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OSX Drivers DFG/1394-1...

"ASC" is pleased to offer OSX PowerPC Mac QuickTime driver, Universal PPC - x86 QuickTime driver and Quartz Composer plugin (versions 2.07.04, 3.01.04 and 1.00.01 - released January 21, 2011) for "The Imaging Sources's" DFG/1394-1 Analog Video to FireWire Converter (as shown above). The DFG/1394-1 hardware delivers uncompressed, full size, full frame rate NTSC or PAL YUV 4:2:2, YUV 4:1:1 and Indexed Color (monochrome etc.) video over FireWire to your Mac.

Note: The Imaging Source has discontinued the DFG/1394 FireWire converter and no longer offers direct ordering of them from their web site. As of April 7th 2011, they have approximately 1000 DFG/1394 Converters left in stock. To purchase any of the remaining DFG units you have to e-mail the imaging source at "sales(at)theimagingsource(dot)com". If your wondering when ASC will be offering a DFG USB 2 DFG driver, please read the Why does ASC not support the TIS USB2 DFG converter? FAQ answer for an explanation.

Major Features:
  • Delivers full frame, full size 640x480 NTSC @ 29.97 fps or 768x576 PAL @ 25 fps interlaced (odd and even fields) Component (yuvu) YUV 4:2:2, YUV 4:1:1 and monochrome 8 bit uncompressed video. YUV 4:2:2 Video has twice the color information than DV compressed video does - which results in more detailed, vibrant and accurate color images.

  • Delivers 320x240 NTSC single (decimated horizontally but vertically full 240 lines) field at 29.97 fps. There is no interlacing in the 320x240 sizes and only the odd field is kept, which is specifically designed for Video Conferencing and Video Broadcasting.

  • With the new "E" series DFG/1394-1 hardware additionally support sizes of 384x288PAL, 720x576 PAL and 720x480 NTSC.

  • Provides interactive real time access to image controls for adjusting the Hue, Saturation, Brightness, Contrast and Sharpness of the Analog Image before they are digitized. No more time consuming CPU intensive post processing to correct off color video as can happen with DV Converters and older video media.

  • For Color YUV422 video, supports up to three DFG/1394-1 units delivering 320x240 29.97 fps NTSC video or two DFG/1394-1 units at 320x240 and 640x480 29.97 fps NTSC or a single DFG/1394-1 for 768x576 25 fps PAL unit on one Mac at the same time. The "E" Series support the above and up to two DFG/1394-1 at 384x288 25 fps PAL.

    For Color YUV411 video, supports up to four DFG/1394-1 units delivering 320x240 29.97 fps NTSC video or two DFG/1394-1 units at 640x480 29.97 fps NTSC or a single DFG/1394-1 for 768x576 25 fps PAL unit on one Mac at the same time. The "E" Series support the above and up to three DFG/1394-1 at 384x288 25 fps PAL.

  • For Indexed Colors (i.e. Monochrome to Psycho modes), supports up to six DFG/1394-1 units delivering 320x240 29.97 fps NTSC video or four DFG/1394-1 units at 320x240 and two 640x480 29.97 fps NTSC or three DFG/1394-1 units delivering 640x480 29.97 fps NTSC, or two DFG/1394-1's for 768x576 25 fps PAL unit on one Mac at the same time. The "E" Series support the above and up to five DFG/1394-1 at 384x288 25 fps PAL.

  • Allows you to switch to any of the 3 video in inputs by name (Comp1, Comp2 or SVHS) and by Signal Type (NTSC or PAL) via software.

  • Low CPU utilization, use of Altivec or SSE3 and multi threading allows Video Conferencing and Video Broadcast applications to devote more time to compression rather than decompressing the incoming video stream.

  • Embeds Time Code information, based on initial start time of digitization for post analysis (limitations apply due to various QuickTime Bugs, listed below).

  • Allows applications to specify what fields are to be displayed; both fields interlaced, odd only, even only, both fields separated and both fields alternating.

