Anyone on this board got a EyeTV ?

[BalderGod]

I'm kinda interested in the quality .... yeah, I know it's vcd in standard mode.

But I'm more interested in "High q mode" ... 2,5 Mbit/sec in mpeg1 should be equal to svcd.

Anyone got sample clip ?

[ronin]

I don't have the EyeTV but I looked at it before deciding on the Formac DV/TV. There is actually a new model out by Formac but it doesn't appear to be a major upgrade. So why did I choose the Formac?

1. Firewire interface with the Formac/USB for the EyeTV
2. Records in native DV format, so clips can be easily imported into iMovie, and edited from there, then burned thru iDVD. Very simple process. I also have older analog 8mm tapes that I need to convert to DV and the Formac fits the bill there too. EyeTV records in MPEG1 I believe.
3. Price.....yes the Formac was originally $399 vs $199 for the EyeTV which I admit was a major stumbling block for me...., but my local Apple Store put their Formacs on sale last month (I assume in anticipation of the new model coming out) for only $299! (and it contained the most recent firmware..see Formac's web site for info on this).

Yes, still $100 more than the EyeTV..but at that price difference I get better quality, faster interface, and easy integration into my other OSX Apps.

Hope this helps.

ronin

[ronin]

And another thing..

Just downloaded the new TVR software from Formac..

It now includes:

Ability to export your recorded movies/shows in QT formats and MPEG2....included in the new software is Formac's MPEG2 encoder that was previously only a part of the Formac Divideon (DVD burner)product.

You can now edit out commericials etc. from the TVR software itself..

You can pause live TV and adjust your buffer time...

You can schedule and record at anytime...your Mac can even be asleep and the Software will wake it up to record..The Formac unit just has to be on.

I went thru the specs of the new model (Studio TVR) and it doesn't appear to have anything new or different hardware wise from mine (Studio DV/TV). Just a name change. The main changes were in the software package and it was a free update/upgrade!!

Anybody looking for an analog to DV converter/TV tuner/TVR combo product..this is great! I was just at my Apple Store (Cincinnati) and they still had one left there, again for $299....$100 less than the "new" model. Yes, still more expensive then EyeTV but a better overall product for the extra money...

ronin

[MichaelLAX]

I know that Stacy has an EyeTV, but I do not know if she frequents this board anymore (maybe I can send her an email and get her to reply).

I know she loves her EyeTV but was looking for a way to edit/trim out the commercials. I think she found one...

The problem with DV output solutions, like the Formac, is that they require mucho hard disk space to store the DV files. MPEG-1 is much more economical on HD space.

I have played with VCDs that I digitzed at 2Mbits (known as XVCD) off of my DirecTiVo and the quality is of course, much better than those at 1.15Mbits. I do not use SVCD, (altho I do have a couple of sample disks to view) so I cannot directly compare. I suspect that it is not as good as SVCD MPEG-2. Also, some DVD Players will not play VCDs that are not at a standard 1.15Mbits.

For me, the answer was quality, but more importantly convenience; so I was willing to pay more...

I have the ADS Instant DVD for Mac. This allows me to digitize my older VHS tapes and LaserDiscs at MPEG-2 in realtime and then "trim" out extraneous footage, including commercials, using the software included with the package (PixeDV).

I then have a ReplayTV connected to DirecTV and I use the free downloadable DVArchive software to extract the MPEG-2 files directly off the ReplayTV. I then use the CaptyDVD software that came with my ADS box to author/compile and burn DVDs directly from the ReplayTV MPEG-2 output.

The only think I am missing is true editing, but I have very little need for that.

[GORDYmac]

The high quality version is not MPEG2 (SVCD), it's just MPEG1 at a higher bit rate. You can burn VCD's with this file and Toast.