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MacVision image capture device

applefreak

Well-known member
Macvision, Koala Technomogies

Macintosh: Video Digitizers

software : Drivers/Applications for the MacVision Video Digitizer

desktop accesory

connection RS-442 port

the scan can be stored in MacPaint for enhancement

Macvision images are displayed on the mac screen at the maximum resolution offered : 320 x 240

Each pixel is digitized at 8 bits per pixel

review : MacVision For Apple Macintosh

i have one, used it

but for the moment i don't have a working camera or VCR to connect to it

MacVision.jpg


Capture images and live video from video cameras

Video image capture for macintosh, mac plus, SE, Mac II, macintosh portable

256 Gray scale

Wiil work with the SE/30, IIx, and IIcx & ci with v3 software

requires at least 1 MB of ram

read me of version 3.0

 

classic

Well-known member
Well I won it for the princely sum of $20.40.

When it arrives, I'll have a tinker and post some pics of the unit and what it is capable of.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions re: specs and drivers

 

classic

Well-known member
Macvision image capture device arrived today.

Only problem it is missing the Mac serial adapter.

On the plus side, I do have a cable that is RS-232 to mini Din-8,

Not really sure where to go from here, but I think I need

a Serial RS232 9 Pin Gender Female to F Adapter Changer.

When I get one, I will post again

 

wally

Well-known member
MacVision serial adaptor is powered by a 9VAC (300 mA rating) power cube and produces +5 and +12 VDC for the digitizer (measured 5.01V and 12.14V with no load).

DB9

1 GND

2 +5VDC

3 GND

6 +12VDC

The adaptor also connects four signals (no DC power!) between Mac and MacVision:

Signal miniDIN8<->DB9

TD- 3 -->5

GND 4 <->1 and 3

RD- 5 <--9

RD+ 8 <--8

Connector ground shells do not have a DC connection to each other nor to the GND signal.

 

classic

Well-known member
Well it seems like I have blown $20 on this one.

Most of Wally's tech advice went in one ear and out the other.

I'm just not that tech savvy. (but thanks all the same!)

I got the serial adapter but without the power supply the macvision shall remain blind and collect dust... :'(

 

Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
I got the serial adapter
if that's the genuine Macvision part and not just a generic, then all you need to note from wally's post is -
serial adaptor is powered by a 9VAC (300 mA rating) power cube
Find a 9 volt AC 300mA wallwart with the right size plug to go into the serial adapter and you're good to go.

If all you have is a generic DB-9 to MiniDIN-8 - do not plug that into the Macvision. It's wired wrong, and you (maybe) risk damaging the Mac or Macvision.

Or, find someone who is tech savvy and make up an adapter. There's enough info in wally's post for that. There must be DC regulators and rectifiers in there to produce +5V/+12V from the AC input, and a power socket for the wallwart. Presumably therefore this is a box with cables coming out of it, not a straight cable.

 

classic

Well-known member
Regrettably, I do not have the genuine macvision serial adapter and I am a bit peeved > :( that it AND the power supply was not included in the sale of the unit.

The seller mentioned that it was untested (now I know why) and missing the software.

I have sent the seller an ebay email requesting that if he come across the missing bits to shoot me an email and I will pick them up.

The thing of it is there is no ac input on the macvision unit itself and unless I find (or the seller does!) the original macvision serial adapter, it remains unused in the box.

Thank you for the helpful advice Wally and Bunsen.

Being the :eek:) I am, I was going to hook up a generic adapter and see what happened. A good thing I did not.

 

Unknown_K

Well-known member
Welcome to the world of old equipment with weird power plug/supplies not included with your purchase.

In the past I have passed on items that were pretty cheap but very incomplete knowing it would be very hard to find the missing pieces (other then buying a complet unit), and have purchased some items that will drive me nuts to complete.

I guess it is part of the hobby to allways have something you need to find, never actually finishing.

 

classic

Well-known member
I guess it is part of the hobby to allways have something you need to find, never actually finishing.
Not wrong Unkown_K!

I had always craved a wired3DVD card so that my beige G4

could play DVD's without having to rely on a video card decoder as I primarily use its

onboard video for analogue-digital conversion of my video collection.

I never thought I'd find one until I got one recently with a B&W G3, but of course the wired4DVD card was missing its "special pass thru cable"

I can still use the card with the s-video out, so it still has some use.

The Macvision unit I was hoping to use alongside a Farallon Macrecorder on my SE FDHD as a kind of retro media centre.

Now another project on the back-burner.

I did contact the seller, but as expected "just what was in the box, mate"

I am philosophical about it really.

I give the proverbial shrug and keep looking for those elusive cables!

 

Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
DB91 GND

2 +5VDC

3 GND

6 +12VDC
Hmm. An alternative way of supplying power would be using the PS from an external HD or CD, or using a drive Y adapter inside the computer and passing the +5/+12 to the outside world. Still involves making up the adapter/cable doohickey, but it might be easier than using an AC wallwart and building a pair of DC recifier/regulators. Or indeed rummaging around surplus and op shops to find a +5/+12 wallwart - they exist.

 
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