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Firewire to USB 2.0? It's TRUE!

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:47 pm
by PaulQ
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:

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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. :D

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:04 pm
by Wonder-Boy
I suppose it is slower than real Firewire? Is it fast enough?

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:49 pm
by PaulQ
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

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:00 pm
by Wonder-Boy
Thank you very much for the demonstration. :)

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:17 pm
by gklinger
Wonder-Boy wrote:Thank you very much for the demonstration. :)
Did you really watch it?

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Views: 0. Heh.

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:27 pm
by Wonder-Boy
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.

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:41 pm
by gklinger
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.