Turbo.264 Review

As you will probably already realise we are big fans of Elgato’s EyeTv software. Well today we took delivery of the new Turbo.264 product. This USB hardware accelerator claims to speed up video conversion to the H.264 format.This review aims to take you from opening the package to final conversion. To test the device we are going to convert a nineteen minute television programme recorded using Eye TV. Note photos are clickable for larger versions. For a full set of photos click here.

The Turbo.264 pack includes the Turbo.264 device (obviously) a quick start guide, a USB extension - although it is only about 5-5 centimetres long and a CD containing the driver / conversion software.

The supplied software could not be easier to use simply drag the video file on to the interface and Turbo.264 will do the rest.

Turbo.264 supports batch conversions and even offers exports of unprotected DVD content (VOB files). Turbo.264 also accelerates exports from the most important Macintosh video applications such as iMovie, QuickTime Pro, , and EyeTV.

Turbo.264 Under Test

We firstly converted a 19 minute episode of a TV programme recorded using the EyeTV software. We are using a G5 dual core 2.0GHZ PowerPC with 3gig of ram as the test machine and expect that an intel machine will be quicker again. Users should note that you can tell that the Turbo.264 is connected by the ‘export’ graphic in EyeTv.

The first Image shows exporting from EyeTv without Turbo.264

Now with Turbo.264 connected we have a red speed line with a series of red dots under the progress bar.

Conversion Time

Purple : Standard iPod Export (no Turbo.264) Time : 30 minutes and 23 seconds.

Blue : Standard iPod Export (Turbo.264 connected) Time : 14 minutes and 15 seconds. This is under half the time of a normal export !

We then repeated the test on an Core Duo with 1gig of Ram. The test was to convert a 4 minute 10 second .mov file using Quicktime Pro.

Purple : Standard Export (no Turbo.264) Time : 2 minutes and 16 seconds.

Blue : Standard Export (Turbo.264 connected) Time : 0 minutes and 53 seconds. Again this is under half the time of a normal export !

Conclusion

When considering the Turbo.264 we had only two questions,
1. Can it do what it says ?
2. Is it worth the money ?
The answer is simply yes for both ! Okay technically it is probably not essential as your Mac already performs the tasks the Turbo.264 offers. Although if you own an iPod or Apple TV and are using it with DVD or video then any device that cuts the video conversion time this significantly surely is well worth considering.

If you watch TV on your Mac with the likes of EyeTv and would argue at $99 this device is a must ! As for ease of use Elgato could not make this device any simpler the hardest part was opening the box !!

Pricing & Availability

Turbo.264 is available immediately for US$99.95 in the Elgato Online Shop as well as through distribution. The package includes the USB 2.0 Hardware Encoder, the Turbo.264 software on CD-ROM, a user’s guide on CD-ROM, a quick start guide as well as a USB extension cable.

Note : Times in this review are not officially verified and as accurate as the author can achieve. These are guide times only.