Forums | MacLife

MacAddictfan · 2003-06-02 4:12 pm

I'm SO happy right now....

I ordered a Studio DV/TV 2 months ago, and got the message "out of stock" from everyone....
Luckily Formac took my order...

It came today...

...(Little did I know)...
Instead of a DV/TV it's my very own Studio TVR....

THIS THING IS KICK-NECK, and the wait was WELL worth it.

P.P. (Post-Post) sorry for the ellipses. Kinda went overboard with them.

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-02 4:36 pm

I've been looking hard at this.

Also, your thread title is rather cryptic.

MacAddictfan · 2003-06-02 5:31 pm

The TVR does that and MORE

(the USB Instant DVD)

+The Formac TVR is Firewire!

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-02 6:55 pm

The TVR does that and MORE

(the USB Instant DVD)

+The Formac TVR is Firewire!

Can you please tell me about the "more?" I like the one I pointed to because of several reasons. One of which is the standard DVD resolution. The USB v.s. Firewire argument is a null point due to the fact that this is a hardware encoder v.s. software. It actually works more efficiently that way.

Also, nice touch to the thead title. I honestly didn't expect you to alter it. wink

MacAddictfan · 2003-06-02 8:47 pm

It's my belief that all forum users should show courtesy.
I was just rushing to post it, and thought it was a good title...

More=It records radio too. Or so I believe. There is a coaxial cable slot for Radio as well as TV! Also has component/ S Video slots. It's got GREAT software!

Maybe you're right though...
Why don't you wait till te next issue of MA to arrive. There is a review for it.

Btw, (on my iMac G4) contrary to rumors, the audio and video is perfectly in sync. The PDF manual mentions problems in slower computers though.

Tweak-G5 · 2003-06-02 10:03 pm

Also has component/ S Video slots. It's got GREAT software!

Did they upgrade their boxes? Mine does not have component inputs..
Did you mean to say composite?

Also, I have lots of problems with their software.
The audio falls out of sync to often, and the timer software just flat out crashes every time I try to make a scheduled recording..

sparkn · 2003-06-02 10:42 pm

He might have the new generation TVR

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2003/06/02/formac/

sparkn · 2003-06-02 10:50 pm

Never mind. It's composite.

http://www.formac.com/files/pdf_sheets/studiodvtv.pdf

more or less · 2003-06-03 12:04 am

I've been looking hard at this.

Also, your thread title is rather cryptic.

well,

irregardless to the "format friendliness," but related, is editing.

i don't know about anything that does much editing of m2v, and would like to hear from the ads/pixela crown if they find it "easy and seemless" to remove commercials and such, and burn up to 4.28gig or whatever it is...

DV, is "easy" to edit, so that's it's advantage. the problem is "collecting your resources" to burn a dvd. that's where i get real interested in the development of that sizzle program... i think iDVD is only interlaced video, but would like to hear if someone "knows" about that.

other thatn that, my experience with DV has been rather mixed. especially with HD space.... so i think i might rather live with commercials - or just keep a mouse nearby for stop/start recording with the ads/pixela device.

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-03 12:20 am

Also has component/ S Video slots. It's got GREAT software!

Did they upgrade their boxes? Mine does not have component inputs..
Did you mean to say composite?

Also, I have lots of problems with their software.
The audio falls out of sync to often, and the timer software just flat out crashes every time I try to make a scheduled recording..

What type of problems have you had and what system are you using?

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-03 12:28 am

I am very intrigued and would like to know more in comparison to the ADStech Instant USB DVD device. It is very interesting that on Formac's comparison page, they list a comparison to every major competitor except for ADStech. I am starting to see the advantages of Formac. I see that they have now made the resolution 720x480. That is one reason I was considering the Instant USB DVD.

Can you tell me, does the Formac device have built in copyright protection? ADStech doesn't allow you to copy copy-protected material. Not that I would be doing so for any illegal purposes. wink

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-03 2:14 am

I just found this:

Export to MPEG2*: Integration with Formac's DVD authoring software allows you to convert your movies to MPEG2. Burn your favorite shows to Super Video CD or DVD.

* Requires Formac's devideon superdrive (optionally available)

I knew it sounded too good to be true.

benightedbastard · 2003-06-03 3:06 am

I would never buy a usb video solution.

I've been looking at the formac dv/tv for a while now. Looking only. I can't justify buying.

b_is_cool · 2003-06-03 2:52 pm

Isn't this only a software upgrade? I have one of the older ones but it's firmware is 1.05, not 1.06, so I can't run the new software. Formac's older software was terrible. For users of the older formac's there is a freeware app called Vidi that actually works and you can listen to radio. Formac's older OS X software wouldn't let you use the radio tuner, watch and record and that same time, or even record without crashing. Vidi is the way to go...

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-03 4:56 pm

But it won't let me use my built-in Apple superdrive for burning DVD. Can I still use all of the other features and turn to iDVD or something for burning DVD's?

more or less · 2003-06-03 5:35 pm

that is the question.

is the TVR a "quicktime" compatible device, does it install a quicktime DV component, or is it friendly with quicktime from the point of capture on???

