Archiving Video Tapes

I've recently been asked to look into the best way to archive video footage at full resolution. The originals Digital Betacam tapes may be released or edited at some point of time in the future, so they must be stored under dry and cool conditions.
As far as I understand copying the tapes every 5-8 years or so is safe. However, with the advent of Blu-ray (or any other media storage devices I'm not aware of) are there any safer options?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Kees

HI Kees, how many hours of the content do you have? What will be the subsequent usage of the footage when you recall it from any archive (repurposing [to what] or legal for example?).
Assume you would like to keep the footage as pristine as possible vs your needs and budget?
FWIW: there are many ways you can achieve what you want within the bounds of you budget and considering what others have posted on the forum. It's true that if it 'moves" it will eventually stop moving one day... very true. So there are ways around this too depending on your budget and needs. (from large multiple instance data tape libraries, to SVOD (if you can get them), Holographic storage from PLASMON right down to the humble other spinning things including optical disks (DVDs, SONY PDD's etc etc)) to using paid HOSTING services similar to the one mentioned by another on this thread.
These are all transitory solutions that in time will need to be replaced themselves. So it is important to keep your footage/content in the most pristine way for your business needs so it may in turn be MOVED/TRANSFERRED/migrated to the next archival mediaum format. It's the way it is unfortunately. There is a LOT to be said for leaving film on film and video tape on video tape (original carriage) despite the age of contemporary media formats
Failing to do this will get you caught out in the future. (like old home video8 gear these days)
Additionally there are methods to maintain the essence that you need in a "pristine" way and somewhat future proof yourself. Again this is based on your workflow, metadata and business needs and your of course most importantly your cheque book.
I have this "archive" issue like many of us now with "tapeless workflows".
post back if you can
hth
w
hong kong (missing the Rugby sevens today ).

Similar Messages

Archiving video to DVD

Hello,
What is the best way to archive video footage to DVD which I could potentially re-use in FCE at a later date?
Background:
Because my video projects are usually small,
I usually archive the FCE project file,
the graphics, text, audio and music assets
to a DVD data disc. The video assets (miniDV footage)
are left on the original tape as part of the archive set.
However, I have many projects where there is only 10 to 15 minutes of useable videotape, so I'm thinking it would be efficient to archive all the project assets (including only the useable video footage) to one DVD data disc.
My concern is that if I save the video footage used in the project as a datafile, I will lose some of the quality (due to compression/decompression) if I ever use the footage at a later date.
How should I save the video footage to minimize/eliminate this loss of quality?
1. Export as Quicktime movie?
2. DV Stream?
3. DV/DVC Pro?
4. Uncompressed video?
5. Others???
Other ideas / thoughts are welcome ...
Thanks,
David
PoweMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)
PoweMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Hi David.
I have been thinking along similar lines but have not yet got round to doing it.
If you just drag and drop your Capture files onto the DVD there should be no loss of quality because there is no compression on data DVDs.
It's only if you exported your MOVIE to a DVD that compression would be applied.
A normal DVD should hold enough DV files for up to 20 minutes of video - of course it all depends on the size of the project file, though they are usually comparatively small.
It will be interesting to hear from folks who have actually done it.
Ian

I have a great number of Hi8 video tapes and I would like to burn them onto CDs through MacBook Pro (ME665LL/A), but I do not know how to transfer those footage into Mac. What would you recommend?

Hello everybody! My question is; my parents and I have a great number of video tapes (Hi8 and mini DV) and since I purchased a MacBook Pro (ME665LL/A) I would like to burn them onto CDs, but I do not know how to transfer those footage into Mac. What would you recommend(it can be a software, a hardware or combination of both)? By the way, I also purchased an external DVD-RW(Asus SDRW-08D2S) separately.

Just Google "convert hi8 to dvd" and you'll find a number of software/hardware combinations that will allow you to do what you want. One important piece of the puzzle is whether or not you still have access to the video recorder(s) that the movies were shot on.
Good luck,
Clinton

Recording Audio from Video Tape

Hi! I want to record audio from a video tape and put the audio into my imovie. I have done this funtion before, but I can't seem to remember how! I am able to play the movie (the video tape) in a VCR which then goes through my "bridge" (DV Converter) and into the computer. When I open imovie and import the video and audio into a "clip", I can't seem to play the clip and record the "audio" in the audio section. Again, I have done this before, I just don't remember how. Can anyone help??

