Alchemy-Analogue to Digital Video card for $109.

[Gary S]

I came across this link to this Alchemy-Analogue to digital TV tuner and it only costs $109.

Analogue to digital PCI card

Featuring a high performance Philips tuner and full QuickTime support, AlchemyTV lets you watch TV in full screen mode and listen to FM radio on your PowerMac.

Your favourite TV program can even be recorded to your hard drive in the format of your choice.

With its TV/Antenna, composite, S-VHS inputs and stereo audio connector, AlchemyTV can tune in to any TV or radio station or record from your VCR. The Mac OS X.2 compatible software allows you to select the supported QuickTime plug-in of your choice. Fast PowerMacs can even capture straight to the new MPEG-4 codec!



What do you think?

[Greg Dunn]

That's a great price.  I've got a Formac external device, it hooks up to a VCR and also has a  TV tuner, I use it a lot and really like it.  The one you're looking at is a lot less expensive, I'll tell you.  The only problem I can see with it is that it doesn't have a coaxial hookup, only S-VHS and Component.  You couldn't hook up a TV cable to it without one of those, I think.

[Al]

Hi Gary,

That's a pretty cool item!  Great price too.

Only thing I'd check before purchasing would be at what resolution will it capture at?  It says you can view at 720x480, but if it will only do half that for capturing then it will be less than full screen.  Nothing is mentioned about it's capture resolution.

Other devices from the past usually only captured in 320x240.  Is why I ask that you check with them first if you want full screen capturing before purchasing.

[Gary S]

What I'd like to do is transfer some Video tapes to CD. I have a bunch of family stuff I've shot over the last 15 years on my VHS cam-corder.

That product hasn't even reached the US market place yet it's so new. They are from England.