Import format from VHS tape

I have old family movies on VHS tape that I want to edit on iMovie. What is the best CODEC format to have these tapes converted for use in iMovie?

If I was having a third party do it, I would probably ask them to use the DV codec.
Many of us  do this ourselves. I use the EyeTV Hybrid, which convert these to h.264 files. Others use the converters from Grass Valley, which convert to DV.

Similar Messages

  • Import from VHS Tapes

    What is the best way to import video from VHS tape cassettes?

    Use a converter box like a Grass Valley ADVC110 I think it is, or DV camera that you can use as a converter.

  • How do I get Video from vhs tape into Imavie HD?

    I am trying to back up some of my home movies from VHS tape to DVD. Is it possible to connect my vhs player to my mac? What kind of equipment do I need to do this inexpensively.
    Richard

    I don't think my camera has that connection. It's a JVC Mini DV camera- very inexpensive.I just purchased it recently. It has an Audio Video output connector, DC input, Digital Video Connector(DV in/out). Are there some inexpensive DVD/VHS combos available or am I better off with some sort of converter?
    Richard

  • HT1014 I'm working with imovie 08 and converted movie originally from VHS tape to .m4v files imovie wouldn't recognize it.  I converted to .mov files and imovie generated thumbnails (for hours) and shows a New Event but there is nothing there. Any help?

    I'm working with imovie 08 on Macbook pro OS X and converted movie originally from VHS tape to .m4v files imovie wouldn't recognize it.  I converted to .mov files and imovie generated thumbnails (for hours) and shows a New Event but there is nothing there. Any help?

    markmc78 wrote:
    .. I'm really struggling with the concept of events/clips/projects.
    consider usage of a diff. editor.. iMovieHD6, you're entitled for a free downlaod at apple.com:
    http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imovieHD6.html
    but IF you're relaxed, opened your mind, follow the bright light, ommmm.. for Events & Stuff:
    your intended workflow will add another step of quality-degradition (8mm>>avi>>mp4>>iM08) ..
    consider the free tool Mpeg Streamclip www.squared5.com for 'chopping' that 90min beast into pieces..
    rename these new chunks, follow advice given on my site:
    http://karsten.schluter.googlepages.com/im08changeeventdate
    there's the manual..
    http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovie08_GettingStarted.pdf
    and the most recommended books from Mr Pogue's Missing Manual series..

  • Eyetv 250 importing to imovie from vhs tapes

    Okay Guys, I need a lot of help.
    I am new to mac and I love it. I used to use Pinnacle Studio 10. I have a lot of old camcorder tapes which through the use of a tape adapter I am able to play camcorder tapes in the VCR. Then connect the VCR to elgato eye tv. I use the eye tv VHS assistant and play my movie into elgato.
    I want to encode these movies and ultimatly put them on DVD.
    So after I did the import I tried to drag the file into IMOVIE.
    I got this message..
    The file could not be imported: The file “MacBook/Volumes/backup drive/EyeTV Archive/My VHS Tape - 9/10/06 9_21 PM.eyetv” can’t be imported; QuickTime couldn’t parse it: -43
    I realized that the problem is the format that was imported was not compatible with imovie. I did more research and realized I that i could export the file to another format. There are several options, MPEG 4, Imovie, IDVD, etc.
    What setting do I use to export the files? Also I want to combine several different sections of video. Can I do this. How can I export the section as a clip and drag the clip into imovie.
    Any advice would be great.

    I just imported my first clip into iMovie today and it was captured from a Hi-8 Camcorder using Eyetv250. I used eyetv2 software's export option and chose "iMovie HD" as the format. I only did this because I thought I had to, knowing that it was going to be imported in iMovie HD6. This however created a 13+gig file from what was originally a 2.5gig file ! So , I don't think that was the right choice. I am going to go back and export using the Quicktime Movie setting toward the bottom of the export format option list (within eyetv2). That setting will produce a video export of the same size as the original.
    Another thing I am going to try is to go into the "package" ( a package is basically a folder ) that is created by eyetv2 and try dropping the quicktime file directly into iMovie and see if it will import that way. If you go to the folder where your .eyetv file is placed (Eyetv archive) and right click on that .eyetv file you can choose to "show package contents". When you do that you will find a number of files, including a .mpg file which I assume contains the actual video footage which I would think iMovie can import directly. I'll come back here and post what happens but go ahead and try it.
    Mac Mini Intel Core Duo   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

  • Audio quality in video imported from VHS tapes

    Hi All,
    I am trying to import old videos on VHS tapes, using a Canopus converter. The video is importing into iMovie just fine, but the audio has a loud buzzing sound that covers up the actual audio and is very annoying. Is there a way to extract the audio so I can clean it up using Sound Soap, then return the cleaned up version to iMovie?
    I am using iMovie '09, version 8.0.5.
    I also use Final Cut Express, so maybe it would be better to just export it to FCE and then extract the video from there?
    Please give as much step by step detail as possible for both approaches. In the iMovie "Help" it said to extract audio using advanced tools, but I couldn't find a command in any of the advanced tools to do that.
    Thanks.

