If you're using a cable box or other external tuner with the S-Video adapter, you'll only get the single source (and, as with the analog TV tuner, SD video only).
#Mac mini eyetv hybrid software
On first launch, the EyeTV software walks you through a source select and channel search to allow the embedded tuner in the Hybrid to lock in the available frequencies and set preferences for the included TitanTV scheduling module. Keep in mind that while you can use the Hybrid with any G4-or-better Mac, watching HD requires a G5 or Intel machine, not counting the Core Solo Mac Mini. but wow, it packs a good deal of power into that small package. The physical unit is actually not that impressive. The eyeTV Hybrid unit comes in a bundle of the eyeTV 2.3 application and the hardware device, a USB2 dongle that accepts both an antenna input and an S-Video/composite adapter cable. None of these approaches, however, will let you watch live HDTV on your Mac like the Hybrid does. There's even an all-in-one tool under development ( iRecord). Check out this post for a brief how-to, and this macosxhints thread for more it's not a supported solution but it may be worth a try. If you can't get HD via the airwaves, cable subscribers with Firewire-equipped set-top boxes do have another DIY option for recording unencrypted HD programming (the broadcast networks, basically) - the Apple Firewire SDK. To check your location, hop over to and give them your address for a detailed map and antenna recommendations. In my locale (Brooklyn, NY) I've got pretty good OTA signal for the networks and independent channels, with the unfortunate exception of PBS. There's also a suspiciously similar unit from Pinnacle, featuring the 'lite' version of the eyeTV software, announced last week for $130.īefore you consider the Hybrid, there's a basic question to be answered: how's your over-the-air TV signal? If you normally watch cable or satellite, you might not even know which standard and high-def broadcast channels are covering your house. Even for analog video input, it's relatively affordable at $150.
There are a few caveats to note with the eyeHybrid, but if you want to watch digital broadcast HDTV (ATSC) on your recent-vintage Mac, this is a great way to do it. I recently got an eyeTV Hybrid unit from Elgato (that's Spanish for "the cat," you know) and have been merrily hauling down those airborne bits of yummy video goodness. While we eagerly await the living room convergence that the now-shipping Apple TV will bring, it's not too soon to start building up that library of HDTV media.