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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Applications > How to my iMac G4 to output whatever is on the screen to Firewire

How to my iMac G4 to output whatever is on the screen to Firewire
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Lebodde
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Dec 12, 2004, 12:36 PM
 
I'm trying to record a live video feed from the internet. It is on Windows Media Player (yuk!)

I've tried to use Snapz Pro X from Ambrosia which is pretty cool but I'm having a lot of "hiccuping" in the audio for some reason.

So I thought I would try to record it directly to my Digital8 camera. It has a Firewire in/out which I use to edit videos with iMovie. But according to the manual I should also be able to record through it. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like any signal is coming out of the computer FW port automatically. Do I need to do something special to whatever is on the screen to be sent to the iMac's Firewire port so I can just press Record on my camcorder?

I'm not sure if this is software or hardware issue. I have the iMac 17inch G4.

Thanks for any help.
     
Amorya
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Dec 12, 2004, 03:00 PM
 
I'm pretty sure this isn't possible in real time - it'd require realtime compressing into DV format by the Mac, which would be just as CPU intensive as Snapz!

You could, however, connect a TV out port to the analogue input on your camcorder - most laptops have such a port, and you can get converters for desktops.

Amorya
What the nerd community most often fail to realize is that all features aren't equal. A well implemented and well integrated feature in a convenient interface is worth way more than the same feature implemented crappy, or accessed through a annoying interface.
     
Lebodde  (op)
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Dec 12, 2004, 08:56 PM
 
Thanks Amorya.

I have hooked up the audio and video out of the mac to the camcorder. For some reason, I am getting the audio to the camera but not the video. Do I need a prticular setting to activate the video out part?

Thanks a lot.
     
Amorya
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Dec 12, 2004, 09:49 PM
 
Originally posted by Lebodde:
Thanks Amorya.

I have hooked up the audio and video out of the mac to the camcorder. For some reason, I am getting the audio to the camera but not the video. Do I need a prticular setting to activate the video out part?

Thanks a lot.
How've you hooked it up?

You can't use Firewire for this one I'm afraid - you need to use analogue video. If your Mac has a built-in analogue video out port it'll probably be an S-video port. They're round and have 4 pins. You can convert them to composite video, which is a standard phono (RCA) cable.

If you don't have one of those, you might be able to use an adaptor. I know Apple make adaptors for powerbooks to convert the mini-DVI or mini-VGA port into an analogue video out port. They might work for you - they're about $10 from Apple store.

If that doesn't work, you'll probably need some kind of converter (or to borrow a laptop). I don't know anything about converters - maybe ask in the DV forums if you want one...


Assuming it's all connected properly, you may need to tell the camcorder to accept analogue input. I think mine does it automatically (a Canon 630i), but yours may not - look through the settings in the menu.


Amorya
What the nerd community most often fail to realize is that all features aren't equal. A well implemented and well integrated feature in a convenient interface is worth way more than the same feature implemented crappy, or accessed through a annoying interface.
     
   
 
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