Firewire to USB 2.0? It's TRUE!

PaulQ · Post by **PaulQ** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:47 pm

One of the things that has kept me stuck with a desktop for so long is the abundance of cheap video hardware; I can add firewire ports and video in ports for relatively little money, then move the hardware over whenever I upgrade. Many modern notebooks don't offer Firewire or an expansion port; and those that do are either quite expensive or are lacking in something else I'm after.

I picked up the Pinnacle Studio Moviebox today for a little over $100:

As far as I'm concerned, the video editing software included is worth $100; but what caught my eye was the video input device. What it is is a device that takes any video signal and converts it to work with USB 2.0. No big deal; what impressed the heck out of me is that it features a Firewire port. This is important to me, as I have a Firewire camcorder.

I admit, I was skeptical at first. Surely, it can't be done? Firewire to USB 2; they're completely different. I was utterly amazed to discover that it worked perfectly and flawlessly. I'm a believer in high speed USB now. Now, if you excuse me, I have a new toy to play with.

Wonder-Boy · Post by **Wonder-Boy** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:04 pm

I suppose it is slower than real Firewire? Is it fast enough?

PaulQ · Post by **PaulQ** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:49 pm

You know what, I was skeptical about that as well. Could it keep up? Perhaps there would be a lag, or some choppiness. Maybe it wouldn't be in real time.

I was suitably impressed that it functioned every bit as fast as the dedicated Firewire PCI card in my desktop PC for pulling real-time video off the camcorder.

Here, see for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me1jpfctbWA

Wonder-Boy · Post by **Wonder-Boy** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:00 pm

Thank you very much for the demonstration.

gklinger · Post by **gklinger** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:17 pm

Wonder-Boy wrote:Thank you very much for the demonstration.

Did you really watch it?

Views: 0. Heh.

Wonder-Boy · Post by **Wonder-Boy** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:27 pm

Yes, I did watch it. I don't know why it says 0 views. I watched it again now and it still says 0 views. I didn't write a comment on Youtube because I could reply in this thread. Well now it says 8 views.

gklinger · Post by **gklinger** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:41 pm

I'm just funning. I watched it too (as evident by the screenshot) so it should have at least indicated there had been 1 view.