    Is there a way to extract the audio so I can clean it up using Sound Soap
    iMovie 06 has some good filters for that.
    I also use Final Cut Express, so maybe it would be better to just export it to FCE and then extract the video from there?
    Final Cut Express (or iMovie 06) will give you better quality but it won't solve the buzzing noise. I also suspect a grounding problem.

  • What is the best digital format from VHS to iMove?

    Hello - I am getting some VHS tapes converted to digital files to edit on iMovie 11. They will be edited on a Macbook Pro 13" and it would be convenient if they could also work in FCE later on. My plan was to ask the company doing the conversion to put the files/movies on a portable hard drive, rather than DVD. And then import them or edit on iMovie. But is mpeg 4 the best end format or something else?
    Thanks.
    Simon

    $500 -- ouch!!
    Along with the new deck, I bought another brand new Sony Handycam MiniDV camcorder, because our Canon broke this summer too as well which served us very well for 10 years. It started eating tape, but we feed it new tapes every time we record; probably why it lasted so long?!? This camcorder set me back around $200. Yes, they are hard to find, but I work in the digital photo/video business, so sometimes dealers may have new old stock where you can bargain down. I was extremely lucky to had bought a new old stock from a dealer that had it but couldn't sell it. Perfect.
    You're right -- tape to tape transfers is not ideal as degradation in S/N will impede on image quality. But I'm assuming the OP is simply using consumer grade VHS camcorders, so the analog to DV transfer is ok if done once. Then DV tape through Firewire is an analog to digital transfer. Once the OP has the digital copy inside the computer, it will never degrade if you make multiple copies on the hard drive.
    Another solution the OP can look into is that some shops (getting rare these days) may have a Canon GL-2 on their rental pool and the OP can just use its built-in Analog to Digital (Firewire) pass through to transfer VHS analog footage directly into iMovie or FCE!
    Wow, it's good to hear another person here still using DV!

  • Best way to import music from VHS or DVD

    I have a few VHS tapes and DVDs with some music tracks I want to make into MP3's. I have a 12" powerbook with microphone jack. What is the easiest way that will yeild really good quality?

    Michelle and Randy:
    For a DVD - put it in the Computer and use Audio Hijack to capture the sound and record it to mp3 or aiff or whatever format you choose.
    You can read about Audio Hijack here: http://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/
    The VHS is more complicated but as you're only hoping to life the music as opposed to the video: Run a mini-jack (1/8th) cable from the headphone output on your VCR to the line-in on your Mac.
    Go to System Preferences -> Sound and under Input select the Line In
    Now you need software to record the audio: there many options but I suggest the Open Source (as in Free) Audacity. You can download it from here:
    http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
    Then record each album a side at a time. The wave-form editor makes it a cinch to edit the file into tracks. I suggest that you save as Aiff files, which are large, and if you wish you can convert them to mp3 or AAC with iTunes.
    Happy Christmas*, Xmas*, Holidays*, Hannukah* or Monday* to you.
    Regards
    TD
    *delete as appropriate

  • Capturing in FCE from VHS Tape/VHS Player - Can it be done??

    I capture no problem using a 4-6pin Firewire for DV Tapes; and pulling them in from either a Sony DV or a Cannon GL-2 DV.
    Does anyone know of a (somewhat low-cost) VHS Player, that has a digital connection so I can pull in source from old VHS Tapes - or digitize some of these VHS Tapes I own, but can no longer get them on any other media..?
    I have searched for USB-VHS Players and they seem expensive, however, I would imagine that a USB connection would be wrong... and anything else I find with better digital connections put the VHS Player/Recorders in the HD category and get muderously expensive. I seriously am just looking to capture maybe 10-12 tapes, and would love to have the capability if the need ever arises again for production work; but don't forsee a ton of it.
    I have been contemplating daisy-chaining a VHS Player through my DV Cam(s) to see if that would work - but figured I would check here first, being that somebody may know an easy solution... or has done this before and knows the exact remedy.
    Your help is greatly appreciated.Thanks.!
    Office; Mac PowerPC G4 Dual 1.42 GHz Tower 2GB/120GB HD   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   Home; MacPro QuadCore 2.66Ghz 8Gb RAM; iBook G3 700GHz 1GB/80GB HD

    I have done this many times, using my DVD recorder which has VHS tape and a DVD recording facility. If you can find a friend with one, it is simple. Put the VHS tape in the VHS side of the machine and a DVD recordable (recordable many times) into the DVD slot. Use the machine's dubbing feature to copy to the DVD. After that, Finalise the DVD to allow it to be read by a computer (or a stand-alone DVD recorder). Use Toast to read the DVD and to create a QT movie of your recording. Then Import the QT movie into FCE.

