DAC-100 vs EyeTV

I am currently using a DAC-100 to convert video from VHS tapes and such over to my iMac with iMovie. I was thinking of turning my iMac into a little TV as well since I don't have a TV in my computer room. I have saw a few ads for the EyeTV that will not only display TV but it will allow the conversion process from VHS to Mac like I do now with my DAC-100.
Has anyone played with a EyEtv? I am wondering how well it does, quality wise, etc, compared to the DAC-100.
Thanks.

I have the EyeTV Hybrid. It works great on my Intel iMac Core Duo machine.
It works for viewing HD broadcasts on your Mac through a modern "rabbit ears" type antenna that will set you back $20 to $40 at Walmart, depending on whether you want amplification or not.
It also works great for importing VHS tapes. I hook up my VCR to the EyeTV through RCA jacks, and it imports into the iMac in MPEG2 format. EyeTV software enables you to convert this to DV format so it can be used in iMovie. The EyeTV software can also do simple editing like splitting a large file into separate clips for separate events, or cutting out commercials.
The EyeTV hybrid is called a hybrid because, unlike other EyeTV models, it uses the Mac's processors for processing, as opposed to some more expensive EyeTV models which offload the processing to the EyeTV device. Before trying the hybrid on a G5 I would recommend reading the product reviews at Amazon.com to see how G5 owners have fared.
It works great for me.

Similar Messages

Video input with DAC-100 and FCE

I am having trouble getting video into FCE using a DAV-100 breakout box. FCE says the camara is connected but the controls won't work and the video does not show up unless I use the capture method. Does anybody know if there are any settings in FCE that need to be checked.

OK. The DAC-100 is a D/A converter!
When using a D/A converter, FCE should use the Easy Setup>DV Converter option, either PAL or NTSC, whatever you camera is.
There will be NO device control. The Capture Now is the option to use as you have already found out. You can change the 30 mins (default) to another time in the User Preferences window. The longer the capture the greater the chance of audio sync. Around 15 mins a capture is a safe option, though plenty of users get away with an hour a capture, trial and error this yourself.
FYI: Compact-VHS can use a full size adapter for use in a regular VCR if you don't want to use the camera.
Al

Capturing video from DAC 100 to FCE - HD

For the life of me I can not get this to work!! I can capture video through the DAC100 to iMovie no problem... But when I go to FCE-HD it does not even recognize the device?! I click on the FCE - HD in the dock and the EXTERNAL A/V window pops up Apple Firewire NTS (720 x 480) and states Your system configuration may have changed, or your deck/camera may be disconnected or turned off (which it is not). Please check your connections and click "Check Again" (nothing happens), or click "Continue" to set external device selection to None (not sure what this means but I can not find the external device selection in order to change it to none.
So I get into the project and click "Easy Set Up" and Setup For: DV-NTSC DV Converter and that EXTERNAL A/V window pops up again, I click on "Check Again" and get nothing, I click on "Continue" and then go top FILE -> Capture and it the Capture screen pops up but it reads PREVIEW DISABLED - NO COMMUNICATION. I then click the NOW button and a pop up comes up reading : Attempt to capture video without device selected. Please select a video device in your capture presets and try again. Well I can not find the "capture presets"??? Any help on this would be awesome!
Thanks in Advance.
Sean

Hey guys - Thanks for answering so quick...
Al - G'Day -
"When you start FCE this way the firewire connection is disabled.
Make sure View>Video>Firewire is active before capturing.
You may even have to have the Converter attached and powered on before opening FCE to get the Firewire connection active."
I went to VIEW (on FCE-HD) but do not see VIDEO>FIREWIRE? Am I looking in the wrong place? I have the converter attached and powered on and also have already tried what Tom suggested and shutdown the computer - disconnected everything (including my two Lacie ext. harddrives), powered back up and still no recognition? The DAC 100 doesn't have a DV out mode - I have the 3 input audio video plugged in and attached to my VCR...
Tom,
If this is the case where do I find the correct DV Converter settings? Also, I have never seen this device on my desk top or anywhere for that matter (which I thought was odd) but yet like I mentioned before, iMovies recognizes it with know problem and the video transfer to an iMovie Project. The problem with this is if there's any curruption on the videos they skip frames (audio & video) for split seconds, and I'm left without complete footage.
I had Final Cut Express 2 previously and at one point was able to capture footage, but somewhere along the line, this process got disabled. I recently Upgraded to Tiger and bought the FCE- HD update. I thought I had checked all the updates... What do you guys suggest?
Thanks again.
Sean