'cuz if it is QT compatible, then iMovie and iDVD would like it as much as they like anything alse...

capture, i would assume requires a proprietary device AND a program - or does that also interface with "any" QT compliant device?

and does it then rquire osx?

MacAddictfan · 2003-06-03 5:54 pm

Isn't this only a software upgrade? I have one of the older ones but it's firmware is 1.05, not 1.06, so I can't run the new software. Formac's older software was terrible. For users of the older formac's there is a freeware app called Vidi that actually works and you can listen to radio. Formac's older OS X software wouldn't let you use the radio tuner, watch and record and that same time, or even record without crashing. Vidi is the way to go...

It's ENTIRELY new software. No crashing on me yet. Scheduling works FINE!! The software and TVR are currently in Alpha Beta I believe, but are working like a charm.

MacAddictfan · 2003-06-03 6:00 pm

that is the question.

is the TVR a "quicktime" compatible device, does it install a quicktime DV component, or is it friendly with quicktime from the point of capture on???

'cuz if it is QT compatible, then iMovie and iDVD would like it as much as they like anything alse...

capture, i would assume requires a proprietary device AND a program - or does that also interface with "any" QT compliant device?

and does it then rquire osx?

It records in either DV or Quicktime. Your choice. After you have recorded in your choice, you can export it to mpeg2, QT, or DV. It's designed to open in iMovie (haven't tried it yet). It requires OS X (fine by me). You must use the Formac software -which is Awesome.

Addidtionally Formac has amazing customer support and have answered all of my questions quickly ahd helpfully.

The only problems I have encountered thusfar are the lack of coaxial/component/S-Video cables in the box. I had to buy them seperately. No big deal though. One other problem is that getting Digital Cable channels is a MAJOR hassle. You can get the standard channels fine (ESPN, SciFi, ET, Comedy, etc.), but channels like TechTV, G4, and all other digital cable channels are no-go without routing it through a VCR.

MacAddictfan · 2003-06-03 6:03 pm

Oh yeah... a SLIGHT problem with TV channel quality on SOME channels.
i.e. CBS comes in slightly fuzzy, but SciFi comes through Beatifully. I found a pref. in the pref. pane that improved this though.

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-03 6:18 pm

...It records in either DV or Quicktime. Your choice. After you have recorded in your choice, you can export it to mpeg2, QT, or DV. It's designed to open in iMovie (haven't tried it yet). It requires OS X (fine by me). You must use the Formac software -which is Awesome...

But do you have to use their superdrive to burn a DVD, or can I use iDVD with my built-in Apple superdrive?

b_is_cool · 2003-06-03 7:20 pm

The formac works with any QT app. So it works in imovie, FCP, FCE, etc... So yes, you can burn the .dv files using imovie and idvd and your apple superdrive...

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-03 7:49 pm

The formac works with any QT app. So it works in imovie, FCP, FCE, etc... So yes, you can burn the .dv files using imovie and idvd and your apple superdrive...

Okay then. They must have meant that their software can not be used to burn DVDs using Apple's superdrive. I'm nearly convinced to go ahead with this thing now. smile How is it at transferring video from cassette to DVD?

b_is_cool · 2003-06-03 8:04 pm

If you're talking about quailty, don't worry. It is great. I record stuff from my direct tv receiver and when I play it back it's hard to tell it's not a "live" feed. The formac also ignores macrovision, I have recorded clips from DVDs with no problems...

TheConfuzed1 · 2003-06-03 8:17 pm

If you're talking about quailty, don't worry. It is great. I record stuff from my direct tv receiver and when I play it back it's hard to tell it's not a "live" feed. The formac also ignores macrovision, I have recorded clips from DVDs with no problems...

Define, "hard to tell."

Jasoco · 2003-06-04 1:33 am

What's the interface like on these things?

I've seen eyeTV and it's great interface, my friend bought one and uses it all the time (Even though he has a TiVo and big TV) on his iMac.

What are the other competitors like? Besides being FireWire.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2003-06-02 4:12 pm

the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#2 2003-06-02 4:36 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#3 2003-06-02 5:31 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#4 2003-06-02 6:55 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#5 2003-06-02 8:47 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#6 2003-06-02 10:03 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#7 2003-06-02 10:42 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#8 2003-06-02 10:50 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#9 2003-06-03 12:04 am

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#10 2003-06-03 12:20 am

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#11 2003-06-03 12:28 am

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#12 2003-06-03 2:14 am

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#13 2003-06-03 3:06 am

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#14 2003-06-03 2:52 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#15 2003-06-03 4:56 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#16 2003-06-03 5:35 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#17 2003-06-03 5:54 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#18 2003-06-03 6:00 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#19 2003-06-03 6:03 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#20 2003-06-03 6:18 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#21 2003-06-03 7:20 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#22 2003-06-03 7:49 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#23 2003-06-03 8:04 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#24 2003-06-03 8:17 pm

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

#25 2003-06-04 1:33 am

Re: the Formac TVR is "Kick-Neck"

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