  • Using DVD made from VHS tape (sound only) - won't load

    A few years ago I transferred my classical music collection from reel-to-reel tape and LPs to VHS tapes. These worked very well in a VCR.
    Now I tried to load the contents of these DVDs insto the IPOD via ITUNES. They were not recognized, however. The DVDs were DVD-R and DVD-RW.
    Is there any way a get this material into an IPOD>

    I am confused.
    You went reel to reel to VHS tapes-suddenly you switch to talking about DVD's?
    iTunes does not recognize audio DVD's(I think, I know it will not burn them).
    Since for the most part audio DVD's were/are a flop, I don't know of any program that would recognize them.

  • Does FCPX still import video from MiniDV tape?

    I just went from Snow Leopard to Lion and now my trusty old FCP 6 will not install.  Apple says they're sorry but there's nothing they can do to help.
    So...I'm nervous about FCPX but am willing to learn if it will still import video from my DV deck from tape.  Also, does FCPX do automatic logging and batch capturing from tape like FCP 6 did?  I appreciate any advice.

    ***** that Rosetta is no longer part of Lion and you can't install PowerPC programs.
    I have created partitions on my hard drive and left enough space on one partition to keep Snow Leapard and I have about 3 apps on that partition that are not compatible with Lion and reboot in SL to use those apps.
    If you really wanted to export back to tape after creating a video in FCPX, you can export the video as a Quicktime, reboot in SL, open FCP6, import the video and send to tape.
    Long workarounds to simple soulutions from the past.
    I have FCP7, so I don't have to reboot in SL.
    Message was edited by: tjwaido
    Ha ha, Apple blocked me from saying S u c k s.

  • Adobe Audition 3.0 and Pinnacle 700 USB - How to record audio from VHS tapes???

    Hi Friends,
    I am new to Adobe Audition 3.0. I need your help.
    Actually I am having a old Pinnacle 700 USB capture card. I want to record some audio in my computer by Adobe Audition.
    I downloaded and installed required driver for Pinnacle 700 USB (for Vista).
    But when I tried to capture audio from my VHS tapes, It not showing proper options. I don't know how to proceed further.
    Could any one please help me... Please let me know what all I need to do.
    Waiting for your helpful suggestions.
    Thanks,
    Yash

    The Pinnacle is a video capture device and as such captures the video and audio into one MPEG or DV stream. Audition can't see it as an audio card and therefore can't capture audio directly from your video source. However once you have captured a video file using the Pinnacle you can probably get to the audio by using the Open Audio from Video command in the File menu in Audition.

  • Correct preset for video captured from VHS tape

    I have bought a cable which connects to my PC USB slot and has red, white and yellow component connections to connect to my (old) VCR or Video-8 format camera.  It comes with software called ArcSoft ShowBiz that allows me to capture the footage.  I have used it for both VHS tapes and Video-8 tapes.  The only options I have when capturing are the filename and a choice of MPEG1 and MPEG2, with MPEG1 being the default.
    I have successfully captured footage (in MPEG1 format) and now I want to edit it in PE10.  The trouble is I do not know what preset to use.  The VHS tapes were in PAL format.  If I open a project as DV PAL and add the footage to the timeline it has a red line above it, which I assume means I will lose resolution when I render.  The quality is already not great and I don't want to make it worse. 
    Any advice would be appreciated.

    Most likely that footage will not work well or look good in Premiere Elements. The capture device you're using is a low-end digitizer and likely came with some software for editing (ArcSoft Shopbiz). It's designed to work pretty exclusively with that software.
    MPEG1 is a very low quality format.
    You can try using the project settings for Hard Disk Camcorder/Standard Defintion for that footage -- but I make no guarantees about the quality.
    The best device for capturing analog video is a DV bridge, like the Canopus AVDC, as we discuss in this FAQ.
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/431853?tstart=0

  • Why does the acquisition from vhs tape stops ?

    Hi everyone,
    I am having some problems when doing an acquisition from a VHS tape ...
    Each time the vhs tape is very bad, the acquisition stops.
    I am looking for a solution so that the acquisition doesn't stop from the begining
    the end of the tape.
    Thanks for your help.
    Bettina

    Are your preferences set to "Abort capture on dropped frames"?
    Edit > Preferences > Capture
    If so, try unchecking the box.

  • Foortage from vhs tape to iMovie??

    how can i get home movies that are on a vhs tape to iMovie? do i have to buy a vhs/dvd burner? please help!

    have a read… :
    From VHS to DVD
    Give New Life to Old Movies
    http://www.macworld.com/2004/05/features/fromvhstodvd/

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