Getting analog video into my iMac G5 inexpensively

[igirl]

Does ANYONE make a simple A to D video converter with USB or Firewire out that I can use to play A/V into my iMac for capture in iMovie, iDVD or other software?

There are a few ancient boxes out there like the Dazzle Hollywood Bridge, Canopus ADVC-100, Formac Studio, some others...

Just wondering if someone has come out with one that is the WalMart version - just simple A/D - no format conversions or sync or fancy features...

I have read in some places that it is almost the same cost to buy a new digital videocam and just use it as the "converter", as opposed to buying a dedicated converter box. Wondering in that case if it would do it in real time, (digitally echo out of the output what is coming in the analog inputs), or if you would have to record your analog into the camera, then later play it back as digital to get it into the digital domain???

Comments appreciated and thanks in advance!

 

[eric2006]

Depends on the camera, but I have a sony DCR-TRV330 Digital8 camcorder that acts as a converter box when there is no tape in it, and converts signal from the VCR or DVD player to the computer in real time. Not all camcorders do this, though, so you'll have to do some research.