video files directly on a PC from a Webcam, external devices, computer screen, or streaming video. Debut Video Recording Software saves the new video file on your hard drive as AVI, WMV, or many other file types. You can also capture a snapshot (video still) from a video recording and save it to JPEG. Debut is designed to be easy and intuitive to use, giving you the ability to record essentially anything from capturing video from a Webcam, your screen, or video input devices such as a VHS recorder within minutes of downloading.
Capture Streaming Video allows you to capture video directly to your hard drive, Record video in many different file formats including .AVI, .WMV, .FLV, .ASF .MPG, .3GP, .MP4, and .MOV, record from your Webcam, screen, or video input device, record almost anything you can see on your monitor, record video and audio simultaneously, create photo snap-shots, add your own text captions or time stamp your videos, change color settings and video effects before recording, adjust video resolution, size, and frame rate for video capture. It has the ability to burn directly to DVD with Express Burn Disc Burner, Works with BroadCam Video Broadcast Software to stream over the internet.
What's new in this version: Version 1.64 added support for DV camcorders and firewire devices, added social sharing options for YouTube, Facebook and more.
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All versions:
3.1 starsout of 144 votes
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Current version:
2.7 starsout of 25 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Worst ever!"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
Haven't really found any
Cons
Spent over 100 bucks on the pro edition and found that to get the audio capture with the video, the software company recommends running a wire from my speakers to my mic input.
What is more, the higher the resolution I try to record in, the less frames recevied (max 30 fps). There are far more robust and helpful software products out there for a less expensive price.
Really expected more
Terrible solutions, results and supportSummary
Don't waste your money, it's terrible.
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"Shabby Demo"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
Can't say. Didn't have enough time to try it
Cons
I d/l the free Pro and it let me capture one video. I didn't have enough time to judge anything.
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"DOES NOT WORK"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
Nothing pro to say.
Cons
The only con I can give is that it is the ultimate con; absolutely useless.
Summary
I tried recording three different items in three different recording formats from different sources on two different days and the best I could get was choppy (as in one frame per second maybe) video. I use NCH Wavepad with great satisfaction so I have to say the company knows how to make something decent, just not this product. The only good thing I can say is that it was trial software and didn't cost anything.
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"Good, but not great for gaming"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
Easy to use
Integrated NCH software
Good for tuts.Cons
Very laggy
Paying for it screws everything up.
Weird corner display failSummary
Its worth a try. DO NOT PAY FOR IT.
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"Thoughtless Design"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
1.Well-meaning suite of products, installation is easy.
2. Attempts to integrate the nch suite of products.
3. Gamma and other editor-like options are available for screen capture, including a very limited caption option.
4. Wide range of codecs.Cons
1. Won't allow you to set fps rate.
2. Won't 'remember' the encoding or other options you set, even during the same session. So it's as if you have no options. After you finish selecting options it still defaults to H264 and PCM.
3. Preview screen is thumbnail, useless. Icons and other program-feature screen space is way too large, takes up way too much space.
4. Kafka-esque interface, picture within picture, very disconcerting.Summary
Whoever programmed this nch suite might know something about the technicalities, but has no sense of interface size, function, provisions, and didn't think out the design. Not at all intuitive. This program, like VideoPad, needs a 'mother' to properly design the interface with SMALL icons, a DETACHABLE preview window you can zoom to fullscreen, since if you are recording fullscreen, you'll need to SEE it fullscreen, for proper editing,captions, and other adjustments. All video editing software suffers from the lack of a BIG ENOUGH preview screen, which effectively disables the program's utility, especially for instructional videomaking which requires a full screen in 1280 x 1024 resolution (or similar specs).
Elaboration: I complain only about the interface and somewhat crazy text overlay functions in these programs. The programmer is otherwise skilled. Here's how to fix the interface:
Updated on Jul 8, 2012
1. Make Preview Window FLOATING, so user can widen it as big as computer screen.
2. Make Text overlay options useful. Example: Video Pad's moving text goes too fast, allows no control, can't type multiple lines. (AVS4YOU has good text overlay options, emulate that. AVS4YOU suffers also from no floating Preview Window.)