System Requirements, Compatibility and Limitations:
  • The Version 2.07.x PowerPC QuickTime driver requires a G3, G4 or G5 Mac (DeskTop Power Mac, iMac, Mac mini, iBook or PowerBook) that has a 400 mhz or faster processor(s), 128 or more megabytes of Ram and FireWire (built-in, PCI or CardBus). The Version 3.01.x Universal PowerPC Mac and x86 MacIntel QuickTime driver and version 1.00.0x Quartz Composer plugin requires a G4 or G5 Mac (DeskTop Power Mac, iMac, Mac mini, iBook or PowerBook) or a x86 MacIntel (Mac Mini, DeskTop, iMac, MacBook and MacBook Pro) with FireWire (built-in, PCI or PC34).

  • Compatible with Jaguar (10.2.8), Panther (10.3.x), Tiger (10.4.x), Leopard (10.5.x), Snow Leopard (10.6.x) and Lion (10.7) version of OS X. The Version 2.07.x PowerPC QuickTime driver requires OS X 10.2.8 or higher (currently tested to OSX 10.5.8) and QuickTime 6.x or higher (tested to 7.6.9) installed. The Version 3.01.x Universal PowerPC Mac and x86 MacIntel QuickTime driver requires OS X 10.4.0 or higher (currently tested to OSX 10.7.0) and QuickTime 7.x or higher installed. The version 1.00.01 Quartz Composer plugin requires OSX 10.5 or higher (tested to 10.7.0).

  • The Quartz Composer plugin is only compatible with Quartz Composer based applications. Apple's "Quartz Composer" application is included with Apples' XCode Tools, either on the installation DVD or downloaded from the Apple Developer site. See this site for more information on Quartz Composer.

  • The QuickTime Drivers are Compatible with most QuickTime based Video Capture or Display Applications. Applications we have explicitly tested with include QuickTime Broadcaster, Live Channel Pro, ZyGoCasting, Security Spy, BTV Pro, Hack TV, Reel Eyes Carbon, EvoCam, Squid Cam, Movie Works, Image Caster, Max/MSP, SoftVNS, Jitter and Isadora. If any of the above products had x86 MacIntel versions, we also tested them with the PowerPC emulated and x86 MacIntel driver.

  • The DFG/1394-1 QuickTime driver is Not Compatible with iMovie or Final Cut Express, since they require a DV video source (DV Camcorder, DV Analog Converter, DV Recorder etc.) to operate. The DFG/1394 is also not usable with iChatAV, as Apple excludes any device that is not a DV or IIDC/DCAM type (NOTE if you want to complain to someone about this then complain to Apple about it, we are not doing the exclusion). To use it with Final Cut Pro, you need to set up a custom device profile for it.

  • If you want to use multiple DFG/1394-1's with Security Spy (or other software that allows you to run multiple DFG/1394-1's at the same time), make sure that you set default Video size: to appropriate values in the Input Setup dialog (Settings Menu > Input Setup...). For NTSC sources this should be 320x240 and if you have "E-" series DFG/1394-1 then use 384x288 for PAL. The DFG Driver will allocate or deallocate FireWire bandwidth if it can do so based on the Image Size you have selected.

  • If you are recording with the "Indexed Colors" option of the QuickTime driver, you need to make sure you have selected the "DFG1394 Indexed Video" Codec in the Compression Panel of the Applications Video Settings Dialog before recording. Under QuickTime 6.3 and earlier the Sequence Grabber would return an error code and gracefully fail to record, but under QuickTime 6.4 or higher the Sequence Grabber just crashes with no warning (thanks again Apple).

  • There is a hardware problem with the "E" series DFG/1394-1 when used with a Monochrome PAL video source. At sizes of 720x576 or 384x288, the DFG will not deliver video. To work around it you must select the "Video Source is PAL Monochrome" check box in the "DFG1394 Options" panel to force the converter to deliver 768x576 size video. This only applies to Monochrome PAL video for the "E" series of DFG/1394-1's, the problem does not have any affect with Color PAL video sources and has no affect on color or monochrome NTSC video sources.

