Any FAQs for importing analog video?

I have a lot of analog tape from a old Sony 8mm camcorder that I'd like to take digital. Any FAQs out there for this? Any recommendations about hardware that will integrate smoothly with iMovie? I'll be using the G5 iMac running 10.4.7 for the project. I imported a lot of digital stuff from a newer camcorder recently into iMovie 3 on this computer, and it worked flawlessly.

Near the end of this thread;
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2506624
From VHS to DVD
Give New Life to Old Movies
http://www.macworld.com/2004/05/features/fromvhstodvd/

Similar Messages

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.
Richard
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.
F Shippey

Imported analog video successfully and it is normal in the "Event" pane but when I move a clip into the "Project" pane, it enlarges it slightly and distorts it. How can I keep that from happening?

Imported analog video successfully and it is normal in the "Event" pane but when I move a clip into the "Project" pane, it enlarges it slightly and distorts it. How can I keep that from happening?

Hi
Turn off analyze/image stabilization.
Yours Bengt W

Are there any limitations for importing Apple Aperture Libraries for Lightroom 5.7 ? What can be the hardware limitation importing large Aperture Libraries like 200 gb ? Or is importing larger Aperture Libraries even possible at the moment for Lightroom 5

Are there any limitations for importing Apple Aperture Libraries for Lightroom 5.7 ? What can be the hardware limitation for importing large Aperture Libraries like 200 gb ? Or is importing larger Aperture Libraries even possible at the moment to Lightroom 5.7 ?

dj_paige wrote:
As far as hardware restrictions, the only one I can think of is that you certainly need enough free space on your hard disk to accomodate the masters from your Aperture library.
IIn which case, ensure all your masters are "referenced" in Aperture, and that you then go to Options in the Lightroom import box and import photos in their existing locations.

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

Importing analog video using ADVC110

I am trying to import an analog video<PAL> from a Mitsubishi HS-E32 VCR, through a ADVC110 converter. It is playing in iMovie<4.0.1> but the picture is black and white.Any ideas?

Don't use an S-video cable from a VHS VCR. Use the
yellow RCA plug instead.
Ditto! I am having the same problem and have changed the dip switch for PAL. I am also using the yellow RCA plug. Still black and white! Any other ideas? The video on the camera is showing color!

Wrong aspect ratio for imported widescreen videos

When I import some videos (home made) they show up as the wrong aspect ratio. For example, the latest one is 1026x576 in the folder, which is correct, but shows up as 1456x576 which is too wide. How can I prevent this? Incidentally, I have checked the file in itunes folder using quicktime, and it is correctly sized at 1026 wide. Strangely, itunes thinks it's wider. Also, this is a problem I have found in previous versions of itunes. Phil

Hi, it's very strange. When I get time I will try different settings on Handbrake to see if there is any improvement. However I have even had this problem when outputting from fce. It seems to be a bug in iTunes. At least I'm not alone in experiencing the problem. Regards Phil

Best camera for importing HD video files native to FCP?

I am researching what type of HD video camera to buy. The goal is to have video material captured to a memory card or stick and have the resultant video files available for direct import into FCP. I have used rented cameras in the past where I had to go through a convoluted process of importing the video material into iMovie, and then exporting the material from that application, so that the video files were usable by FCP.
Any info on how to judge whether a camera will create files that can be imported directly would be very helpful. I have read, for example, that if the camera creates AVCHD files, you can't edit natively in FCP. I am looking for a camera that is relatively portable, and has image quality one notch below pro standards (to keep cost under $1,500 I hope.) Thank you in advance.

Hi again, Guys.
In this discussion, the consensus was that the Panasonic HMC-40 was a good choice at a modest price for shooting HD material that would be cut on FCP 7. Sadly, I neglected to say, when I started the discussion, that ideally I need to shoot both in the US and the UK. i.e. at 60 Hz and at 50 Hz respectively. When I researched the Panasonic HMC-40 I was told that it could not switch between 60 and 50 Hz. But that the next camera up COULD switch. That camera is the AG HMC 151 E. I was told this by a Panasonic rep in the UK. But the problem is that I would like to puchase the camera in the US. The US model is the AG HMC 150. And that model it seems DOESN'T switch between 60 and 50 Hz. It only shoots 60. (Why Panasonic has done this is a mystery to me.)
On a tech discussion group about HD shooting, one person said that the problem with shooting 60 Hz in the UK is mainly lighting, e.g. if you are shooting with florescent light in the UK, you might get flicker if you use a 60Hz camera in the UK. So my questions are:
1) If I am shooting in the UK with a 60 Hz camera (i.e. a camera I have purchsed in the US that is not switchable) what are the biggest problems?
Is it only if I were shooting in florescent light, or is the quality overall a big problem.
2) If I shoot 60 Hz but am shooting in the UK, can I use FCP to convert the 60 Hz materail to 50 Hz and will that solve any image problems?
3) Now that I have mentioned that I would like to be able to shoot in the UK and US with the same camera, but that I want to buy the camera in the US, does anyone have another recommendation of a camera that is in the $2,000. range that would serve this purpose and still create files that would work well in FCP 7?
Do Sony or Canon address this switchable 60/50 Hz issue more effectively than Panasonic? In the earlier discussion, it was noted that Panasonic cameras created files that were easiest to use with FCP.
I am sure I have said things here that reveal how unknowledgeable I am about shooting HD. But this will be my first camera purchase after having been an editor for over 10 years. Any advice most welcome, and thanks in advance.