Still low audio on DAC-100

Hello,
I am still having the problem of extremely low when importing any VHS video using the DAC-100, from my VCR, into Final Cut Pro. As I stated earlier, audio only comes in on one track in Final Cut, and it's very low at that. I cut the track that doesn't have any audio on it, then copy the track that does, but, that doesn't help much, & is too much add'l work.
I used the suggestion here and selected the two audio tracks in the timeline after capture, and chose Modify/Make Stereo Pair. It didn’t work, as the result was that the audio meter read that sound was only coming from one side, whereas when I played it before making into a Stereo Pair, it looked like it was coming out of both, even though only one audio track had any sound waves on it. And it was still low audio.
I checked all of my connections, they are all tight. I have a miniDV camera and can go from the camera to the VCR, but NOT the other way around. I have contacted the DAC-100 co. but apparently there is only one technician for the whole co. and he has not gotten back to me. I am at a loss, as I need to transfer several VHS tapes, and at the moment, have no way of doing that. Ok, thanks so much!
Kristina

"is the audio at a lower level compared to the original audio straight out of the VHS player?"
Yes, the audio does come in much lower than compared to straight out of the VHS player.
"Is the converter box is faulty, test by using another box?"
I don't have another box...
"Is there output level settings DIP switches somewhere you could change?"
Hmm, I could try changing DIP switches, but was advised to keep on the factory settings. Besides, they've always been that way, and they USED to work...but, could perhaps try...
"If the original audio level is at the same level feed the output from the VHS machine into a sound mixer and wind up the gain, then feed that into the converter."
No sound mixer...only tv/vcr; dac-100; MAC...

Datavideo dac-100 and iMovie?

I am planning to buy a datavideo dac-100 dv converter (or something similar) to digitalize analogue videotapes, but before I do I want to make sure that it will be recognized by iMovie for importing.
Any advice?

I have tried putting that into each channel but I'm not sure I've tried putting it in both at once. I think I did use a stereo input at one time, but not lately.
It seems as there is something wrong with the audio cables. At least, that's the most probably cause.
Thanks for the welcome, I'm not sure why my posts got set back to 0 but I'm not all that new.
Oops. Sorry about that. (The discussion shows number of posts currently online until Apple got everything sorted out.)

DAC 100

I have a DAC 100 and it works great getting video and sound into imovies.
Soundtrack doesn't seem to see it at all. Whats the problem ?

Hi,
STP won't capture from FW/DV.
Try QT Pro (works with the Canopus ADVC 100).
Mitch

Converting vhs through DAC-100

I'd like to convert VHS cassettes from JVC VCR to imovie HD. I've got a DAC-100 converter (made by datavideo), and I can't see what I'm doing wrong. I'm using the s-video connection. I've checked all that I can (dipswitches are different on datavideo website to the instructions), but I'm just getting a blue screen (it says camera connected, and there's an import button at the bottom of the screen - when I press that it says camera playing). Nothing else happens.
I'm probably not doing something really obvious (I got the DAC=100 because it seemed the least complicated way to transfer vhs - i tried some other means, but I couldn't figure those out either...).
Any assistance would be really appreciated.

Hi Ian and welcome to the forums!
I am not familiar with the DAC-100 (I use a Canopus to do this, which is very similar) but having looked at the specs there is no obvious reason why it shouldn't work.
You need to connect your VHS player to the DAC by S-video (for the video, but this does not not carry sound) and by the red and white RCA cables for the sound. The DAC has to be connected to your Mac by firewire cable or iMovie will not work.
You should set sound as 16 bit, 44,100 hz. You do this in Audio MIDI setup, which is in your utilities folder.
Lastly, read the instructions for how to toggle the dip switches!
In iMovie, if it recognizes the device, when you click on the camera icon it should show up as an option.

FCE 4 Froze At The End Of VHS Capture Through DAC-100.

I spent a large part of yesterday copying a 2 hour VHS tape to FCE 4 via my DAC-100.
At the end of the 2 hours I pressed the esc key only to hear a warning "thud" bleep and find that FCE had suddenly frozen.
After I force-quit I found the 25GB file was useless.
I tried again with a 30 minute capture with the same result.
During each attempted capture I had briefly answered an email.
Assuming that my short internet use had caused the end freeze I tried again, not using any other computer function and succeeded.
Whilst using the web is the chief suspect, could there be another obvious cause? (I am sure that in the past I have used the iMac whilst capturing).
The irritating thing was that it waited until the capture was finished before freezing!

That is interesting Armando.
Thanks to your info I can now use Spaces!
Here are the results:-
1. With FCE capturing in Window 1, I can switch to Window 2 and open Mail (or any other app), use it and go back to Window 1. (This works with both camera and converter captures).
The Mail name is still in the menu in Window 1 and I can't bring up FCE's name but it does not matter because pressing esc stops the capture and puts FCE's name back in the menu.
2. For it all to work, I must OPEN the new app in the new window. If the app is already open, even though I "wake" it up in Window 2, it will lock FCE when I go back to Window 1.
3. As mentioned previously, if FCE locks whilst capturing from a camera, I can simply manually stop the camera, FCE will unlock and I get the "End of Tape" message. The capture is successful. But this technique does not work when capturing with a converter.
So, you have shown me that I can use other apps whilst capturing by using Spaces, but it does not explain why I have the original problem.
I have just done some capture tests on my G4 eMac (OSX 10.4.10) and opening other apps during capture does not cause a problem.

