Blog Geek

For several years the Dazzle exists and allows many nostalgic memories of digitizing their analog transferring them to the computer and then archive them to DVD and now Blu-Ray. But Macs are set aside and left no inexpensive alternative. Finished! Pinnacle has released its Video Capture for Mac! A White Dazzle and software to digitize your video files to MP4 in just 4 clicks!

Design

The Dazzle itself is apparently identical to the PC version except that it is white. It is within it a little more than the PC version. As Macs are much simpler Use the Windows PC, the Dazzle allows you to capture directly in MP4 format ready for your iPod or Zune. The Dazzle to capture a source RCA (audio and video) or S-Video (video only, audio comes from the RCA ports).

In addition, once your video is acquired, the software automatically imports it into iTunes. We could not ask for more you say? Keep reading.

Features

• USB (1.1 or 2.0)
• MP4 compression hardware
• Pinnacle Video Capture for Mac included

Performance

Here it is drip pan depending on your level of expertise and your video source. I did two tests, one was from traditional TV cable station has a HD back to SD or Radio Canada for those who know. As you can see the first video image is very clear and we do not see many compression artifacts.

For the second video, I used an old Sanyo camcorders using 8mm tapes. The camcorder itself is reading the tape and I use its RCA audio (mono) / video capture.

Operation is super simple, trendy, launched the 3 displays a guide to cross and wait! The video can be found even in iTunes! Practice for those who want a solution without stories and without setting obscure. But the "power-user" like me, it's disappointing. I'll explain.

In my case, I would like to capture old family videos on 8mm cassette and I'd like to restore a little picture quality. Except that the Video Capture for Mac Pinnacle compresses the video file in a format that causes a loss of quality. As a result, my capture is not equivalent to another Windows made with the Dazzle! Although for Mononcles, but very bad for Geeks!

He should be able to save the video in an uncompressed format (just like DV) in order to restore them and burn to DVD without quality loss. So I discuss with members in the forum Pinnacle and for now it does not appear to be in their plans ...

First Use ... problems!

Once I get my Video Capture for Mac, I am eager to install the software and try to make my first catch. And it did not! I had an image, but I had no sound. I fiddled with the options of Sons of system preferences without success. I am therefore going to see if there was a set-to-date on the Pinnacle site. There was a regulated and the problem under Leopard, but since I'm still on Tiger, I told myself that I did not need ... I therefore tried with my friend Google and I finally found the reason! Even if I am not Leopard must update the software!

Once updated everything works perfectly. Moral of this story? Make your setting to day if you do not see a reason to do so!

Positive and negative

Positive Points

• Ease of Use
• Strength
• Portability MP4 video compression

Bad points

• Unable to capture in uncompressed format!
• Version of the software included does not work, you must update

Conclusion

As usual Pinnacle offers a quality product that succeeded brilliantly capture audio / video from your analog sources. For someone seeking simplicity the Video Capture for Mac is the ideal solution! The Dazzle is still and always a strong and powerful player in the video capture. But for those who seek flexibility in processes and advanced options, you must go your way for now. The catch is automatically compressed in MP4 without having access to the parameters compression.

Video Capture for Mac
Rating Assessment: 85
Recommended: Yes

Links

Pinnacle Video Capture for Mac