Virtual VTR is designed to work with ANY QuickTime compatible video hardware. Most often this means PCI cards which capture and playback video, using standard, or proprietary codecs. Alternatively, you can use any QuickTime Software codec, although this may limit the quality of the picture you are able to deal with in real time.
The other important category is Firewire based DV or uncompressed video. VirtualVTR is able to deliver a QuickTime data stream through a Firewire connection to be fed to a transcoder box which turns that into analog video. Most of these boxes use the DV format, but some are beginning to offer uncompressed feeds too.
ALL THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION COMES FROM MANUFACTURER WEBSITES. GALLERY MAKES NO WARRANTIES ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OR PERFORMANCE OF THESE DEVICES.
- PCI Cards:
Pinnacle Systems:
- DC30 / DC30+ *
Widely used and commonly available
- DC20.*
No longer available. Works well with VVTR
- Targa Cine
Offers qualities upto Uncompressed HD video. Very high end card
Aurora Video Systems:
- Fuse *
Widely used and commonly available
- Ignitor *
High end card with options for Component connection and genlock
The COMO Dv-1394 is a bidirectional working Media Convertor for Digital Video (DV) and Analog Video/Audio. The analog I/O are Y/C and CVBS, plus Stereo Audio. The FireWire connection is a 4 Pin DV Socket.
FireWire to video conversion unit with Composite, S-Video, FireWire IEEE1394 and stereo audio inputs and outputs; handles NTSC and PAL.
The Fastware.net DV Playground I is an analog video to DV-over-1394 converter device. It is designed to take an analog video signal (either NTSC or PAL) and output it as a DV encoded datastream over 1394 at 400 Mbps. The DV Playground I also accepts a DV encoded datastream from the 1394 bus and
outputs it as an analog video signal. The device handles stereo audio as well.
The DV Playground I's Front Control Panel consists of six composite plugs
(3 In > Video + L & R Stereo > 3 Out), two 4 pin S-video connectors and two 1394 connectors (one 4 pin and one 6 pin).
FireWired DV is an external unit that plugs into your FireWire port. Simply plug your analog video connectors into FireWired DV's stylish and efficient interface. Your analog video will travel in and out of your computer via the existing FireWire port, allowing you to use ALL the footage you have.
FireWired DV delivers image quality far superior to competing products due to its advanced,professional circuitry, so you can be assured that what you see is really what you get.
FireWire to video conversion units with Composite Video, S-Video, Component
Video, stereo audio and FireWire IEEE1394 inputs and outputs; NTSC and PAL.
Main Phone: +1 (914) 339-9555
Main Fax: +1 (914) 339-0231
Company E-mail: sales@lairdtelemedia.com
Company URL: http://www.lairdtelemedia.com/
LTM-5000 Bi-Directional Media-Firewire DV Signal Converter
 
The LTM-5000 provides a high quality means of bidirectional conversion of analog video & audio signals to IEEE1394 (DV), also known as FIREWIRE or ILINK. The unit accepts Y/C or Composite Video and 2-Channel Balanced Audio and converts it into IEEE1394 DV signals (100Mbps).
The LTM-5000 is bidirectional and can therefore convert DV signals to analog.
Front panel controls allow audio level control and VU metering of audio signals. Each unbalanced section (input & output) is equipped with an unbalanced audio signal for standard amplifier monitoring.
The LTM-5000 delivers the world of DV to your desktop, and can add new life to older technology that is not DV compatible. The LTM-5000 is housed in a 1RU cabinet.
LTM-5500 High Performance Broadcast Bi-Directional Media-Firewire DV Signal Converter with Component Video
 
