how to recoerd live cable tv on mac?

[pbure0110]

i have a mac mini with intel and want to record tv on my mac so that i could burn it and or just view it. so is there any way cheap or expensive to do it and what do i need to do it?

[terryj]

STF for "canopus advc" or "datavideo" or simply " canopus terryj".

alternately, you could also search for "ADS" and "El Gato".

this is a frequent question that has been answered numerous times.

[Manny C]

The cheap way to do it, would be to use a digital camcorder as a "pass-through" device to go straight into iMovie.

For example, you take the RCA outputs from your cable box, and from that, go into your camera.
From the camera, you go into iMovie via a firewire cable.

If you're using cheap old regular analog cable (no cable box), then you'll have to go this route...

Cable from the wall jack to a VCR--->
VCR rca line outputs to your digital camcorder--->
Camcorder to iMovie (via firewire)

[Manny C]

One other thing to note, is that you'll have to make sure that the camera has NO TAPE in it. This prevents the camera from automatically shutting off after 5 minutes of inactivity.

[rumplestiltskin]

EyeTVez is $149. This makes your Mac a DVR. Information here:

http://elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvez

[kubrick74]

One other thing to note, is that you'll have to make sure that the camera has NO TAPE in it. This prevents the camera from automatically shutting off after 5 minutes of inactivity.

thanks! terrific info.

Should I asume that IMovie, or Final Cut Pro or what ever software your are using must be in a capture mode?

[willrob]

Yes. But you can't use Final Cut for this purpose. It doesn't seem to recognize pass through devices, only the camera's own playback. iMovie however does.

Here is an Apple Knowledge Base article

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304158

Keep in mind that DV cameras as a pass through typically require an s-video/mini stereo audio plug in from the VCR. If your VCR doesn't have s-video, then the camera may not be useful for this purpose.

[rumplestiltskin]

<snip>...Keep in mind that DV cameras as a pass through typically require an s-video/mini stereo audio plug in from the VCR. If your VCR doesn't have s-video, then the camera may not be useful for this purpose.

I won't claim that all DV camcorders support the usual RCA analog inputs but I haven't played with one yet that doesn't.

[willrob]

I have a Sony and it only has s-video in and mini stereo audio. It's a small camera; perhaps the larger models have the RCA ports.

[live4ever]

I'd say go with the EyeTV (if you are going to be buying a device) you could get the Hybrid (which is also capable of HD).

Capturing to DV is best if you plan on doing a lot of editing - it takes up 13GB/hour so external hard drives are a necessity.