Last month, Riyadh reviewed Roxio Crunch excellent video conversion software, which provides iPhone and iPod users a quick and easy way to convert video files stored on a PC or an Apple Mac-friendly format. In the same vein, the new Pinnacle Video Transfer scheme aims to make life easier for users who need to scan and capture video from an analog source, and all without the use of a computer .

Rather than spending time to worry about what software settings and bit-rate of use, with the transfer video Pinnacle (PVT) all you need is a mobile storage device such as FAT32 external USB 2 , 0 hard drive or flash memory key, and you can start recording Almost immediately. The PVT will even record directly to a Sony PSP (current firmware version 2.81 or later) and most types of Apple iPod (firmware version 1.21 or later), but not the iPod Touch. In principle, the PVT will record video from any device that outputs a composite or S-video signal, like a VHS recorder, DVD, set-top box or video game console. But before putting himself on the recording, we will take a look at the device itself.

The compact unit measuring 12.3 x 6.6 x 2.2cm, and is built largely of black plastic that feels fairly solid in the hand. The summit of the race is dominated by a colorful circular logo, which sit next to the unit as two buttons, and REC MODE. Just below the MODE button are three small blue LEDs that light up depending on the quality of selected records - an LED “good”, two for “Better” and the three “best”. The videos are recorded using the H.264 (MPEG-4), the compression format video, but the exact properties of each record will depend on the USB device connected.

To save at the highest resolution of 720 x 576 pixels, you should use a hard drive or a memory key. However, the videos captured during this resolution are recorded interlaced with managers, just like regular television broadcasts. When viewed on a computer screen, boring ‘comb’ artifacts may appear on the video images, which are particularly sensitive about moving the edges. Pinnacle therefore recommends using good or better quality, using the parameters of a hard drive or memory key, if you intend to watch videos captured exclusively on a PC screen.

Based on the PVT you will find cc and the main USB port. There is also a second USB port B-which, according to the user manual, is “reserved for future use. Presumably, then, the PVT its features could be improved or upgraded in the future, but for the moment at least the second USB port is superfluous. Sitting along the upper extremity are very important composite and S-video, as well as stereo audio inputs. LEDs are placed on top of each video / audio inputs and the USB port, which is light blue or red depending on the PVT the current status of the transaction.

A user’s manual, quick start guide, DC adapter, a 1.5m long usefully Composite video / audio cable (3x phono), and a SCART adapter (EU markets only) are all included in the box. To improve the quality of recordings, Pinnacle advises using the S-video, rather than composite video, but surprisingly does not include an S-video themselves in the package. Pinnacle also provides no video editor, but if you need to make any changes later, you can download a free copy of its software VideoSpin.

Making a record with SWAP is extremely simple. After connecting to a video source and connecting a USB storage devices, the first step is to press the MODE button of the camera. After a few seconds, the camera detects the USB device connected and video input used. Once all the lights have turned major blue, the recording quality desired can be selected by pressing the MODE button until the number of small shed light emitting diode (LED for “good”, two for ” Better, “and three for” best “).

When you are ready to start recording, simply press the button REC. The main tower then all the red to confirm that registration is underway. To stop recording press the REC button a second time. Once registration has been finalised and safely stored on the USB device, the main blue LEDs then turn again, indicating that the PVT can be removed.

Video recordings are stored in a directory called VIDEO located at the root of the hard drive or USB flash key. If the directory does not currently exist, then it is automatically created. Recordings made on the PSP are shown in the video field. Each video is respectively named and numbered in the order in which they were registered, for example. Vid00001.mp4. In the same way, recordings were made on an iPod are stored in a directory called F99, which is located in the hidden iPod Music folder, and are named in sequence 0001.mp4 upwards. One thing to keep in mind is that because the PVT does not have an internal clock, video files will not times and dates that correspond to when the file was actually recorded.

I did not have a Sony PSP in hand, but for tests I used a 30GB iPod Video and a key USB flash 4GB. Throughout the trial, the device operates smoothly and generally I recorded a successful series of video clips from my mailbox satellite and DVD player, all the different quality parameters. However, it was when I tried to view the captured video on my iPod that I began to encounter difficulties.

Video clips captured on the iPod are expected to be found immediately after the registration, but I was disappointed that I was unable to locate and reading all saved video clips from the iPod using the menu system. Update PVT with the latest firmware did not fix the problem and, despite the best efforts of Pinnacle support, I was unable to solve the problem. To view the videos on my iPod, my problem was to connect up iTunes on my PC, then browse video files manually (in the hidden directory F99), and add them to my iPod Video library, but of course defeats the whole purpose of PC-less video capture. It may well be the case that the latest generation of iPod will work as they should with the PVT, but with only two years of my iPod Video, I have no way of knowing with certainty. That said, Pinnacle will hopefully address this issue.

Quality-wise, the captured video recordings were impressive. Even at the lowest setting catch records looked smooth, clean, but not visible jerkiness. At higher quality parameters of the video looks even better with less compression artifacts, and to be honest, I had to watch (and hear) quite difficult to distinguish a difference between the original and the copy.

Verdict

At just under £ 100, Pinnacle video transfer is a little gadget that will appeal to people who dislike the idea of playing around with computers and complicated capture software to scan their films. Despite the problem I encounter trying to view the records directly to my iPod video screen (which I hope can be fixed in a future firmware update), I found the video very easy Pinnacle Transfer to be used and the results of the first order.