USB/Firewire Capture Technology

[iwgalloway]

Hi - I know catalyst can accept a video input via a firewire port - presumably from a DV camera with a i-link output.

Would this work just as well using an analogue to video converter with a firewire output - something like a Formac Studio-TV or similar?

It seems that most video capture companies have switched over to USB - would Catalyst be able to accept a video input from any of the current crop of USB a/d converters? Such as Elgato's Video Capture ( http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mai...oduct1.en.html ) or EyeTV Hybrid ( http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mai...oduct1.en.html )

I need to specify a simple system to run on a Macbook. We have to get analogue video into the thing somehow!

Thanks

[ryanww]

Any capture device has to support converting into the Quicktime formats. I have tried a few, but they didn't have the proper conversion. Ones that I know will work are the Canopus boxes. They have different versions. The ADVC110 seems to be a very standard one for capturing composite video. You can even buy them at apple stores. I have used that with great results. However, You can only use one per machine as it can only accept one incoming video stream.

[NevBull]

Hi Ian

the canopus range work ok, if you need it, the Twinpact gives you composite as well as vga input.

Nev.

[iwgalloway]

Great - thanks for the responses.

It seems USB is out, since nobody seems to have tested that!

Would I be correct in thinking that Final Cut also uses quicktime inputs? If so, should a firewire capture device that works with Final Cut Pro work with Catalyst?

[samsc]

Great - thanks for the responses.

It seems USB is out, since nobody seems to have tested that!

Would I be correct in thinking that Final Cut also uses quicktime inputs? If so, should a firewire capture device that works with Final Cut Pro work with Catalyst?

final cut and imovie can directly address cameras and bypass quicktime ...

so you cant guarantee this.

none of the eyetv products had quicktime drivers last time i checked. totally proprietary.

security spy usually has best video digitiser links:

http://www.bensoftware.com/ss/instal...usbinputs.html

it lists some usb composite devices- they indicate a 3rd party driver is required

----

decklink also have this:

http://www.decklink.com/products/videorecorder/

but i dont know whether its only proprietary

[samsc]

decklink video recorder doesnt work its proprietary software only-

but this is a driver company that works with common usb video devices:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22510

USBVision-

http://www.echofx.com/

USBVision video capture devices are USB 1.1 "Full-speed" devices based on Nogatech / Zoran chipsets. They capture video at quarter screen resolutions from NTSC, PAL or SECAM video sources. For detailed information about the USBVision software and a list of supported USBVision devices please visit the USBVision page.

supported devices here:

http://www.echofx.com/usbvision.html

The USBVision software offers Mac OS X support not only for XLR8 InterView, but also for a wide range of new devices including Belkin VideoBus and VideoBus II, iRez USB Live and CapSure, Global Village VideoFX, Alpha Data USB Video Adapter, Hauppauge USB-Live and many others -including those originally sold as PC-only. Mac OS X support for most of these devices was previously unavailable.
Supports a wide range of video capture devices.
352 x 240, 29.97 frames per second NTSC video capture.
352 x 288, 25 frames per second PAL/SECAM video capture.
Supports composite and s-video formats.
High contrast, high quality video better than DV at the same size.
Excellent audio/video synchronization.
Low disk space requirements: 4 GB per hour for video and audio.
High resolution single frame capture.
Audio support for devices that have audio input, e.g. Belkin VideoBus II.
Snapshot button support for devices that snapshot buttons, e.g. Belkin VideoBus.
Multiple device support for broadcasting, webcam, and surveillance applications.
Dynamic Quality Management, for maintaining the best quality possible during capture.
Auto-Detect Input And Format, to automatically adapt to the current video source.
Fast Record Playback, for near real-time playback during captures.*
Easy to use, AppleScript enabled capture software with fast full screen playback.**
Software to export movies to any QuickTime supported format, including DV.
Compatible with a large number of third-party applications.
Fast Record Playback requires a G4 processor.
Full screen playback requires a G4 processor and an accelerated graphics card.