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Pinnacle Video Transfer Pc/mac Less Video Transfer Device | 
| Brand: Pinnacle
Category: CE
List Price: $129.99
Buy New: $74.99
You Save: $55.00 (42%)
New (35) Used (3) from $65.00
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 2890
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 9.1 x 2.6
MPN: 82301002211
Model: 82301002211
UPC: 613570222170
EAN: 0613570222170
ASIN: B0015E2PQM
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Includes A/V RCA cable, power supply unit and quick-start guide | | • | High-quality MPEG-4 encoding in H.264 at up to 720 x 480 resolution | | • | Multiple capture options for mobile devices, full-screen PC and even video editing or DVD burning | | • | Input connectors - 1x RCA (PAL-SECAM-NTSC) Composite Video, 1x Y/C (PAL-SECAM-NTSC) S-Video, 2x RCA Stereo Audio, and H.264 Capture format | | • | Optional USB output - Flash Memory Stick USB 2.0 (FAT16/32 only), USB 2.0 Hard Disk Drive (FAT16/32 only), Sony PSP (FAT16 only, firmware version 2.81 or higher), and Apple iPod Video (FAT32 only, firmware version 1.2.1 or higher) - Recharges iPod battery with optional cable |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
At the touch of a button, Pinnacle Video Transfer rapidly records analog video in MPEG-4 quality onto any USB 2.0 storage device, without using a PC. It provides high-quality MPEG-4 encoding in H.264 at up to 720x480 (NTSC) resolution and supports multiple inputs; including S-Video, Composite video and stereo audio. Video transfer is fast, thanks to high-speed USB 2.0 technology, and the compact size makes it perfect for backing up holiday videos. Transfer movies from your TV, DVD player or camcorder to your compatible Apple iPod, Sony PSP or USB storage device, without even needing a computer, with this video transfer device.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 I am very pleased. September 3, 2008
R. Melen (Silicon Valley)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I almost did not buy this Pinnacle device after reading all of the cautious and negative Amazon reviews on the Pinnacle Video Transfer. I ignored the negativity an bought one because I really wanted easy video IPOD recording. I now have used the Pinnacle Video Transfer for a little more than a week and I am very pleased.
I bought this device about two weeks ago because I own an 80GB IPOD and my IPOD hard disk was less than half full of videos despite the many hours I spent filling it. I wanted an easier way to get more fresh video. I primarily watch the IPOD on long airplane trips. I love the IPOD on these trips but I rarely used it otherwise. I go on a number of trips a year so I am always on the lookout for new content to put on my IPOD.
I wanted to record shows from Comcast digital cable that I subscribe to at home. I receive the video using a Comcast DVR set-top box. I bought the Pinnacle Video transfer to copy the video output of the DVR to my IPOD.
I specifically wanted to record shows that I have stored on the DVR. I also hoped I would get the ability to record many hours of television shows from one of the cable channels to my IPOD. I wanted a easy way to get lots of video into my IPOD and to then change it with new fresh video it the future.
I had expected that with the PINNACLE I would record video to a thumb drive and then I would have to use ITUNES to load my IPOD using my laptop. While this pc laptop method did work I learned that it would actually able to record video in an even easier way.
The Pinnacle is able to directly write into the IPOD hard drive using the white IPOD USB cable normally used . It actually updates the IPOD video directory so they you can use the normal IPOD interface to access the video in the movies folder on the IPOD.
I was surprised that the PINNACLE could direct write to the IPOD. It does saves me a lots of time and bother to not have to use ITUNES on the laptop. If you simply leave the Pinnacle and IPOD recording overnight the video stops recording after 5 hours and 51 minutes. Apparently this is the maximum time limit. It works just fine and plays back the video you recorded as long as it is 5 hours and 51 minutes or less. You can start a new recording of another file but you have be present to do that.
There is no way to do multi-file recording automatically. So when I fill my IPOD overnight, I only record 5:51 minutes of video but it is done while I sleep.
When I am overseas traveling I enjoy American television, and even reruns of television. Using this device I now can keep my IPOD full of fresh video and replace it with new video easily should I tire of the content. I really like it's ease of use.
The video quality is quite good and similar to all IPOD videos I have. When I record more important videos I use the Pinnacle best mode of 640x480 resolution (three blue LEDs on the Pinnacle) since this looks nice for it playing it back on my laptop (bigger screen). Otherwise I use the intermediate quality (two blue LEDS).
