Mini DisplayPort to Composite/ S-Video??

I also need to output to s-video or composite. So far, the best bet seems to be:
Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
then a VGA to TV Converter eg
http://sewelldirect.com/pc-to-tv.asp
US$38
If anyone tries this, please post your experience!

I have sent feedback to Apple. Please can you all do so too.

I am a VJ and the industry standard Edirol V4 vision mixer only has S-Video and Composite Video inputs.(This does not only affect the VJ niche market but also churches, schools, AV acts etc) The V4 retails at £600. The cheapest vision mixer with a VGA input is £1100. This is then downsampled inside to PAL resolution. There are scan (down) converters on the market, but a decent low latency one will cost £400. So because of a lack of a £30-£100 adapter, I will have to spend £400-£1100 to use the new MBP. This is unacceptable.

As a mac owner for nearly 10 years this hurts and for the first time I am contemplating a Linux/Windoze machine. I was waiting with my figure on the buy button for the new MBP's but now it seems pointless. As a pro user I won't be using the second gfx card to save power so the older MBP is going to be my only option if I do decide to stay a mac man........

yup, I am in the same boat, I do video mixing for entertainment companies, they all use the same Ediro board, 2 s-video, and 4 composite inn,s now with the new macbook, I have no way to hook into them so I still have to use my older one on gigs

yeah,,, im curious too

Is it possible to attach two adapters in line?, if so, why not have a single adapter do it in one? I'm thinking Mini DisplayPort -> DVI, and then DVI -> S-video? What type of DVI does the new macbook/MBP output, is it DVI-A, DVI-D or DVI-I?

I have just submitted 5 feedback reports to Apple regarding their so-called MacBookPro. It is NOT a professional-grade computer.

I work in the theater, and I literally saved the day on one show. About a year and a half ago, we were on tour and their projector was inaccessible, the only way to feed it at all was a 50" S-Video cable. The show computer was a MacBook with those stupid Mini video ports, and they only had one adapter, VGA. I single-handedly whipped out my old G4 PowerBook with the built-in S-Video port and transferred the show files over to it.

Despite Apple trying to force people to abandon older technology, I MUST have S-Video and Composite video capabilities. I will NOT buy any computer that can't put those standards out. I have no choice, I MUST have those.

I have tried the Mini DisplayPort to VGA - VGA to S-Video to output to my TV. I can barely recognize the signal on my TV. I'm not sure yet, but I'm guessing that my TV is at 30Hz and connecting the VGA adapter brings up display options that only go as low as 59.9Hz. If there is another way to modify the video out, I have not found it.

Good Luck

I am hoping that they produce an adapter. I use the s-video port on my Powerbook G4 all of the time. Call me a Luddite but I still have a 42" TV with an s-video port that I use to watch videos on.

I have ordered the PC to TV Converter linked to below and will let you all know how it works. My next concern is one of video quality using such adapter. I will report back soon.

http://sewelldirect.com/pc-to-tv.asp

Thanks for the find Lougle. I have ordered one too.

any luck with this guys?
I have a VJ gig coming up and I need to find a way to turn my MBP into a laptop with professional specs, just need the industry standard outputs that consumer computers lack. (sarcasm)

thanks

*Mini Review - PC to Video EZ*

_*It works!*_

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2980309510 1fb261f66ao.jpg!

I, and many others, have been looking for a way to output video (composite and s-video) from the NEW Macbooks and MacBook Pro's sporting the Mini DisplayPort since Apple as yet to release such adapter. I use my computer to output video (s-video) for digital slide shows and presentations. If our new aluminum MacBook could not meet this requirement back to the store it would go.

While searching the web for a adapter, converter or whatever could help get video out of the new MacBook I quickly learned ($10 later) that a simple VGA to s-video cable would not work.
!http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fD46i4gVL. SS400.jpg!
*NO GOOD!*

I soon came across the PC to Video EZ. It is sold at several online retailers but I finaly decided to buy it from NewEgg.com (links at bottom of post). NewEgg is retailer I knew I could trust and get fast shipping from. I ordered the converter box on Friday and it arrived today (Monday) with standard shipping!

