Analog Video Tapes

I have a MacBook Pro and I have 10 or so Analog video tapes i'd like either put on the hard drive or turn into DVD's. What's the best way to do this?

I do this all the time, only with old medical procedures on VHS tape. The best way I found was to buy EyeTV Hybrid or EyeTV Plus. Hybrid will copy the tape with the resulting digital format the same quality as the tape. EyeTV Plus will allow you to use Progressive Scan to enhance or improve the resulting VHS analog tape during the capture process.
Both are very easy to use. Connect your VCR via RCA cables or S-Video cable to either product and connect via USB to your Mac. Install the EyeTV software then turn on the tape, hit record on EyeTV and let it play. Once completed stop recording. You can then edit the tape quite easily using the EyeTV editing features then export the completed digital file into several formats: DV, AVI, MP4, MPG, MPEG, DiVX, WMV or DVD (using built-inToast).
Check eBay for a used or cheaper EyeTV product.
Tim...

Similar Messages

  • How to copy analog video tape

    Can I get analog camcorder tapes into iMovie?

    Get an Elgato Video capture.
    http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/products/Video-Capture/product1.en.html
    Simple to use and works well.
    Once you have all your VHS tapes on your iMac, you can edit them with iMovie and iDVD to burn them.
    You can also use VisualHub to directly convert and burn to DVD

  • How do I transfer analog video tapes to dvd format using 10.6.8 iMac?

    I've recently retired and now want to take on this project of transferring old analog video onto dvds. What do I need to get started?

    I had the same question a couple of years ago and discovered a device called "Elgato Video Capture" that digitizes analog video as it plays on your VCR while transferring it to your computer. There may be newer devices/software available now, but the Elgato system works amazingly well. Here is the link to their website: https://www.elgato.com/en/video/video-capture.  Happy transferring!

  • Import Analog Video

    Hi,
    I would like to import analog video into my Mac so that I can edit and extract video. I have many analog video tapes and I would like to import into my Mac. I can output video to my analog video camera or to a VCR but can't input. There is a unit, Elgato's EyeTV, for viewing TV that imports but I don't plan on watching TV on my Mac. I hear you can burn to DVD with a VHS-DVD deck and Extract from the DVD using software (Hand-Brake).
    I saw a cheap unit that works with Windows which interfaces through, I believe, USB 2 port but it didn't seem to be Mac suported.
    Looking for suggestions I have open slots on my G4 Mac for PCI cards.
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    1.25 GHz Dual G4 Desk Top   Mac OS X (10.4.9)  
    1.25 GHz Dual G4 Desk Top   Mac OS X (10.4.9)  

    There is a unit, Elgato's EyeTV,...
    It is possible to use the Elgato EyeTV devices (and EyeTV software) to capture analog video. The Elgato devices record mpg-2 video on your hard drive and you can then use something like DVDxDV or MPEG-Streamclip to convert the mpg-2 content to DV video for use in iMovie,
    Since you will be starting with VHS tapes, you shouldn't loose any additional quality in the process.
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  • Exporting to video tape, no sound

    I have imported an analog video tape into FCE through Dazzle. Clips for images and sound appear in FCE timeline and playback is fine for both the images and audio. When I try to "Print to Video" this sequence, images appear on the video tape but no sound whether video output is set for Firewire or real time. All is rendered, mixdown audio is activated and connections are secure. I can output other sequences (containing imported scanned clips with voice overlay) and the resulting video images and sound are fine. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks much, Jack

    Tom: I'm using FCE v1.0.1, output is from Mac-4 via firewire, through Dazzle to a Panasonic tape recorder. Incidentally do you know the highest FCE version that I can use with Mac OS 10.2.8? Current problem seems to be focused only on those clips in the timeline derived from a video tape. That sequence plays fine (both image and sound) on the desk top and external TV screen but there is no sound when I am in the "Print to Video" mode. I've gone through this exercise in the past with timeline clips sourced from video with no problem. Thanks as always, Jack

  • Importing analog video using MovieBox DV

    I purchased a Pinnacle Studio MovieBox DV Version 9 last February at my local Apple Store. I want to convert old analog videotape to movies in iMovie HD. I'm finally getting around to using the MovieBox, but it's not working. I have a Sony CCD-TRV87 Hi 8 camcorder hooked up to the MovieBox, and the MovieBox firewired to my Mac OS X. The iMovie screen indicates "Camera Connected". When I press "Play" on the camcorder, it plays -- but not on the screen. I realize I need to control the camera with its buttons and not iMovie's. The Apple Store employee I spoke to today said that the cords used to hook up the camcorder to a TV should work just fine hooked up to the MovieBox, but do I need an "S" cable? I am at my wits' end fighting with this, as the MovieBox was an expensive piece of equipment, and I just opened the box. Pinnacle doesn't offer anything but "live chat" for support, and just as I reach #1 in the queue, the session cancels. Funny joke! The "Import" button under "File" is grayed out; I can't even make a "Magic Movie" since the Mac is not communicating with the camera. I bought my Mac a year ago, and have only used it to make two movies, which I've since removed from the hard drive to free up space. What am I doing wrong? Does anyone have any suggestions?

