Elgato Video Capture or EyeTV 250 Plus

[davidg4781]

I bought an Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus a few months back and while I really enjoy it, the main reason I bought it was to convert VHS tapes to DVD. Using EyeTV, I have to record the tape, then convert it to another format for iMovie, do edits, then convert again to share with iDVD.

With Elgato's new Video Capture device, it seems I can skip that first converting part. This will save both time and preserve the quality. I also won't have to worry about plugging it into the wall.

The only thing I'll be missing is not being able to watch TV with it. While I don't use it too much, it is nice to watch TV in my room (I gave my TV away and don't really want to buy a new one).

Do y'all have any opinions on either device or any other suggestions for my situation?

 

[MTI]

As for watching tv . . . digital (ATSC) tuners are cheap and if your get your tube via cable or sat, you don't need a tuner anyway.

 

[davidg4781]

As for watching tv . . . digital (ATSC) tuners are cheap and if your get your tube via cable or sat, you don't need a tuner anyway.

Are you saying to use my cable box with the Video Capture device? I'm sure that would work...I would need a cable box. Right now, I'm just using the cable that comes in through the wall.

 

[MTI]

Your video capture device allows your computer to accept the input from video devices . . . cable tv, sat tv and ATSC tuners are just another form of video devices.

 

[davidg4781]

Your video capture device allows your computer to accept the input from video devices . . . cable tv, sat tv and ATSC tuners are just another form of video devices.

Thanks, I understand how all that works.

Now, does anyone have any comments or advice on the EyeTV 250 plus or the Video Capture?

I'm sure there's a market out there since these things are being produced. It seems like whoever buys these are not on Macrumors.

 

[MisterMe]

As for watching tv . . . digital (ATSC) tuners are cheap and if your get your tube via cable or sat, you don't need a tuner anyway.

This is not quite right. You are sort of right if you use a cable settop box. If not, then you need a tuner with NTSC capability for analog cable channels and a Clear QAM digital cable tuner for the digital broadcast channels carried by the cable system and the few unscrambled digital cable channels, including cable music.

The Elgato eyetv 250 plus is pretty much what the OP needs.

 

[davidg4781]

This is not quite right. You are sort of right if you use a cable settop box. If not, then you need a tuner with NTSC capability for analog cable channels and a Clear QAM digital cable tuner for the digital broadcast channels carried by the cable system and the few unscrambled digital cable channels, including cable music.

The Elgato eyetv 250 plus is pretty much what the OP needs.

I already have the 250 plus, and I like it. What my main concern is if it's worth it to purchase the new Video Capture device that Elgato has, to keep the file conversions down, since I'm assuming I am losing quality during the conversion process.

I am also considering posting some ads on craigslist looking for VHS-DVD conversion customers...to help cover the costs of all this.

 

[ski2moro]

I have the Elgato Video capture. I used it once, so far, and it was truly plug and play. It converted to digital and I made a DVD that worked in a hurry. Exactly what I needed.

The video tape I was copying was less than perfect, so I cannot comment on the quality of the output.

I will have more time to play with it later and I will let you know how it goes.

 

[davidg4781]

I have the Elgato Video capture. I used it once, so far, and it was truly plug and play. It converted to digital and I made a DVD that worked in a hurry. Exactly what I needed.

The video tape I was copying was less than perfect, so I cannot comment on the quality of the output.

I will have more time to play with it later and I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks! I'm thinking of getting one, just for ease of use. It seems to work a lot better than the 250plus. I would have bought that had it been out, but at the time, the 250 was the only one with hardware encoding.

I guess I can buy it, try them both out, and sell the one I don't need on here.