Skipping compressor

is there a combination of hardware/software that will allow me to capture video input (component) directly to MPEG2 in real time? or is compressor the preferred method? and how fast is the encoding with compressor in the new line of G5s?
we have an old sonic DVD system that runs on a G3, and it has seen its day. i would like to use the new dvd station as a demonstration as to why we no longer need avid systems here, and could get twice as many G5 edit stations for the price of the avid upgrades, but for now we still need to be able to send from betaSP and the symphony and the adrenaline systems from avid.
  Mac OS X (10.4.5)  

is there a combination of hardware/software that will allow me to capture video input (component) directly to MPEG2 in real time? or is compressor the preferred method? and how fast is the encoding with compressor in the new line of G5s?
There are not many hardware things for Mac as compared to PC, but one reasonably priced on is the Lacie Fastcoder (thanks Hal M for that tip :)) Bought it for about $100 and it does real time encoding of DV (after in the computer, which you probably want to edit and so forth). Played with Compressor on a Quad G5 and it is nice and fast. Though depending on settings can take longer (almost got 1:1 I think on some) bitVice (a good software encoder) gets about 5:1 on my DP G5 2Ghz (i.e. around 5 hours for one hour.) El Gato makes some things that capture off TV feeds to MPEG2, and those can be used also.
That said though, you are pretty much better off for the most part editing non-MPEG2s to preserve quality, and just build in encoding times as part of the project. Usually many here turn it on overnight and it is done in the AM no problem and it works fine (subject to those last minute rush jobs) but then the Lacie does a nice enough job for good mock ups and even some final things

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