Pinnacle PCTV USB2 ( 210100387 ) TV Tuner and Video Capture Device

Pinnacle PCTV USB2 210100387 TV Tuner and Video Capture Device

3 stars (Does what it says, but...) - As a TV tuner it functions OK. It isn't anything spectacular, but when one considers the comparatively high resolutions that computer monitors produce (as opposed to traditional PAL/NTSC televisions) the quality is rather good. A previous reviewer claimed that the A/V inputs were not functional. That is absolutely false. I currently have my Xbox plugged into it and am playing it windowed on my PC. My complaints are that 1) There is a video lag with the inputs, 2) The provided software is sketchy at best, and 3) Pinncale demands extra money to 'unlock' different encoding methods, (i.e. Mpeg-2, Mpeg-4, VCD, etc.) In short, it does what it says, but that is about it. 1 stars (It's only a TV port, NOT a capture device - BEWARE!!) - If I could give it NO stars I would. IT'S A RIP-OFF!! Those reviewers who found this product OK are only using it as a TV device, not for external video capture. Sure, it works adequately as a TV device (so the one star is probably justified after all) but it is emphatically NOT a video capture port as supplied. Pinnacle's own bundled software does NOT support video input (neither for live display nor for capture) via the temptingly-annotated Composite or S-Video ports. It only 'sees' inputs on the UHF (TV) antenna input. Pinnacle have been promising to include this functionality for over 6 months but, so far, NADA!! Of course, the only way you can get to see the deluge of negative feedback this generates is to purchase the product to gain access to the support forums. The public aren't allowed in... Here's kicker #1 - if you're prepared to spend the same money again Pinnacle will sell you their Studio 9 application which (I THINK) supports these external (non-TV) video inputs. Now for kicker #2 - alternatively you can buy (again for a comparable ADDITIONAL cost) a third-party app called ShowShifter which has absolutely no problem seeing, displaying and capturing the extra inputs in this Pinnacle-...
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