3. PLEASE don't use so much screen space with big menus, icons, dialogue boxes.But if you make Preview Window float, you needn't reprogram the foregoing to a smaller size.
GIST: When a video rendering program's menus, timeline, options are all connected (no floating windows), it becomes impossible to edit or view the video properly, esp if recorded fullscreen, or HD with TEXT. A company that makes a floating Preview Window, will capture the market! It could be YOU, nch software... -
"It Works, Sort of..."
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
Easy to install;
Easy to configure; (sort of)
Easy to Use.Cons
A little confusing at first;
Captured sound is muddled;Summary
Debut Video Recording Software does pretty much what it says that it will do, capture video being displayed on your computer screen! It is easy to use, starts up quickly and is easy to terminate and save your file.
The problem that I had with it is that no matter what configuration I had used for the captured audio, it sounded like it was being recorded underwater using a sono-mike, really muffled.
I'll keep playing with it to see if I can get it cleared up, as it does seem to have an easy interface to capture video... -
"Clock Cycles, re-register, re-purchase"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
This package seems to work fine--when it DOES work.
Cons
About 6 months after I installed this, it started crashing--I got a pop-up telling me there was an update. Then, the program started using about 10-20% of my clock cycles--WHILE IT WAS NOT EVEN RUNNING--it took me a while to track down the process. So I uninstalled this product, re-installed, and it will NOT take my registration code numbers: it says that I'm using an older copy--it's only 8 months OLD!
Summary
If you want to re-purchase this software every 6-8 months, have 'sneak-ware' install itself when you intstall THIS product, watch your cpu temp go up due to excessive load while not even running this, and you enjoy mediocre video editing, then by all means--this product is for you!
[UPDATE]
I have not contacted NCH about any of this--they get feedback statistics from their product--they know better.
Updated on Mar 26, 2012
I've just managed to find the original copy on my network, and have re-installed this program. I entered the original registration codes back in, and now the program seems 'back to normal'--I dare not update this software and risk going through all that nonsense again. -
"unacceptable. Changes search bar, adds unwanted browser"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
Sadly the video functions work in a useful manner. This is way less important than the fact that you lose browser functionality, and the software makes several changes to one's browser that can take hours to correct. Who knows what other changes and problems this software makes.
Cons
Changes browser search functions. Adds unwanted tools such as facesmooch etc.
Summary
Dont do it unless you dont mind having your browswer changed and a bunch of junk installed on your computer.
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"Sort of worked, sort of didn't"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
Accurate detected all USB and the one built in camera
Cons
No instructions I could find, opens browser to their page after each use (big no-no with me), missed firewire camera, crashes when I try to limit file sizes and have it create new ones automatically afterwards, did not find any claimed scheduling for video
Summary
I expect any demo program I evaluate to be fully functional. I was looking for capture software that could work with any of my cameras, do a date and time overlay, and then save the files in one hour chunks to an external hard drive.
Much of the functionality reported in this review simply could not be found. Whether this is due to the lack of a manual, or the demo version was neutered, I don't know.
The software sort of functioned. Breaking up the video into one hour chunks simply caused the program to crash. This function is required, as an 11 hour video would simply be far too large to deal with. It also failed to detect my Sony digital camera, connected by firewire. It did identify the two USB cameras (Logitech and HP) as well as the built in one by Dell. Unlike many FREE software products, this one relies on third party software (supplied by the camera manufacturer) to adjust camera settings.
Given what is out there for free, and how superior those products work (I am one of those rare types that actually will contribute to the developer on those), I simply could not justify the unusually high price NCH demands for this application.
Sorry NCH, the previous version was much better. -
"Another great product from Nch!!!!!"
Version: Debut Video Recording Software Professional Version 1.64
Pros
Easy of use. With little back ground in video capture I was able to record high quality on screen video. For the price it is well worth it.
Cons
It doesn't cook me dinner. :)
Summary
I used it with Win7 64bit, 4gb of ram, Amd Quad Core processor and on board video card. Had no problems. Recomend that you use the video editor from NCH(when installing it will give you the option to include it).
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