importing analog audio/video into an imac

[swhitset]

The subject says it all..

Has anyone used one of   These   ?

If so, does it work?   Does anyone have an alternative solution?  Remember, it has to be either USB or Firewire based... no AV capture pci cards in an imac.

Steve

[bobw]

AverMedia

[Xairbusdriver]

Well, I know nothing about video, you probably need what you or Bob mentioned.

But audio is another matter, it couldn't be much simpler, assuming you have an Audio In port. Don't know about that 800 puppy, but the 333 surely has one. 333 should be fine for speed. All you do is buy a $3 cable at RS and plug in your CD/Tape player. Start up Sound Studio Classic and punch the Record button. Stereo/Mono/edit/combine/Save multiple ways/etc.     I also assume that iTunes has some (all) those capabilities. Never seen/used it.

You're on your own with video.

[swhitset]

Bob..

maybe I am just slow tonight, but the only thing on that site that seems to do what I need is the "digital video maker".  It appears to be a PCI card so... won't work.

Steve

[swhitset]

ABD,

Your right about the 333 of course, and if Sound were the only objective, it would work fine.  However, I want to import VHS cassettes and convert to DVD so.. I need Video too.  Incidentally, The 800 lacks the audio in jacks    

I don't believe iTunes has the capability that you speak of, but iMovie does.

Steve

[Al]

That Belkin unit looks pretty good for $40.  From what the write up says, it will only view or capture in 352 x 288.  A little bigger than half of a TV screen.

Eskape Labs has similar units, thou it is more expensive, you can view in full screen and capture in half screen.  It's also USB.

http://www.eskapelabs.com/products.html

A firewire capturing device would do well for full screen capture.

There is Dazzle Hollywood DV bridge...

http://www.dazzle.com/products/hw_bridge.html

It is firewire, can capture full screen and is compatible with iMovies and Final Cut Pro with on the fly DV editing.  It will take an analog signal and process it into a DV signal to save as files.

I think Formac made something to very similar to Dazzle.

Dazzle and Eskape are both compatible with OS X.
 
 [ 03-09-2003, 02:09 AM: Message edited by: Al ]

[kelly]

http://www.macintouch.com/digitizingvideo.html#jan24

http://www.macintouch.com/digitizingvideo.html#links

[Peter]

Will talk more later- Have to go to church

Video Bus II was horible- it screwed up my eMac even in OS 9.2- also not very user friendly

gotta go-
Peter

[swhitset]

AL,
Actually, what got me thinking about this was a Dazzle product I saw at Sam's Club.  The package said it only supported Windows (of course).  I went to their website, and read through their forums.  The Hollywood DV bridge was mentioned, but most of the discussions in the forums seemed to imply that the included software on the cheaper product I saw at Sam's was Not only Windows only.... but also Junk on that platform.  

The people on the forums were also decidedly ANTI-mac    

Fom what I have been reading  (thanks Kelly)  It would seem that the only good way to do this on an imac will require at least $200.  I am now exploring the idea of just buying a digital camcorder with analog to DV pass through capabilities.  It of course would cost even more, but I would at least get the camcorder abilities as well.

Steve

[Al]

Yup, they are one in the same from what I read.  The software that comes with the Dazzle Hollywood DV bridge is for Windows as you don't need it for Macs, using iMovies or Final Cut Pro.  It is the only one that is now listed on Apple's online store, thou for more than the PC version (they are the same).  It will also allow exporting of your digital projects to an analog source.  I may be considering getting one of these myself.

 Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge on the Apple online store

More links...

http://www.macdirectory.com/reviews/dazzle/Index.html

http://shopper.cnet.com/shopping/resellers...-3255497-0.html

http://www.shopharmony.com/default.asp?fil...&ItemID=dm-2200
 
 [ 03-09-2003, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Al ]