    Hello,
    Like yourself I purchased the MovieBox some time ago from Apple, to convert analog video tapes to DV and am now finally getting around to working with it. My problem is getting it to transfer the data without timecode breaks. I decided to take a closer look at the "manual" which is limited on information (there is no Mac support on their website) and learned the following; there are 2 DV ports. A & B. A is where the Mode Select switch is. Here is where you select the mode you are working in. If you are using s-video then you select that by pushing the mode button until the LED lights up on that connection. Same goes for firewire transfer mode and composite mode. The one thing you need to know is if you are using s-video, you have to connect the audio connections of the composite cable to get sound (white & red as indicated by the music note graphics on the box) I'm not clear on how the connection to the computer works with the firewire. The manual is confusing in this area. I will have to play with it to figure this out. My guess is, since I'm converting to DV that My VCR should be connected to port B and the firewire to my computer on port A. We shall see...
    Hope this helps.
    Good Luck

  • 2 questions: Convert analog video AV- USB Converter; Good TV Tuner For IMac

    1) I need to convert analog video tapes onto my Mac. What's a good AV to USB converter?
    2) I'd like to take advantage of my 24" screen and occasionally watch TV on my Mac. What's a good TV tuner?
    Thanks.

    Most recommend the Canopus converter, but it is $100-200. I was curious if the analog to digital tv converters available for $10 with the $40 govt coupon would serve the same purpose. I don't know why it wouldn't, but I haven't seen one. I'm going to try to borrow from a friend and see.
    Otherwise you can borrow someone's Sony Digital8 to use to play Hi8 and it works as a converter (some models don't do Hi8 playback). This worked for me, but I was afraid I would wear out the "eject' on my friends Digital8 bc I have 60 tapes to transfer.
    Other option is to play on old Hi8 thru a miniDV camcorder, used as a converter. My Canon zr500 miniDv doesn't seem to have that option.
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  • Importing analog video intoMac mini or MacBookPro

    I have a VHS-C camcorder &  a Hi-8 camcorder. I also have VHS tapes. I have a VHS-C to VHS adapter. I think that the Hi-8 has S-video out. So I'd need something external that will convert an analog signal into a digital signal. I want to import the videos into my computer & edit them. I have a VHS to DVD burner but it is in a separate room. Is there any hardware that will convert analog video tapes into digital video that I can hook up to my mini or MBP & import the videos so that I can edit them? Is the equipment reasonably priced?

    You may find that, importing the VHS tapes directlly into the Mac Mini is easier because it's lacks a SuperDrive.
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    After I posted the message, it occured to me that I already know the answers to my questions. DUH! I need both the hardware to connect my camcorders to my mini or MBP plus I need the software. I've browsed around iMovie. I can import my videos & use it to edit my videos. I have a VHS to DVD burner in the living room. I can use the external hardware to connect my MBP to the VHS machine.

  • Advice on converting analog Hi8mm tapes to digital

    Hi,
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    At present, I've bought a Roxio easyVHStoDVD USB converter which states it can capture in DV-AVI format but doesn't actually appear able to do so. Results so far at capturing have been finicky at best but I'm still working on it but am wary because the format captured is not DV-AVI.
    I've read several people here suggesting using an ADS Pyro A/D Firewire converter. Would that be a better, less troublesome route to go? And what other tips does anyone have in doing an A/D conversion?
    Thanks,
    Paul

    The workflow that you outline is good for archiving the material, but not so good for later editing that material. As Paul_LS states, a DVD-video will use MPEG-2 encoding. Material and quality will be forever lost. These DVD's are good for doing a backup of the material on tape, but the best quality will result from editing the Captured DV-AVI Type II material. Get an external HDD, instead, and copy those files over to it for later editing.
    If you need to do much correction to the Captured material, especially color and exposure work, you might want to look into the Canopus 300, which allows one to do more at the Caputre stage with regards to color and density. The 100 will do a great job of straight Capture, but all corrections will need to be done in PE later.
    For a similar Project, with 34 VHS tapes (all sorts of film rates, EP, LP and SP, I did a quick archival copy to DVD (I used my Panasonic VHS-DVD deck for this), and then did a Capture to DV-AVI Type II for all tapes, logging each with details and notes on what each scene was and where it was located, via Timecode. This was all done, while the Capture was being made, and these notes were invaluable, when it came time to actually do the edits.
    Using the DV-AVI Type II files (stored on about 4 2TB external (FireWire 800) hard discs, I then Imported just what I needed to create 17 finished DVD's from the tapes. During the edit, I archived each Project to another set of external HDD's, because I will need to do extensive editing for a finished set of DVD's for the two subjects, whose lives were recorded on those 34 tapes. Again, I kept notes on these files, so I know exactly where every scene is located. I can still go back to the Captures, but as I have doine the color grading, and density correction on the next phase of files, those would be the ones that I'd want to use.
    In this Project, the biggest help was my "shot sheet," that contained all details of every shot. It saved me countless hours of searching, just to locate a particular scene. If you need a "shot sheet," let me know, and I'll share a PDF of the one that worked for me.
    Good luck,
    Hunt

