When using FireWire DV connections, sooner or later you need to convert to analog video, whether to go to or from an anlog tape format, or to display video on an NTSC/PAL video monitor. Our Echo Fire product relies on you having such a conversion capability.
Virtually all NTSC (and some PAL) camcorders can perform this conversion function, at least for output, so many people simply use their camcorder. it may be inconvenient, however, to tie up your camcorder in this fashion. Alternatively, a DV VTR or VideoWalkman-style unit like the Sony GV-D300 can be used.
The other alternative is to use a dedicated FireWire to video conversion box. Manufacturers have created a variety of units with different capabilities and prices. These units have a FireWire connection that hooks to the FireWire port on your computer, and input and output analog video.
The list below is in alphabetical order. Features, pricing, and availability vary widely, so you'll want to examine all the models to find the unit that best fits your requirements.
| Canopus ADVC-100 |
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Website: |
www.canopuscorp.com |
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Available from: |
Direct |
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DV Direct |
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ProMax Systems |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin on front, 6 pin on back) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin on front, 6 pin on back) |
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Systems: |
NTSC/PAL DIP-switch selectable |
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Cost: | $299 MSRP |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | Supports locked audio and color bar output. The ADVC-100 does not support audio sampling at 44.1kHz, which is not part of the DV specification, but is widely supported by other units. This should not be a problem, but if you have existing footage with 44.1kHz audio you will need to resample it before it can be output through the ADVC-100. |
| Datavideo DAC-1 |
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Website: |
www.datavideo-tek.com |
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Available from: |
Direct |
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The Electronic Mailbox |
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Adorama |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Component analog video (3 x BNC) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Systems: |
NTSC/PAL |
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Cost: | $599 MSRP |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | This unit has component analog outputs, but not inputs. |
| Dazzle Hollywood DV-Bridge |
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Website: |
www.dazzle.com |
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Available from: |
Direct |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (6 pin) (Input and Output) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
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Systems: |
NTSC |
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Cost: | $299 MSRP |
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Availability: | Now |
| DPS-475AV/575AV |
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Website: |
www.dps.com |
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Available from: |
DPS Resellers |
| | B&H Photo |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Component Video (BNC) |
| | SDI - Serial Digital Video (BNC) |
| | Stereo Audio (barrier strip, balanced and unbalanced) |
| | AES/EBU Stereo Audio (XLR and BNC) |
| | SDI embedded audio |
| | FireWire/1394 (6 pin) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Component Video (BNC) |
| | SDI - Serial Digital Video (BNC) |
| | RGB/RGBS Analog (BNC) |
| | Stereo Audio (barrier strip, balanced and unbalanced) |
| | AES/EBU Stereo Audio (XLR and BNC) |
| | SDI embedded audio |
| | FireWire/1394 (6 pin) |
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Systems: |
NTSC (DPS-475AV), NTSC/PAL (DPS-575AV) |
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Cost: | $7995 (DPS-475AV MSRP) |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | This single unit rack mount device not only performs conversions between a wide variety of video formats, but also includes time base correction, proc amp controls, noise reduction, and a host of other features. Units are also available with audio synchronization. IEEE-1394 support is a configuration option you must specify. Also available with 4-channel audio, without audio, and without front panel controls. |
| FastWare.net DV Playground I |
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Website: |
www.fastware.net |
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Available from: |
Direct |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin & 6 pin) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin & 6 pin) |
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Systems: |
NTSC, PAL |
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Cost: | $429 (MSRP) |
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Availability: | Contact FastWare |
| Formac Studio |
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Website: |
www.formac.com |
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Available from: |
Direct and resellers |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCS) |
| | FireWire/1394 (2 x 6 pin) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (2 x 6 pin) |
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Systems: |
Choice of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM models |
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Cost: | $399 (MSRP) |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | This converter also includes a built-in stereo TV/FM tuner, allowing you to convert TV directly into native DV. Its configuration allows you to get digital streams directly into iMovie and Premiere 6. |