Bottom line, the PC to Video EZ from GrandTec outputs video (both composite and s-video) at equal quality to Apple's own video adapters used on previous (pre-DisplayPort) computers. I, owning a MacBook Pro with DVI to video adapter, could not tell the difference.

The device itself is small. It is nothing you would complain about carrying around and it gets the job done.

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2980310450 3aa9314222o.jpg!
*PC to Video EZ from GrandTec*

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2979454029 c07766ce1bo.jpg!
*PC to Video EZ with new button-less Track Pad*

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2979454137 839fb19b1do.jpg!
*PC to Video EZ with new aluminum MacBook*

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2979454251 3448691da0o.jpg!
*PC to Video EZ with new Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter (still a required purchase)*


The back of the unit has two VGA ports, one in and one out. You can use the VGA out port as a pass through so you can still have your computer connected to a VGA monitor while outputting to video. A feature I will never use but it is still nice to have, especially for desktops.

Also on the back is the video ("yellow" composite) and s-video out.

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/2980310816 fd29234965o.jpg!
Back

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2980310910 a387be2a8fo.jpg!
*Back with end of Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter*


On the right side of the unit you will find a place to plug in the power adapter. Good news, its powered by USB. Bad news, the thing needs to be powered at all... More bad news, the unit does not use a standard USB cable. You better not loose the one that comes in the box! At least there are no power bricks to lug around and a simple USB to wall power adapter (like the one used with iPod or the iPhone) should also power the device. My testing showed that power is required.

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2980311010 daa3207621o.jpg!
*Power in. Why no USB A to USB B?*

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2980309856 563935f1c3o.jpg!
*USB power cable*


The unit comes with every cable you would need which is a huge plus! Included in the box is a short VGA cable (3 feet, which is perfect), a s-video cable and a composite video cable.

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2979453321 a01c534560o.jpg!
*Included cables. All you need to buy is the Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter.*


Although not as neat as an Apple Mini DisplayPort to video adapter would be it does get the job done.

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2979453629 1b56a7febdo.jpg!
!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2979453521 fe14baa0b1o.jpg!
*Typical Setup*

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2980310360 8b7b074438o.jpg!
*Final Product*


*The unit supports the following screen resolutions & refresh rates.*
* # 640x480@60/72/75/85Hz, 800x600@60/72/75/85Hz, 1024x768@60/75/85Hz and 1280x1024@60Hz. _On my SD TV I had luck with 1024x768@85Hz. Anything larger would not display._*

Pros:
* Power supplied from USB ~NO BULKY EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY!
* No software required! (works with Mac or Windows or any OS!)
* Composite and S-Video outputs
* VGA IN and VGA OUT for simultaneous TV/monitor viewing

Cons:
* Requires power
* Does not use a standard USB cable
* Not as neat as an Apple Mini DisplayPort to video adapter would be
* You still need to buy the Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter


*Package Contents*
* PC to Video EZ
* User Guide
* Composite Video Cable
* S-Video Cable
* USB Power Cable
* VGA Cable

Links:
http://www.grandtec.com/products/video/untimateEZ.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815117101


I HOPE THIS HELPED MANY LOOKING FOR A SIMILAR SOLUTION. I KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE FOUND THIS POST I WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY HAPPY! PASS IT ON.

Hey Lougle -- that's really fantastic.

Would it be possible for me to republish this post on createdigitalmotion.com?

It may prompt others with similar suggestions.

(By the way, in other news, DisplayPort does support analog signal ... so theoretically, graphics card and drivers willing, it would be possible to create an S-Vid/composite dongle for DisplayPort as with mini-DVI, if Apple and NVIDIA so chose.)

[here|http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X3FAJU/ref=s9cart c2_img3-rfc_p-3102_p?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1DDRA433C45S WFDZFYX8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358864801&pf_rdi=507846] is another one too

<Edited by Moderator>

wonder how this looks

Feel free to re-post it anywhere you like.

Lougle:

You realize what you just did?
You as a user, stood up and gave us a solution to our problems when apple did not want to respond to its consumers.

From one user to another, Thank you.