What's the best recording codec around?

[Sybarite Paladin AxL]

I have a Leadtek tv tuner, using WinFast program! I use the best codec I have (MPEG 2) but it takes up alot of space!! I tried to record 20 minutes and it took 900 mb!!! Isn't there a better one that doesn't lose in the graphic department but

takes less space?

[Jiggs]

DivX or XviD.

[Sybarite Paladin AxL]

No, I mean a recording codec for WinFast!

[Agozer]

I think WinFast doesn't support the "advanced" compression formats. You'd better just get the video and then compress it with VirtualDub, provided that you have the proper codecs.

[ken_cinder]

Always capture to uncompressed frames if you have the space available, and then re-encode with something like Virtualdub to your desired end result format (DivX for example)

NEVER capture straight to a compressed format. Not only is it a slow process, but you end up with a crap video right off the bat. Multiple passes are required when encoding to something like DivX in order to have decent quality video.

I hate seeing all the music videos and tv shows people have captured that look like utter crap, cause they capture straight to a compressed format and it comes out blocky.

[Sultan]

ya you want to do it in two steps, like IJTF_Cinder said. Capture to uncompressed avi, or if you just can't fit that, huffy avi. Uncompressed can be upwards of 40gb, but capturing any other way will just give you total crap. Then use virtualdub to compress it to xvid or whatever. Check out doom9.org for good guides on the entire process.