| Laird Telemedia Blue Flame Pro LTM-5000 and LTM-5500 |
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Website: |
www.lairdtelemedia.com |
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Available from: |
Markertek |
| | B&H Photo |
| | Laird Dealers |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Component Video (LTM-5500 only) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x TRS unbalanced, 2 x XLR balanced) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Component Video (LTM-5500 only) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x TRS unbalanced, 2 x XLR balanced) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Systems: |
NTSC, PAL |
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Cost: | $1695 (MSRP) for LTM-5000, $2995 (MSRP) for LTM-5500 |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | This single unit rack mount device is notable for its balanced audio IO and BNC video connections. The LTM-5500 version adds component video IO. |
| Link Electronics PDV-844 |
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Website: |
www.linkelectronics.com |
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Available from: |
Link Electronics Dealers |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Black Burst or Composite Sync (BNC) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x XLR balanced) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Component Video (3 x BNC) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x XLR balanced) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Systems: |
NTSC, PAL |
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Cost: | Contact a Link Electronics Dealer for pricing. |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | Packaged as single height (1RU) rack mount unit. Has balanced audio in and out, as well as component video out. |
| Miglia Director's Cut Take 2 |
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Website: |
www.miglia.com |
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Available from: |
Direct and Resellers |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (6 pin) (Input and Output) |
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Outputs: | 2 x Composite Video (RCA) |
| | 2 x S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | 2 x Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
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Systems: |
NTSC and PAL |
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Cost: | $449 MSRP |
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Availability: | Now |
| Miranda DV-Bridge |
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Website: |
www.miranda.com |
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Available from: |
Miranda Distributors |
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Inputs: | 4:2:2 SDI digital video (SMPTE 259M-C) |
| | AES digital audio (SMPTE 276M) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Outputs: | 4:2:2 SDI digital video (SMPTE 259M-C) |
| | AES digital audio (SMPTE 276M) |
| | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Systems: |
NTSC, PAL |
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Cost: | $1995 (MSRP) |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | This unit is notable for its SDI and AES/EBU digital video and audio connections. |
| ProMax DA-MAX+ Converter |
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Website: |
www.promax.com |
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Available from: |
Direct |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Component (3 x BNC) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA unbalanced, 2 x XLR balanced) |
| | 6 x FireWire/1394 (6 pin) (Input and Output) |
| | RS-422 control (1 x DB-9) |
| | SDI Digital Video (2 x BNC) |
| | AES/EBU Digital Audio (2 x XLR, 2 x BNC) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Component (3 x BNC) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA unbalanced, 2 x XLR balanced) |
| | 6 x FireWire/1394 (6 pin) (Input and Output) |
| | RS-422 control (1 x DB-9) |
| | SDI Digital Video (2 x BNC) |
| | AES/EBU Digital Audio (2 x XLR, 2 x BNC) |
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Systems: |
NTSC, PAL |
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Cost: | $1795 (MSRP) |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | Unit is rackmountable. Analog video inputs have Proc Amp controls. |
| Sony DVMC-DA2 |
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Website: |
www.sel.sony.com |
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Available from: |
ProMax |
| | B&H Photo |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | Fir e/1394 (4 pin) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (RCA) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
| | LANC Control |
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Systems: |
NTSC only |
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Cost: | $599 (MSRP) |
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Availability: | Now |
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Comments: | This very popular converter has been discontinued by Sony. Check eBay and other sources for used units. |
| TVOne DV-1394 Converter |
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Website: |
www.tvone.com |
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Available from: |
Direct |
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Inputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Outputs: | Composite Video (BNC) |
| | S-Video (mini-DIN) |
| | Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) |
| | FireWire/1394 (4 pin) |
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Systems: |
NTSC, PAL |
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Cost: | $750 (MSRP) |
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Availability: | Now |
