Video in/Video out, card purchase...
Okay.... (usual disclaimer... dunno if this belongs here...so move it if you must.)
I need a video in/video out card for a G4 Quicksilver running Jaguar. It will have to be either an external firewire thingy or a PCI card. I have a limited budget, but at the same time will spend *more* if I can get a good card. The computer is currently 'stock' so to speak with the following exceptions. Additional 60 GB hard drive, maxed the ram to 1 gig.
What is this card for you ask? Okay... I am going to be using Final Cut Express, iMovie, Keynote, PowerPoint etc to make a 'multimedia' school project. However the ability to do this in the future with some degree of quality would be nice.
In other words I need to be able to plug in a VCR to the mac and 'capture' video (with decent replayablity). It will need to capture it in a format which Final Cut Express (or Pro) or iMovie or iDVD can work with. I will be doing 'cheesy stuff' like subtitles, still photo inserts etc. (so this is my mini-cheap video editing station).
Now I need to get that footage back off the computer. I have a CDRW drive but burning it as MPEGS is big and since a DVDR drive is out of the budget (for now) I will make do with going back to a VCR.
I would 'prefer' RCA style plugs instead of coax (since I think you can get better quality)
The card 'doubling' as a TV tuner would be nice also. As an after thought... remember this model computer has no audio in so the card has to account for that.
Okay, so now you know my requirements. What do I need to buy that will be fully OS X friendly and not cost me both arms and legs.
I trust you guys are the pro's here so I'll check back for replies later tonight. Thanks AI, I know I can count on you.
(PS, these clips I will be 'capturing' aren't *big* they will be 10-30 sec clips and Hard Drive space is not an issue. )
Also MPEG is my fav. video format so I'd like to keep away from windows file types if I can avoid it...
I need a video in/video out card for a G4 Quicksilver running Jaguar. It will have to be either an external firewire thingy or a PCI card. I have a limited budget, but at the same time will spend *more* if I can get a good card. The computer is currently 'stock' so to speak with the following exceptions. Additional 60 GB hard drive, maxed the ram to 1 gig.
What is this card for you ask? Okay... I am going to be using Final Cut Express, iMovie, Keynote, PowerPoint etc to make a 'multimedia' school project. However the ability to do this in the future with some degree of quality would be nice.
In other words I need to be able to plug in a VCR to the mac and 'capture' video (with decent replayablity). It will need to capture it in a format which Final Cut Express (or Pro) or iMovie or iDVD can work with. I will be doing 'cheesy stuff' like subtitles, still photo inserts etc. (so this is my mini-cheap video editing station).
Now I need to get that footage back off the computer. I have a CDRW drive but burning it as MPEGS is big and since a DVDR drive is out of the budget (for now) I will make do with going back to a VCR.
I would 'prefer' RCA style plugs instead of coax (since I think you can get better quality)
The card 'doubling' as a TV tuner would be nice also. As an after thought... remember this model computer has no audio in so the card has to account for that.
Okay, so now you know my requirements. What do I need to buy that will be fully OS X friendly and not cost me both arms and legs.
I trust you guys are the pro's here so I'll check back for replies later tonight. Thanks AI, I know I can count on you.
(PS, these clips I will be 'capturing' aren't *big* they will be 10-30 sec clips and Hard Drive space is not an issue. )
Also MPEG is my fav. video format so I'd like to keep away from windows file types if I can avoid it...
Comments
So, I found the <a href="http://www.focusinfo.com/products/tview_gold/tview_gold.htm"; target="_blank">TView Gold from Focus</a>.
Not sure if that fits your criteria, but they may have something more suited to your needs <a href="http://www.focusinfo.com/"; target="_blank">on their site</a>.
I don't know about pricing right now, but these devices used to be around $400. They've probably come down in price.
If you're looking for something better than DV, look for something that captures in MJPEG. These can be expensive though. Aurora is a company that designs an internal card called the Ignighter, but it's a professional device. They used to have something called a Fuse that was more low end, but is not OS X compatible. You might be able to find one and boot to OS 9 for your captures.
DV is pretty much fine though, especially for what it sounds like you're doing.
Okay. I have reread things and will slightly alter the question....
How about this..
What cheap OS X friendly video capture exists with a minimum of 640x480 via RCA. Should I be looking at something like....
<a href="http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=956021"; target="_blank">http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=956021</a>;
or
<a href="http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=951534"; target="_blank">http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=951534</a>;
? I figure I can 'make it work' other ways to get it off the computer. If one of these sub $200 gidgets will capture video I can use in 'full screen' size (ala 640 x 480 or better) then I will be set provided it works with Jag.
Perhaps this will make life easier. I can always find a computer with the right video outs to get the stuff back off. So in is the big question....
Thanks again!
PS, DV is wonderful, I will eventually be heading this way...but of now $ isn't *that* lose just yet.
[ 03-03-2003: Message edited by: Not Unlike Myself ]</p>
Well, if you have footage on VHS that you need to digitize, hook up your VCR to your FW, hit play n your VCR and record on your camcorder and: voila! You just put all your footage in a format that is very easily transferable to the Mac via via FW and iMovie.
Quicksilvers come with descently fast cards for video editing so you shouldn't have a problem there.
I would try to borrow this camera from a friend, but if you have about $300 to $500 to spend, then I would buy one.
[ 03-03-2003: Message edited by: RANSOMED ]</p>
<strong>If you can get your hands on a firewire video camera, that would do it for you. How, you ask?
Well, if you have footage on VHS that you need to digitize, hook up your VCR to your FW, hit play n your VCR and record on your camcorder and: voila! You just put all your footage in a format that is very easily transferable to the Mac via via FW and iMovie.
Quicksilvers come with descently fast cards for video editing so you shouldn't have a problem there.
I would try to borrow this camera from a friend, but if you have about $300 to $500 to spend, then I would buy one.
[ 03-03-2003: Message edited by: RANSOMED ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have the Sony DCR-TRV 140 and I connect it to my mac fine and transfer video through the firewire fine, but if I try to connect it to my VCR and play from the VCR and record on the camorcoder it doesn't do anything, but that blue screen. This really bugs me. Anyone know if the 140 can record from a playing VCR? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
<strong>
I have the Sony DCR-TRV 140 and I connect it to my mac fine and transfer video through the firewire fine, but if I try to connect it to my VCR and play from the VCR and record on the camorcoder it doesn't do anything, but that blue screen. This really bugs me. Anyone know if the 140 can record from a playing VCR?
I had to transfer VHS to DV several months ago and I was able to pull it off. Precisely with a SONY camcorder. I messed with the camera's settings until I was able to do it.
I remember using the RCA connections: VCR output to CAM input. You basically use your camera as you would use your TV, meaning if oyu hook it up right, you'll be able to view what ever's going thrrogh your VCR in your camera's screen. I just can't remember the exact settings.
Perhaps SONY tech support???
Simply 'low-medium' quality video capture for a quicksilver running Jaguar. Is that so much to ask? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">