  • Best Quality importing 8mm analog and 8mm Digital Video Tapes

    Hi folks,
    I have imported several 8mm analog and 8mm digital 8 video tapes using a Sony Digital 8 camcorder and firewire cable into my iMac. As referenced many times, the quality is so-so due to the loss of half the lines; a deficiency in iMovie 8.
    I just acquired a copy of iMovie 6HD to address this. Both are now installed on my iMac.
    Would I lose any video quality if I first import into iMovie 6HD and then export from HD to iMovie 8 using the "Import from iMovie HD" option. In other words, does using iMovie HD as an interim step address the "line loss" problem associated with video tape input that exists in iMovie 8.
    For diehard HD users this may seem counter-intuitive but I like some of the title and transition capabilities in iMovie 8 and am willing to sacrifice some editing function/capability if the original video quality is not compromised.
    TIA,
    Ed

    Bengt,
    Thanks for the reply. So importing first to HD doesn't solve my problem. I need to edit in HD and publish in HD or lose half of the interlaced video.
    I am aware that importing from tape directly to iMovie'08 or 09 or 11 loses half the video. I was hoping that using HD as an intermediate would solve my problem.
    Guess I need to learn editing in HD.
    Could you please just confirm. I have become very comfortable editing in '08 and my first few looks at HD aren't getting me there....yet.
    Thanks again.

  • Capture analog video

    Hi, when i have a g5 with finalcut 5 i can capture analog video (betacam conected to a dvcam recorder then with a "non controlable device" and then "capture now") now, with the mac pro and fcp 6 i can't.
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    The deck is in e/e if you can see the analog signal in the log and capture window. If you can't see it, it's probably not in e/e... keep looking, all pro decks have this function. The other thing you should be able to do is dub the source tape to the digital recorder. Make sure too the input selection on the machine is set up properly.
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  • Converting old analog video with maximum resoultion for archieving and eventual use in iMovie

    There seems to be a lot of information on converting old (amatuer) analog video media to a digital format, and which one is best to preserve the maximum amount of data.  I have already imported old VHS, analog 8, hi8, and dv into iMovie interations from iMovie 6 and forward.  The later versions seem to convert the older files to their own format, I suspect, with a loss of data.  I want to reimport the old media to create masters in the best digital format for eventual editing by iMovie 11, or whatever iMovie comes after that. 
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    Yes
    I found a program but am experiencing lots of trouble with it. I was hoping that others could give me a better suggestion.
    I've actually downloaded and installed ffmpeg but the problem I'm experiencing now is that the videos do not convert. The program starts to work and then three seconds later I get the dialog box that says everything has been converted but the file created is 0KB and of course will not open.
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  • Video Transfer from analog video camera

    New Mac user here. Anyone know how to transfer video from a video camera(that has 8mm tapes/ with RCA output jacks) to the MacBook. I know I need some type of video capture system or software. I want to ultimately put the 8mm video tapes to DVD'S. I do have a DVD Burner. I think my info should be listed, but if not, here it is. Mac. OS X10.4.8, 2USB Ports, 1 Fire Wire Port. iMovie, iDVD, and other essential programs came with the computer. Thanks for any help.
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    What you need is a piece of hardware to convert the analog signal to a digital signal that your computer and its software can work with.
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  • What is better when converting analog video for FCE, Canopus100/110/300/or5

    All,
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    I have the ADVC-100 (older model) and ADVC-110. They are identical except that the ADVC-110 does not come with an AC power adapter. Currently sells for about $220USD. If all you need to do is convert from HI8 tapes, the ADVC100/110 will do the job quite nicely.
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  • Capturing analog video

    I'm using a Formac Studio DV video capture device to import analog VHS tape into my I.Mac with iMovie 4.0.1. The picture comes in fine but there is a terrible loud staccato noise in playback that blocks out all sound on the tape. What is going on? I've been told that this doesn't happen if using earlier versions of iMovie or even Final Cut Pro. Does this make sense? John

    John:
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