How do I use eyeTV 250+ video stream with 3rd party applications?

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Level 1

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How do I use eyeTV 250+ video stream with 3rd party applications?

I have an elgato eyeTV 250 plus unit that I want to use with 3rd party video surveillance software. However, the programs I have tried so far (SecuritySpy and EvoCam) will not detect the eyeTV as a video source. They detect the built in iMac camera and USB cams that I connect to the iMac but it will not detect the eyeTV as a source of video. That is a problem for me because to get video from my night time security camera I need to plug it into the composite video A/V input on the eyeTV. Any help on how to get the programs to detect the eyeTV as a camera would be appreciated.

24" iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Dec 31, 2008 4:16 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 2, 2009 10:18 PM in response to PilotSmith

I don't think it's possible for 3rd party QuickTime capable apps to talk to a TV tuner like the EyeTV 250 without what is known as a specially-written VDIG - Video Digitizer QuickTime component. In the early days of Mac video capture, way back to the 1990's and the VideoSpigot era -- a VDIG was the software bridge between video hardware and QuickTime capture apps.

A VDIG would allow you to take, say, a Mac TV tuner's signal and transmit it someone in an iChat session, and would be a selectable source just as an iSight or external USB webcam might be for any number of applications. I remember emailing ElGato's support years ago asking if writing a VDIG for EyeTV was in the cards. It never came to be...

Doc - http://www.mac-digital-tv-tuners.com/

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Answer 2

Jan 11, 2009 7:54 AM in response to PilotSmith

Doctor Mac is correct. The external inputs of the EyeTV tuners are only accessible through the EyeTV software.

Mike E
Elgato

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Answer 3

msh2006

Level 1

20 points

Feb 23, 2009 8:41 AM in response to DoctorMac-PalmSprings

Thanks for the comprehensive response.
Is there any hardware that would allow me to take the AV from my camcorder and feed it to iChat or be selectable as a video input device like you mention? I was hopeful the EyeTV would do that, but it seems to lack that ability.

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Answer 4

lenn5

Level 4

2,537 points

Feb 23, 2009 11:31 AM in response to Mike Evangelist1

I've used Elgato products for years and the major thing I would change about them is for Eyetv to record in a format like mpeg4 rather than their own proprietary format that then has to be converted for use on macs not running eyetv or other devices.

lenn

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Answer 5

Feb 23, 2009 3:25 PM in response to PilotSmith

The EyeTV Software records in MPEG2 format. So you can record it and convert it to a different format for editing. This cannot be done in real time, but can only be done when the recording is over.

To access the MPEG2 files, find the EyeTV recording and right-click (or control-click)/"Show in Finder".
Right-click on the EyeTV file in the finder and select Show Package Contents. One of the package contents will be a .mpg file in MPEG2 format.

To convert this file for editing on a Mac, use MPEG Streamclip (free) with the Apple QuickTIme MPEG2 Playback Component ($20). Drag the .mpg file into MPEG Streamclip and you can convert it to AIC, DV, h.264, and any number of other choices.

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