Inability to import Analog video (video 8) to iMovie HD

I have analog videos (video 8) which I can not import to iMovieHD but can import the analog video (Hi 8). Any suggestions?
Thanks.
iMac 10.4.3
iMovie 5.0.1 (v99)

Hullo Ernieluc - very pleased that your problem is solved.
I am interested that you have been able to use 'pass-through' to import your analogue video. Did you have to have a tape in your camera, or were you able to do it with no tape?

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.
I have a SuperDrive. There aren't that many connections on my mini. The Thunderbolt port is available as well as the Firewire port. The external hardware usually has a USB output. I don't know if any have a Thunderbolt or Firewire output. I suppose that I can get a USB to Thunderbolt adapter.
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.

Importing Analog Video via Canopus ADVC300

When you Import video if there is a glitch in the video tape playback the imovie import stops. So if you have a an older video tape and it drops out the import stops. Is there anyway to for the import to stay running without the input affecting it?
The Canopus 300 is a analog video to firewire converter. It does a great job otherwise.
Thanks,
Andrew

Hi
in iMovie HD 6 - I set it to not import as individual clips.
• there are non in analog import
• turning it off makes iMovie less sencitive to drop outs
Cheque Your Canopus ADVC-300 manual. Think I set it so that it's not so
sencitive to drop-outs. But may be I'm wrong in this.
Yours Bengt W

Trouble importing analog video thru converter box into Imovie

I have a very old Sony Video 8 Handycam and and a Pyro A/V converter box. I movie sees the Camcorder/Box but when I press the import button the screen says "Importing" and nothing else happens. I have everything hooked up the way it should be. Can you help?

I movie sees the Camcorder/Box but when I press the import button the screen says "Importing" and nothing else happens.
Your capture work flow is not clear here. Are you trying to import in the Auto or Manual mode? Since no "communication" is possible here, you must capture your content in the application's manual mode. Without communication, there is no device control and you must also manually start and stop the camcorder manually. Simply begin playback on the camcorder and when you see the video begin to play on the iMovie '08 capture screen, then press the button to begin importing your video.

Importing analog video problems

I'm trying to import some old 8mm Sony video into imovie and it only gets imported as Black & White video. I'm using a new Canopus ADVC 110. setup - analog inputs into the front of the canopus and firewire cable, one supplied, out the back to thefirewire port on the iMac. Importing works but it only comes in as B&W. Also no sound during importing but is there during playback. Is there special settings to make this works on either the canopus or the iMac? Any suggestions to how I can get the video imported as Color video would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

It is almost certainly nothing to do with the Mac.
Analogue-DV Converters need careful configuring to work properly. Read the User Manual carefully and check that it is set up for a Mac. (Mine, a different make, had a hidden panel at the back with several switches that all needed to be in the correct positions for the particular task).

Advice on my plan for importing iPhoto videos to iMovie

For the last several years, I've been importing both my iPhone movies and pics into iPhoto. I'm wanting to move all my iPhoto movies into iMovie for better organization.
Over the years, I've not been a fan of the "iPhoto Videos" tab in iMovie (I'm still running iPhoto/iMovie 09 here). Videos seem to go missing at times, and I like more specific events on my sidebar.
Here's what I'm thinking of doing after some research. In iMovie, I'm going to File-Import-Movies. Once there, I'm going down the sidebar to Media-Movies. Then I go into the iPhoto selection on the right and click on the event in iPhoto (I just arranged all movies/pics in iPhoto by Month taken). Then, I select all the movies in that Event and Import over the iMovie.
This is where my first questions are - I'm given the option to "Optimize" and choose a size - "Full-Original Size" or "Large - 960x540". My plan right now is to go with Full-Original Size. Are there drawbacks to selecting Large as far as quality?
This question may not matter b/c right now, I think I want to "Move files" rather than "Copy Files" If I move them, I no longer have the option of Large size or Optimization. I can't figure out why I wouldn't want to just move them. I don't won't two copies of the movie on my computer. This makes sense right?
And if I move them, it removes them from the iPhoto section of the harddrive and puts them in the iMovie section, correct? I've never quite understood the file management under the hood of iPhoto.
Thanks for any help/advice you can provide!

I am having the same problem. I have posted bu no response. I even went to settings to see if anything was wrong. I thought there was a hidden date issue on my hardware but it is the same no matter what camera I use. Any luck with a resolution yet?

What are the correct setup and system settings for importing HDV video from tape?

I keep trying different "easy setups" and system settings/preferences in order to import both the audio and video from HDV recordings on miniDV tape to no avail in either FCE4 or FCP5. I import via firewire from the camera. My computer "sees" the camera and controls playback (I can hear the audio) but no video displays for capture (just color bars).
My camera is a Canon Vixia HV40 and my computer is a MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard 10.6.8.
I've tried the HDV easy setup...no video...
I've tried HDV 1080i/60 as I saw recommended somewhere else...no video...
Captures standard video just fine but I'd like to try editing some higher def footage.
Any suggestions?
Many thanks.

The combination of all these helpful ideas solved the problem.
I set AV settings to HD and Apple Intermediate Codec HDV 1080i/60 AND set the cameras output to "locked" HDV. Funny, it had been on "A" (Auto) before and should have simply sensed the need for HD output. I then tried to capture using "A" again and this time it detected the difference between SD footage and HDV footage (I had clips of both kinds on the same tape).
I ran similar capture tests on FCP 5.1, FCE 4, and FCPX and all three programs captured HDV video and audio.
Thanks again everyone. Be sure the camera is set to output HDV or "A".

Any FAQs for importing analog video?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for