With a PSP connected, for example, the resolution remains 320 x 240 no matter what, so improving the quality simply ups the audio and video encoding bit-rates. Using an iPod, Good and Better run at 320 x 240, but Best is 640 x 480 - again, audio and video bit-rates rise as you step up from one mode to the next.
The only controls: two switches under the silver ring
The best possible resolution is only achieved when you connect a storage device: select Best quality and the resolution is set at 720 x 576 in the PAL world or 720 x 480 in North America and other countries that use the NTSC standard. But the overall video encoding rate is 1.5Mb/s - the same as the Best iPod mode.
With the source connected to the destination through the Video Transfer, it's just a matter of hitting the source's Play button and the Video Transfer's Rec key then leaving them to get on with it.
The Video Transfer generates its H.264-encoded .MP4 files in real time, so it's not the quickest encoding system but at least it's not tying up your computer while it's in action. Once you set it going, all you need to do is remember to go an switch it off again.
Ready for standard-definition input
So is the simplicity of operation matched with quality recording? Unfortunately, not entirely, no.
COMMENTS
I think I'll wait for the hauppauge hd pvr thanks
Not terribly inspiring really the HD PVR wiill do all this AND compress 1080i for $250 (OK it sends H264 down USB to a computer) but that's what I'm waiting for.
Not a good review
Of course 640x480 will give you problems. It needs to be scaled and who in their right minds would want to scale video to such odd resolutions.
The review misses some _very_ important points. How does the device react to slightly off standard video? This is, in fact the most important point as every video stream is slightly off standard.
Many solutions have the problem of not getting video and audio in sync if the framerate is not precisely 25fps. Others have problems with dropouts.
Re: "VHS" and "Judgement's reserved"
Did you try to convert the captured video to MPEG2, burning it on a DVD and watching it on a TV? That's what I was planning on using it, archiving 15-year-old home videos to a digital format. I doubt that even the device's compression and the subsequent recompression to MPEG2 significantly degrades the quality when compard to the VHS original.
And I agree with Vladimir Plouzhnikov about the interlacing. Capture the video faithfully as interlaced and deinterlace it afterwards, if you want progressive video.
Almost temped.
For £80, I am tempted. I doubt we will see a RGB input version, as I would definately pick one of those puppies up, I need something to "suck" stuff out my rapidly filling SkyHD box at hald decent quality, so I can stick it onto DVD.
@Natalie
I did try it with VHS, but the results were no better than those achieved with other sources: interlacing artefacts on videotape material, heavy compression effects etc. Again, though, it's watchable when scaled down on a portable device.
However, it did reliably reproduce all the tape drop-outs. :-)
