Want to record TV on my MB. What to get?

[ImNoSuperMan]

I want to record TV shows on my MB. But I certainly dont want a regular TV tuner to do the job as I am least interested in using my MB for TV viewing purpose. I`d be recording stuff using a Standard Definition DTH set top box. So all I need is something with S-Video/Composite inputs. No need for a TV tuner. I dont want to spend extra for a feature I`ll never be using.

Is there something like this available or I`ll have to go for the regular TV Tuners? In that case i dont care if the tuner is completely crap, I`d still buy it if it gives me good results with the Component inputs and is real cheap. Can someone tell me what are the options I have.

Thanx in advance.

 

[Flyinace2000]

I want to record TV shows on my MB. But I certainly dont want a regular TV tuner to do the job as I am least interested in using my MB for TV viewing purpose. I`d be recording stuff using a Standard Definition DTH set top box. So all I need is something with S-Video/Composite inputs. No need for a TV tuner. I dont want to spend extra for a feature I`ll never be using.

Is there something like this available or I`ll have to go for the regular TV Tuners? In that case i dont care if the tuner is completely crap, I`d still buy it if it gives me good results with the Component inputs and is real cheap. Can someone tell me what are the options I have.

Thanx in advance.

If you get a HD box you can use a program called iRecord and a firewire cable to record any type of content off your STB.

 

[miles01110]

iTV to the rescue......not yet!

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

If you get a HD box you can use a program called iRecord and a firewire cable to record any type of content off your STB.

Whats an HD Box. Do you mean the STB with a builtin HDD or what

Or maybe you mean High Def? Thats not even an option here. I dont see HD broadcast coming to India before 3 years to say the least.

iTV to the rescue......not yet!

How come????????

 

[glennp]

Whats an HD Box. Do you mean the STB with a builtin HDD or what

Many cable TV converter boxes that are capable of HD also have a firewire output. Using one of these HD boxes, you can simply use a firewire cable and iRecord on your Mac to record TV (SD and HD). Not as friendly as a Tivo but it works great and you can't beat the price.

 

[boxlight]

Many cable TV converter boxes that are capable of HD also have a firewire output. Using one of these HD boxes, you can simply use a firewire cable and iRecord on your Mac to record TV (SD and HD). Not as friendly as a Tivo but it works great and you can't beat the price.

Hi -- I'd really like one of these to watch analog cable tv on my iMac. I don't know anything about that kind of stuff, tho.

Can you suggest a specific model or two that I should look at? Any kind of brand name or model number I should google for?

Any help is greatly appreciated,

boxlight

 

[pianoman]

until iTV is released, eyetv will have to do.

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

Huh. No suggestions at all...
Seems like I`ll be forced to buy a TV Tuner only. eyeTV looks great but thats almost double my budget. Is there some other cheaper option available. I dont carebout the TV tuner quality, looks or Size etc. All i care for is a Composite in and ability to record on my MB.

 

[Flyinace2000]

Hi -- I'd really like one of these to watch analog cable tv on my iMac. I don't know anything about that kind of stuff, tho.

Can you suggest a specific model or two that I should look at? Any kind of brand name or model number I should google for?

Any help is greatly appreciated,

boxlight

I use a Scientific Atlantic 4300HD. But many motorola boxes work as well. See what your cable company uses.

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

Alright. I found the cheapest way to get it done(though not the best). I checkd my Sony Handycam and found out it can convert signal from "Composite In" to DV which can be transferred to my MB using firewire. I used iMovie HD to capture the video and it worked fine. So far so good.

Now the new problem. The iMovie is taking over 12 GB for one hour of recording . Yes I know it can be compressed later but that will still leave me with only 2 hours video at most before compression . Is there a way to capture the video with some sort of compression on the go. I even tried AVCvideo Cap but that too records the stream as DV only and takes up as much space as iMovie.

Please tell me if there`s a solution to my (new) problem..