The LTM-5500 provides a broadcast quality means of bidirectional conversion of analog video & audio signals to IEEE1394, also known as FIREWIRE or ILINK.
The unit accepts component (R-Y, B-Y, Y), Y/C, or Composite video and 2-Channel Balanced Audio and converts it into IEEE1394 DV signals (100Mbps). The LTM-5500 is bidirectional and will therefore convert DV signals to analog. Front panel controls allow audio level control and VU metering of audio signals. Each unbalanced section (input & output) is equipped with an unbalanced audio signal for standard amplifier monitoring.
The LTM-5500 delivers broadcast analog signals to the world of DV, and can add new life to older technology that is not DV compatible. The LTM-5500 is housed in a 1RU cabinet. NTSC & PAL Compatible.
FireWire to video bridging unit with SDI digital video, AES digital audio and
FireWire IEEE1394 inputs, together with SDI digital video, AES digital audio,
Composite Video, S-Video, stereo audio and FireWire IEEE outputs; handles
NTSC and PAL.
DV-Bridge is a compact, desktop unit designed to convert 4:2:2 (ITU-601) video and AES/EBU audio to and from DV compressed audio/video. The DV-Bridge is ideal for interfacing consumer or professional miniDV camcorders, VTRs, and editing or graphics systems equipped with the IEEE-1394 (FireWire, i.LINK) interface to professional uncompressed (4:2:2 and AES/EBU) video and audio equipment.
DV-Bridge acts as either a DV encoder or decoder. When operating in encode mode, DV-Bridge encodes material originating in 4:2:2 and AES/EBU to the DV format and outputs DV on the IEEE-1394 interface. As a decoder, DV-Bridge decodes material arriving on the same IEEE-1394 interface and converts it to 4:2:2 and AES/EBU. Convenient NTSC/PAL, S-Video and line-level analog audio outputs allow simple monitoring or dubbing of the DV signal.
DV-Bridge is the perfect tool for a number of recording, DUB, and monitoring applications in a mixed DV/4:2:2 and AES/EBU environment, and is ideal for interfacing with Apple’s iMac DV, PowerMac G3 and PowerMac G4.
Director's Cut. DV-to-Analog converter for desktop Video Editing
Edit from any camcorder using Directors's Cut and your FireWire computer.
 
Director's Cut connects any analog video equipment -VHS, Hi8, 8mm- to the FireWire port of your Macintosh. It makes it easy to edit existing video footage no matter
what its age or source. Professionals can choose the creative flexibility they require, while novices enjoy completely automatic
operation.
Features:
Capture content from VHS, Hi8, 8mm, live TV, cable, laserdisk,
DVD, video games, closed circuit and live-video cameras. Import
from existing tapes as they play.
Export to tape or any video device. View your work on TV while you
edit. Dual outputs make it easy without swapping cables.
Operates automatically with iMovie and Final Cut Pro, or choose
manual mode control.
Back Panel
 
 
Specifications:
System Requirements.....Mac OS 8.6 or later, iMovie 1.0.1 or later, Final Cut Pro 1.0 or later.
Data Transfer Rate.... 25 Mbps (video), 36 Mbps overall
DV Video Sample rate..... 720 X 480 at 4:1:1
FireWire Compatibility.....Macintosh built-in FireWire, some FireWire (IEEE1394) cards.
Power .....7 watts
Inputs.......S-video, composite, mono or stereo audio.
Outputs...... S-video, composite and stereo audio outputs. Dual outputs for camcorder/VCR and TV.
Device Control.....None
Warranty......Two years
Director's Cut Prices: North American NTSC only model..... $289
International PAL/NTSC model..........$399
Power R Inc.
756 Aloha Street
Seattle WA 98109 USA
Phone: 1-206-282-2000 or 1-800-729-6970
Fax 1-206-285-0260
Company URL: http://www.powerr.com/pcproducts.html
Import Uncompressed Video via FireWire;Support High-Quality Video Mirroring
FireWired AV essentially replaces the traditional AV connectors that used to appear standard with many computers. It gives video enthusiasts the ability to inexpensively capture uncompressed video from traditional analog sources for use with editing software such as Adobe Premiere. What's unique is that this video travels through an external interface and into the computer's existing FireWire port. FireWiredAV also solves a common problem for instructors and presenters who want to take advantage of Macintosh's video mirroring functionality. Using FireWired AV's native video outputs, you can easily display high-quality, high-resolution computer images on your analog video presentation monitor.
Main Phone: +1 (508)4601600
Main Fax: +1 (508)4818627
Company URL: http://www.media100.com
Key Features:
- FireWire, S-video and Composite I/Os
- RCA audio I/O
- Captures uncompressed video in realtime
- Works with Mac's video mirroring feature
NOTE: We have no idea whether this item is suitable for high quality full frame full motion video capture and playback. Its included in this section for completeness.
Both these were tested with Virtual VTR and give good results for playback of DV format QuickTime files. The XL-1 has no analog input, so cannot be used to record into VirtualVTR from a live source (except through the lens !!!). Also, the PAL XM-1 has no analog input, although the NTSC GL-1 does. Virtual VTR has not been tested with the analog input of the GL-1. Essentially the codecs in these devices are the same as the ones in the Firewire Codec boxes above.
* means tested with VirtualVTR. Gallery makes no specific guarantees of performance or compatibility with any device. VirtualVTR uses QuickTime, and it is the responsibility of each card vendor to ensure complete compatibility with QuickTime based software.