  • To record full size, full frame rate uncompressed video requires a fast hard drive and ample hard drive space. For 640x480@29.97 NTSC video, the hard drive must be able to handle a minimum sustained rate of 17.6 megabytes per second (1.03 gigabytes per minute), otherwise dropped frames will occur. To reduce the recorded video size, use the PhotoJPEG compressor at medium quality instead of the "DFG1394 Component Video" (for YUV2 mode) or "DFG1394 Indexed Video" (for indexed color modes).

Purchasing:
    Unlock keys for the version 3.x Universal Mac DFG Quicktime Driver and Quartz Composer plugin are priced at $50.00 USD each and can be ordered from our Secure Online PayPal hosted store.

    Unlock keys for the version 2.x PowerPC only Mac DFG Driver are priced at $29.95 USD each and can be ordered from our Secure Online PayPal hosted store.

    To upgrade from the DFG version 1.x or 2.x driver to the Universal DFG version 3.x driver for $20.00 USD via PayPal, please follow these upgrade instructions. To purchase the DFG/1394-1 hardware, please contact "The Imaging Source".

    NOTE: We no longer are using Kagi for payment processing.

Support and Contacting Us:
    If you find any bugs or observe behavior that does not seem correct and is not listed below in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) or Known Apple Bugs, please report them via e-mail to:

    support(at)outcastsoft(dot)com.

    Note: If your not sure where the problem lies, down load our "DFG QuickTime Driver Test" Application (128 Kilobytes) and see if it works properly or not. If it does work, then the issue is the Application your using.

    We can't fix bugs that we don't know about, so your feedback helps make this a better product. The first thing we need to know is which version of the DFG driver your using (i.e. use the Finder's Get Info to determine the version number), version 2.07.01 or 3.01.06. We also would greatly appreciate information on the Mac model (i.e. Single CPU G4 733, 1.66 gighz dual Core x86 Mac mini), amount of Ram, OS Version (i.e. 10.4.6), QuickTime Version (i.e. 7.02) and detailed description of the problem will help us diagnose and correct it.

    If it's a crash, please include the "xxx.log" for the "xxx" application that crashed.
Downloads:
    Download the Version 2.07.04 DFG/1394-1 disk image (DFG1394InstallerV20704.dmg 524 Kilobytes), then double click on the Disk Image to mount it and then double click on the "DFG1394InstallerV20704.pkg" to install the PowerPC only Mac QuickTime Driver - no restarts are required.

    Download the Version 3.01.06 DFG/1394-1 disk image (DFG1394InstallerV30106.dmg 1.1 megabytes) and double click on the Disk Image to mount it. To install the Universal PowerPC and x86 Mac QuickTime VDIG Driver, just double click on the "DFG1394InstallerV3014.pkg". To install the DFG Quartz Composer Plugin, just double click on the "DFG_QCPlugin_Installer_V10001.pkg". No restarts are required after installing either product..

    Versions 2.07.04 and 3.01.4 of the QuickTime DFG driver fixes an issue with Snow Leopard / QuickTime X where the Component Manager would hang an application and create an infinite series of VDIG Components. Very similar to what happened in Panther (old bugs creeping back in?). We recommend that all 10.6.x or higher users download and install it.

    This DFG1394InstallerV30106.dmg release resolves issues with the DFG Quartz Composer Plugin to fix a 64 bit issue and solve a bug with Field selection stored in Preferences. There are no changes to the QuickTime VDIG Driver, so if your only using it, then you do not need this update if you have installed the previous "DFG1394InstallerV3014.pkg.