DAC-100 importing VHS to imovie- SOUND?

I trying to convert my VHS to imovie, and in the imovie window, it plays(and imports) fine, even plays sound- but when I go to re-play what I just imported, there is NO sound? What gives? I can't figure it out!

Can you provide a few more details as to what you are doing, seeing and hearing???
Are you importing to the clips panel or the timeline? After you disconnect the converter, your imported footage has no sound?
Simple things first, be sure the video track check box is checked. It is located at the far right of the timeline. I imported a quicktime clip from a disk, and it had no sound after import and I discovered that the box had somehow become unchecked.
A workaround if it still doesn't have sound is to first record your VHS tape to DV using your digital camcorder and then import that into iMovie.
Good Luck, and post back if you still have problems!

IMovie '08 and DAC's

Having problems getting a datavideo DAC-100 to be recognized by iMovie 7.1.1 on a iMac 24". The only thing I get is the iSight camera. I've tried rebooting with it playing. No luck so far... can anyone help?

Hi all,
I have the same issue.
I uploaded a movie last night (imovie08).
imovie says it uploaded fine, and if I open it in imovie it says it was published on youtube - however it still hasn't shown up in myvideo, some 10 hours later?

Universal analog to digital video converters

I have an old Formac Studio converter that requires a $75 EPRON upgrade to work with the newer editions of iMovie; Therefore, I am considering just buying a new video converter to convert old video tapes to DVDs. I could only find a 2004 review, and the top pic was the Datavideo's DAC-100, which only states Mac PowerPC with iMovie 5 compatability (and Windows) on their website (no response yet from their tech support on Intel Macs and iMovie 6 compatabilities). As I have searched for other converters in the $100-200 price range, I can't find any that claim Intel Mac compatability. I don't want to purchase something with issues. Can anyone steer me to an affordable, quality video converter?
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8) Intel Duo

Go to Apple's online store and search EyeTV Hybrid.
Not only does this little item work with your MBP to tune NTSC abd ATSC broadcasts, it has a small port for line level video.
Cost: $149.

Firewire DV output disconnects when I pop over to other programs

I am brand new to the Mac and brand new to Final Cut Studio, just bought both of them this month. I do After Effects animation and edit the animations with clients in the room, I've been using Premiere on a Windows laptop for years, and I've been told my workflow would benefit if I tried working on a Mac. Now that I'm on a MacBook Pro with Final Cut I've run into an issue.
Final Cut Pro 5.1.3 seems to be working fine, I'm editing DV video on my 2.33ghz Core2duo 15" MacBook Pro through Firewire to an ADVC DAC-100 analog/digital converter box, out S-Video to a 32" TV for the clients. However, once I pop over to another program, say Photoshop, After Effects, or the Finder, Final Cut's firewire connection is lost, and the TV turns purple, the default DAC-100 behavior when there is no firewire input. (It turns blue when I use my Canon ZR40 instead of the DAC-100.) Once I pop back over to Final Cut Pro, the firewire connection is re-established and my animations are back on the TV. I use several programs in conjunction with the video editor, and I need the firewire connection to remain on so the TV doesn't turn purple every time I jump back into After Effects, Photoshop, etc.
Final Cut Studio comes with 90 days support, so I called and Apple phone support told me that the way I have things set up is very uncommon and not supported. DV footage out to a Firewire device is not supported? Are you kidding me? The local Apple Store has several Geniuses with Final Cut Pro experience, they told me that the fact that FCP loses firewire connection when I change programs is "pretty much the nature of the beast". They recommended I use a DVI connector to output to S-Video out to the TV, but I'm already using my laptop's DVI to output to my 21 inch monitor, and I will NOT work from my 15" laptop display (or a 17" laptop display for that matter).
I called phone support again and they told me that if I had a Mac Pro I would have more options, but with a laptop my "special workflow" is not very well supported, unless I stay in Final Cut Pro and not switch programs over to Photoshop or anything else.
Here is why I feel like I am in the twilight zone: Premiere 6.5 in Windows automatically keeps firewire connection when I pop over to After Effects. Premiere Pro 2.0's default behavior is to lose firewire connection when switching to another program, but I simply unchecked the "Disable video output when Premiere Pro is in the background" checkbox to keep the connection when switching programs. Premiere has been able to do this for years, I have a VERY hard time believing that Final Cut Pro, which is regarded as the BEST video editing program, cannot maintain firewire output unless it is the "in focus" application. I have been through all the preferences, I can't find anything to alter this behavior.
If I cannot solve this problem with Final Cut Pro, I will need to find a DV/analog firewire box that defaults to BLACK instead of purple when firewire gets disconnected. Please let me know if anyone can tell me the solution to this, I have a VERY hard time believing that editing video on a MacBook Pro while monitoring on a TV through firewire is only supported if I don't pop over to any other programs.
Thanks in advance for the help, I am already $5,000 into this experiment of trying to do my animation work on a Mac and I will not be happy if I can't get things to work.
- Bob Wilson
MacBook Pro 2.33ghz Core 2 Duo 15" Mac OS X (10.4.8) 3 gigs ram, 160 gig HD

