Anyone import component (720p/1080i) video into their mac?

[Wailer]

I revisit this topic every year or so.

Is there a consumer-level device that will import analog component video (720p/1080i) into an intel mac? Does Hauppauge, El gato or anyone else currently sell something or have anything on the horizon?

Is anyone using their mac (or their PC for that matter) to import any HD video?

I know importing via HDMI is likely never going to happen due to HDCP but component is considered the great loop-hole for HD video.

[Will Collier]

Hauppauge HD-PVR, with Steve Toth's software. Also works with eyeTV. Been using it for over a year now.

Steventoth.net for the software.

[Wailer]

Sweet...Thank you so much! It looks so promising. What kind of hardware do you have it hooked up to? Can you give me a quick synopsis of it's strengths and weaknesses?

I have a DVR with component out. I'm looking to mainly edit out commercials or be able to put stuff onto my ipod touch.

[Will Collier]

Mine's hooked up to a 2GHz C2D Mini. I'm very happy with the HDPVR, picture quality is great, and you also get full surround AC3. Steve's app will covert from the native m2ts format to .mp4 without reencoding, and from there you can edit with MpegStreamclip (which is free) and save as a MOV. Plays back flawlessly in Front Row. At 10kbps (capture rate is adjustable), a standard 2 hour movie checks in between 3 and 4 GB.

I don't use the Hauppauge box as a DVR, just for capture, so I have no particular opinion there.

[Wailer]

I'd use it just for capture from an existing STB DVR.

Further reading indicates that you can even use it with a G3 mac & USB 1.1 albeit at lower capture rates than with USB2. I'm guessing the Hauppauge box does all the heavy lifting of conversion and the computer is basically just the storage for the output. Very cool that you can capture on a G3 even though you won't be able to playback on it.

So tempting...I could really free up A LOT of space on my DVR as well as reclaim my TV from my kids. I'd just hook them up to an imac full of everything that was on the DVR.

Thanks again.

[rz]

I had never heard of the Steven Toth software. Thanks!

I got the HD PVR at Dell.com on one of their sales. I think I paid $169 or so for it.

[Wailer]

rz,

Have you been using it with a PC? What do you think of it?

[d0e]

i use a blackmagic intensity pro, it captures both hdmi and component.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/

[Will Collier]

d0e wrote:
i use a blackmagic intensity pro, it captures both hdmi and component.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/

That looks like a really neat product, but it isn't HDCP compliant, meaning it's a coin-toss as to whether or not a DVR will work with it (at least from the HDMI slot; component would work either way).

[d0e]

Will Collier wrote:
That looks like a really neat product, but it isn't HDCP compliant, meaning it's a coin-toss as to whether or not a DVR will work with it (at least from the HDMI slot; component would work either way).

i have captured from a friends blu ray player, xbox360,ps3 and can try my cable's dvr box if the OP wants. it would not work with streaming netflix over the xbox360. so for me its worked for everything but one.