I had read some reviews about the lines and interlacing problems while playing back the Pinnnacle video on a laptop. I am using Nero showtime V9 software for video playback and it works well for playback and editing. The video looks great to my eyes. This video program is designed for high quality bluray playback on a laptop so that may explain while the videos looks good and some other software may look bad. I had the softe already because I have a Sony HD camcorder than creates AVCHD bluray video that I use with this same laptop. I had the previously purchased Nero player for use with Nero. Nero is a relatively inexpensive software easily purchased on the internet but it may be important for playing high resolution from the Pinnacle recorded video. Nero has Nero recode and other editing tools as well.
I had to write a review of my experiences since it appears to be quite different than some of the others. I only use the captured videos with my IPOD and laptop. I only record high quality digital video from my Comcast digital cable signal as made available on the back panel of the Comcast cable box. It works great and I am very happy.
I did have to learn to be patient after manually stopping the video recording process by pressing the Pinnacle record button. When you stop the recording manually in this manner the LED by the IPOD turns red warning you not to disconnect the IPOD for nearly 70 seconds after the stopping. It then turns blue telling you it is okay to remove the IPOD. Removing the IPOD too early causes the movie to not appear as a video file in the IPOD user interface for playback. Patience, is the key! Wait for the red light near the IPOD USB connector on the Pinnacle to turn blue. I now know that I must do that.
I love this device. So much video with so little work. I have added about 30 hours or reruns so far. I just let it run on a cable premium channel overnight.
Worked Perfectly August 22, 2008
E. Baumgartner (New York, NY)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This device is well designed, very simple to use, and it actually does what it is advertised to do (unlike too many products these days). It's great for transfering VHS tapes & DVD's to MPEG4 files. It will also capture TV shows and save those to MPEG4 files as well.
It can be used with either standard red, white, & yellow connectors OR an S-Video connector. I bought an expensive S-Video connector to see if it made a difference in the quality of the video capture. I didn't notice any difference, so my suggestion is to just use the standard red, white, & yellow connectors.
 Video Transfer for the "Video Challenged" August 7, 2008
C. Clark (Upstate NY USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Let me start by saying I'm not any kind of expert in video technology - I usually just hand stuff over to my son and he takes it from there. That said, I wanted something to transfer my old family VHS tapes to a digital format. I had read in a local paper that this device was quite easy to use, so I gave it a try.
I had no trouble connecting to the TV or my very old VHS player - the device recognized both quickly. I did have some trouble with the storage drives. It didn't recognize my Toshiba portable or my IOGear USB flash device. Scored with my Iomega portable and the cheapy USB flash drives I picked up at conventions. Once everything was connected and recognized, I turned on the TV/hit play on the VHS and pressed a button on the Pinnacle device and let it record.
First, I tried capturing from both the TV and a 15 year old VHS tape using the "better" setting. Both were painless. The video is converted to MOV format and when I went to play them on my computer, the only trouble I had was that I needed to download an upgrade to QuickTime. They looked very good on the monitor. Later, I burned these to DVD to see how this quality setting would look on a TV - not very good...
Next, I recorded from VHS at "best" quality, which is really a misnomer apparently, since this setting interlaces the video which is supposed to be better for viewing on a TV (but not computer monitors where my movies recorded in "best" setting looked terrible...). And it did look much better than the "better" quality recordings, though we're not talking movie theater quality here.
I should note that the VHS tape was recorded at EP (as in worst quality) and I didn't use an S-video connection - just regular analog cables - so you may get better results.
The only glitch was burning the MOV files to DVD. I had edited one in QuickTime and then saved it. My son tells me that was a big mistake and I should have edited it in Nero (the software I used to burn the DVD). Since I kept getting error messages from Nero, I had to start from scratch and re-edit. I couldn't use the "re-writable" option in Nero either (so I could add more later...but maybe you just can't do that...).
All in all, if you're looking for a relatively easy way to transfer those old VHS tapes to a digital format, this does the job. The captures were very good for monitor viewing (even my son said so!) and considering the quality of my VHS tape, I was pretty happy with the TV quality.
QuickTime and Nero are the only software I used - and I didn't do much with them - just what I needed to view and copy/burn. Expect to tie up a big chunk of computer time converting the files to TV-playable DVDs...which is why I'm sticking with just copying the MOV files to DVD to play on my computer instead.
Only gave it 4 stars because the documentation is pretty meager - I suspect the manufacturer assumes that people who use this device know a little more about video transfer/editing than I do. But even without a lot of guidance, I got the job done!
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