You're not losing firewire control when you switch over, you are losing the video playback. Even if you were viewing your canvas on your desktop you would still go back to a ragular screen when you switch apps. You would probably have to monkey with your external monitor to adjust how it responds to a lack of signal.

S-video to firewire

I have a Samsung camcorder HI-8 with a composit/s-video out. Is there an Apple device that can convert this to input into my firewire port?
I'm aware of some USB devices that do this but I'd like to use firewire.

Hello Q_Ball,
You cannot convert composit/s-video (an analog signal) to digital format on the fly through any cable that I know of.
The same thing applies to VHS tape conversion: analog signal that needs to be converted to a digital format before it can be used in the digital world, such as DVD recording.
So, check out this site for information:
http://www.datavideo.us/products/dac100_mainpage.htm
I use the DAC-100 for converting old VHS (and other sources) into digital format so they can be used in DVD productions.
If this is not what you want to do, let me know. And by all means, post back what you end up doing so all of us can share the wisdom.
Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

Viewing on external monitor....needs rendering first???

Hi there!
I'm using FCE2.0 on a G4 dual 1Ghz, a dataVideo DAC-100 converter and a CRT Sony monitor w/ rca ins. I wish to have playback occur on both the canvas and the external monitor, but i find the only way the image will show on the monitor is if i change the Video mode in the View Menu from RealTime to "FireWire". It is now that just about my entire sequence gets red bars and needs to be rendered before seeing anything! IF i render (which will take a while) both will playback as i wish. Is this typical? Do i have something backwards?
Thanks in advance!
-Breckman

Hi Tom,
Thanks for replying.
Yea, i guess i didn't really examine the areas needing to be rendered closely. They are indeed areas w/ effects, motion and such. The areas that don't require rendering do in fact play both on the TV and the canvas. I guess i got the answer to my question.
Thanks again!

VHS Captured With DV Converter Judders In Compressor/DVDSP, OK In iDVD.

This is more a statement than a question.
Some people will be familiar with my inability to produce judder-free DVDs from HDV or AIC footage burned in iDVD ........ which I have previously described +ad nauseam.+
Well here's something entirely different!
Yesterday I copied an old, very poor quality VHS tape to DV via my DAC 100 converter.
Apart from the lousy colour and pictorial quality, the video played OK in the timeline so I exported it to Compressor and burned in DVDSP.
The DVD exhibited the same kind of judder I get when I try to encode HDV in QT Movie and iDVD.
I wasted another DVD getting the same result, so in desperation I exported my project to QT Movie and burned it in iDVD.
The results - PERFECT - at least as far as image steadiness was concerned!

iDVD 7.0.1 and Compressor 3.0.3
I was hoping this would crack the old problem, but no.
I used a 40 second sequence with the camera panning very slowly across a street of houses with strong contrasty vertical and horizontal lines formed by windows, doors, drainpipes and rooflines etc. in the first half and a person walking across the frame etc. slowly in the second half. The 6' walker was a fair distance away only filling about 45% of the height of the frame.
4 test QT Movies were exported and burned in iDVD on one DVD. These were the straight video and then 3 versions with the Shift Filter in the +1, None and -1 settings.
They all looked the same, with jitter not so much on the vertical lines as the horizontal ones, which was a little surprising. The person walking across the frame definitely exhibited jitter.
All these problems disappear when encoded in Compressor or down-converted to DV by the camera during capture and burned in iDVD.
Still, it was worth a try.
I'm wondering whether it is possible to hack into iDVD and maybe alter field etc. settings in there!
There has to be some simple reason why there is a dramatic difference between Compressor/DVDSP and iDVD and it's nothing to do with quality or power or cost.
Incidentally a friend of mine went on a world tour, using an identical HV20 and rough-editing on her MBP as she went. The resulting rough edits were burned in iDVD and the DVDs sent back to her family. These DVDs apparently were jittery but the family didn't mind!

DAC-100 vs EyeTV

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