For quite sometime I’ve been searching for the a way to record HD Video to my Laptop. There have been tons of options but many of them were PC only, which usually included a ridiculous price tag. Being a Mac user my options were rather limited. During a rather long google search I found a forum that recommended the EyeTV HD. I’ve had a couple of weeks to review the device.
So is the EyeTV HD the ultimate in affordable Video Recording options? How well does it work? Full Review and Video Quality Test after the break.
What is the EyeTV HD?
Essentially it’s a small device that allows you to record Component Video to your Computer via USB 2.0. Seems most people utilize this with their DVR recordings to make small iPhone formatted Video to take on the go. I myself saw it for other purposes. Mainly to record Video Game footage.
Setup
When I first got the EyeTV HD I really wasn’t sure what to expect. The Device came in a rather tiny package with a small but easy to understand manual. Though I remained very skeptical, figuring that it really couldn’t be that simple. The EyeTV comes with most everything that you’ll need to start recording.
- USB 2.0 Cable
- IR Emitter
- Remote
- Component Cord
- RCA Audio Cord
- DVD With EyeTV Application for Mac OSX
After unboxing the device and installing the Application, I quickly grabbed the Nintendo Wii for a test run.
While the Video Quality that I was able to record was top notch it came at a cost. There is a small delay on the live feed, so essentially when I hit the jump button you have to wait a split second for the character to respond. Thought there is a really cheap workaround.
This should only cost you an additional ten dollars but it’s well worth the cost. I went to my local Fry’s Electronics and picked up pieces to make a component splitter. This will allow you to have a direct feed to the EyeTV HD while having a Live Feed (delay free) to your TV/Monitor.
- Component Splitter: What you will need.
- 1 Component Cord – Male 2 Male – For EyeTV HD Feed
- 3 RCA Y adapters – 2 Female to 1 Male
- 3 RCA adapters – Female to Female
Building a Component Splitter:
Take the 3 RCA Adapters (Female to Female) attach them to the Male ends of the 3 Y RCA Adapters. Then take the 3 Y RCA Adapters which is now a Female to Female and attach them to the Male end of the EyeTV HD Component Cord.
The EyeTV Application
What really stood out with the Application was it’s ease of use. It only took me a couple of seconds and I was recording. After each recording is made they sit in your queue. You can rewatch them straight from the queue or even export them to whatever format your device is. There are presets for most Devices such as: iPhone, Apple TV, iPod and even the PSP. I was pretty impressed with just how fast exporting was, generally just a couple of mins, though it probably dependent on the amount of Video you are exporting. My clips ranged anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.
Video Quality
The Video Quality is Top Notch. I ran various tests on the Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo Wii. The Video quality for both the 360 and PS3 turned out really nice, the Wii however still looked nice but had issues displaying Widescreen. The EyeTV HD though has various options for display that allows you to stretch the screen.
Overall
A really impressive device and software. Ranging in at a mere $199 this device certainly is worth the cash. The only downside is it’s currently a Mac only Device.