Pinnacle announces USB/PCI TV tuners and video editing gear

Pinnacle's already hooked up our friends in Europe with a DVB-T tuner on a stick, but now those of us on this side of the pond are getting a little over-the-air HD love with its just-announced PCTV HD Pro Stick. Bundled with a remote and telescopic antenna, the $130 USB tuner will let you tap into ATSC broadcasts from the comfort of your laptop -- if you live in an area with coverage, that is (otherwise you can still use it to pick up a regular old standard definition NTSC signal). On the desktop side of things, Pinnacle's got the PCTV MCE Companion, which'll give you a Media Center-compatible TV tuner and remote for $100 even. Either option will give you most of the functions you'd expect from a standalone PVR, as well as some PC-specific advantages, like recording directly iPod, PSP, and DivX formats, as well as direct-to-DVD recording. On a somewhat related front, Pinnacle's also announced some new video editing gear -- the Pinnacle Studio MovieBox USB ($99) and the Pinnacle Studio MovieBoard PCI ($79), both also available in "Plus" editions for $149 each. All will give you the hardware and software needed to turn your dated old home movies into cinema vérité masterpieces, with the Plus editions packing in a "professional" microphone kit and Chroma Key green screen backdrop, as well as additional effects options. The whole lot will be available next month.

[Via DV Guru]

[m-p{3} @ Sep 21st 2006 8:55AM]

Looks to be a good product, I'll watch this for sure.

[Adam @ Sep 21st 2006 9:36AM]

Most of Pinnacle's stuff is pretty good... some of their Studio components are kind of cheesy though.

[John Hinds @ Sep 21st 2006 9:40AM]

The only problem with these kinds of USB tuner devices is the aerials that they come with.
There isn't a chance is hell of you picking up any kind of decent digital signal with a 2ft long piece of wire.

[jim @ Jul 6th 2007 7:19PM]

Not true...getting more then 20 channels, in zip code 20020.

[Jack @ Sep 21st 2006 10:51AM]

I've had the DVB-T USB stick for about 6 months now and it's been pretty good. The bundled software isn't great and I can't find drivers to support it in Linux but other than that it's performed well and is minutely small.

[Ros W-S @ Oct 4th 2006 6:35AM]

Hi Jack, have a look at this site, http://www.marcushellberg.com/pages/projects/digital-tv-in-linux.php seems to have everything to set up the Hybrid Pro Stick in Linux.

[Kevin Johnson @ Sep 21st 2006 12:40PM]

Could this work through a Tivo's USB port?

[Jnetty @ Sep 21st 2006 2:17PM]

Hauppauge is also coming out with a ATSC USB Stick...

[Dowlapalli @ Sep 21st 2006 2:29PM]

Looks nice. But guess have to wait a while for the price to come down.

[Kevin Johnson @ Sep 21st 2006 3:11PM]

Could this work with a Tivo's USB port?

[thejedipunk @ Sep 21st 2006 3:52PM]

I'm pretty interested in this actually. Usually I'm not interested in the whole DVR craze. Now only if Pinnacle did the right thing and did a Mac version.

[Mik Ishmael @ Sep 21st 2006 5:54PM]

I'd be all over a Mac version of it.

[johnwys @ Sep 21st 2006 9:32PM]

The mac version of the PCTV HD stick was released this week.... check out the "hybrid" tuner at http://www.elgato.com

[David Scott @ Sep 22nd 2006 11:12AM]

Artec already offers one of these for $60

Artec T14A Mini USB 2.0 Digital TV Tuner Retail
(MPN: T14A)
Price Range: $59.99 from 1 Seller
Description: You can now turn your PC or laptop into HD Digital TV anytime, anywhere with this Artec T14A Mini USB 2.0 Digital TV Tuner - at a low cost! Simply connect the TV Tuner into your USB port with the USB extension cable and antenna provided, an.... Read More
Description: You can now turn your PC or laptop into HD Digital TV anytime, anywhere with this Artec T14A Mini USB 2.0 Digital TV Tuner - at a low cost! Simply connect the TV Tuner into your USB port with the USB extension cable and antenna provided, and install the software required - and you are ready to view HDTV. Please check system requirements before purchasing to ensure your PC or laptop supports this function.

[johnwys @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:10PM]

Just FYI, the Artec one doesn't handle analog NTSC signals, just digital ATSC in both standard and high-def.

[Hansj @ Nov 20th 2006 5:47PM]

Should be great for travellers with laptop.
BUT IT ITSN'T.
It only works with the new digital American standard ''ATSC''

As the rest of world is using the new ''DVB-T'' Standard, it wouln't work in other countries.

What a pity that the world ones again was unable to define a common standard.

[Ant @ Aug 11th 2007 5:21AM]

Could I record an X-Box 360 with this device??

[Daniel @ Mar 6th 2008 9:37PM]

It would be a good thing if their software would accommodate the UBUNTU OS based on the Linux operating system... or do they already?

[jacky @ Mar 25th 2008 9:41AM]

i lostb my driver anyone can help me?
thanks!!