    Having trouble with the DFG and not sure if it's the DFG hardware, your Video source hardware, our QuickTime DFG driver, the software package your using or the OSX / QuickTime version installed on the Mac? Download our "DFG QuickTime Driver Test" Application (128 Kilobytes - Released February 10, 2011) and see if it works properly or not. If it does work, then the issue is likely the Application your using.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions:

Known Apple Bugs:

Most of these bugs have been resolved in OSX 10.4.x and QuickTime 7.1.x or higher. Some will never be fixed because of Apple doesn't fix bugs, they just create new API's to make the old bug obsolete.
  • Due to kernel memory leaks in OS X FireWire (Apple Radar Bug #3164095 February 2003 ) when repeatedly stopping and starting isochronous FireWire channels, we do not consider our DFG/1394-1 driver usable with the Oculus application (a Kernel Panic may ensue after 5 to 30 hours of usage). This problem is in part related to how Oculus continually stops and starts the VDIG from transmitting video after each frame is grabbed - which means 1 to 4 kernel objects get "leaked" each time. Other applications such as Evo Cam or QuickTime Broadcaster do not behave this way and although the kernel leak will still occur in them, it does not cause problems for long term usage. This kernel leak affects all FireWire drivers that use isochronous transfers including Apple's DV and IIDC 10.2.x drivers. This has been fixed in 10.3.x but remains an issue for 10.2.x.

  • Apple has as serious bug (Apple Radar Bug #3320643 July 2003) with the Sequence Grabber SGSetChanelSettings() call (QuickTime 6.0 and higher) which does not close off intermediate VDIG Components that it opens when applying previous users settings. This means that in most cases the SGSettingDialog() will only only show two DFG/1394-1 in the list of possible Video Sources to select from. Finally fixed in QuickTime 7.0.

  • Apple Broke Time Code support (Apple Radar Bug #3303806 June 2003) in the Sequence Grabber in QuickTime 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and now 6.5. This means when you try and "copy" a movie that was recorded, then it detects the bad/invalid TimeCode Track and refuses to copy it to the ClipBoard. Time Code is now only supported now for QuickTime 6.0.2 and earlier or QuickTime 7.0 and higher.

  • QuickTime 6.4 (Apple Radar Bug #3467318 October 2003) has broken (happened in QuickTime 6.1 too) the placement of the "Video" settings dialog. It will randomly appear almost completely outside the Monitor (title Bar off screen) and then will randomly jump all over the place next time you use it again. We permanently (hack) fixed this so that it can not happen again.

  • OSX 10.3 and also OSX 10.6 breaks the Component Manager for SG Panels that register VDIG components and resulted in an infinite series of device registrations which made it appear that the Mac was hung or locked up. We've worked around this.

  • There is a bug in FireWire that can cause a Kernel Panic (KP) with OSX 10.2.8. Although we have reduced the likely hood of it happening, we can not eliminate it and it's a flaw in PseudoAddress space handling in Apple's FireWire (it improperly releases a kernel object). This was introduced in OSX 10.2.8, "went away" in OSX 10.3.x and only happens on OSX 10.2.8 - regardless of the Mac used. For long term stable use, we recommend using OSX 10.2.6 (and earlier) or upgrading to OSX 10.3.x and higher.

  • Apple still has not fixed (Apple Radar Bug #3279377 June 2003) the fact that if you have an active isochronous connection with an application, and you sleep the Mac, when it wakes up the isochronous connection is dead. So they are not issuing a Bus reset after a the Mac wakes up which would re-start the isochronous transfer. Still not fixed in 10.2.x, 10.3.x or 10.4.x after 3 years.

  • QuickTime still improperly sets the resource path for pop up menus controls in the Sequence Grabber Panels (OS 9 and OS X). So if an SG panel and an Application happen to have menus that have the same ID numbers, then the menus for the SG panel never get loaded and when the pop up menu control in the SG Panel gets used, the wrong menu is displayed for it. To work around this, we've set the ID's for the 2 pop up menus we use to 16666 and 16667 which hopefully will keep them from interfering with other applications. Still not fixed in OSX 10.4.7 / Quicktime 7.1.3 after 8+ years.


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