Hi Kim - welcome to the forum!
You would simply extract the audio from the clip - select it, then go Advanced>Extract Audio (Command J). This will place the audio in the top audio track. Then you can delete the clip, and move the extracted audio to wherever you want it.
Does that help?

Transfer video tape to MacBook Pro?

Hi all,
I'm trying to transfer a video tape (hi8?) to my MacBook Pro. I have a Sharp Viewcam to play the tapes:
http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-VLAH50U-Hi8-Viewcam-Camcorder/dp/B00004WA7K
Can anyone help with a step-by-step process? I have no idea what cables are needed.
Thank!

I have done lots of that.
To get your video into iMovie, use the Grassvalley ADVC300. With the ADVC300 Audio and Video go in, FireWire comes out. It also comes with a nice Macintosh application that works flawlessly with iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11 (I have used it a few times with iMovie 11).
The program that comes with the ADVC300 has some nice filters that can improve video and audio of the source material. The ADVC300 will take Audio and Video from any source (VCR, Tivo, Satellite Receiver) and convert it to FireWire (iMovie will treat it like a camera).
http://www.grassvalley.com/products/advc300
I would use iMovie 06 with iDVD 09/11, why?
iMovie 09/11 uses 'single field processing' meaning every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage. iMovie 06 uses ALL of the image to form the video.
If your primary workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, iMovie '06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels aspect ratio, and original quality.
If you share your movie from iMovie 09/11, it gets re-rendered at 640x480 or less, and then iDVD upscales it back to 720x480. The end result is obviously not as good.
iMovie 06 and iDVD 11 is a "lossless" combination.

Beta video tapes into iMovie: How?

I have been given the family task of converting old Beta video tapes (& a couple VHS) onto DVD.
I have an old Beta VCR, not video camera. How do I get the Beat vido footage onto iMovie?
eMac Mac OS X (10.3.9) iMovie 3.0.3

Hi Laila:
Hopefully you have a Beta VHS Player handy:
Click Here for From VHS to DVD
Give New Life to Old Movies
That may help you. (There are 5 pages-don't skip any! :))
Sue

Copying video tapes

Hi Guys,
Here's a simple question.........
I've been using Garageband for a while to copy my records & tapes to my MacBook Pro &/or CDs. I would now like to do a similar thing with a few old VHS video tapes onto DVD.
I have QuickTime Pro installed. Is this the right app to use, or should I use iMovie or something else?
I don't really want/need hi-tech stuff, just something to copy the tapes across. Also, what sort of lead would I need, and where should I plug it into? The video recorder has Euro AV1 and Euro AV2 sockets (they look the same).
Cheers in advance.
Message was edited by: Old Baldrick

Hi
A. I would use iMovie HD 6 to do this. Better quality and control.
B. don't put a mini DVD into Your Mac unless it’s a trayloaded DVD.
C. Read what Karsten collected:
DVD back to iMovie:
.. and here the complete 'full 9 yards' ... :
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3822853&#3822853
DVDs are in a socalled delivery format (mpeg2), which isn't meant and
made for any processing as editing... or, as honorable forum member
QuicktimeKirk stated: I use the analogy of the old Polaroid
"instant" cameras. Push the button, wait for the print to develop and
show it off. ..
for using the iLife apps, you have to convert'em first, in
recommended order, choose one of the following tools/workarounds:
• DVDxDV (free trial, 25$, Pro: 90$)
• Apple mpeg2 plugin (19$) + Streamclip (free)
• VisualHub (23.32$)
• Cinematize >60$
• Mpeg2Works >25$ + Apple plug-in
• Toast 6/7/8 allows converting to dv/insert dvd, hit apple-k
• connect a miniDV Camcorder with analogue input to a DVD-player and transfer disk to tape/use as converter
• Drop2DV (free) a free tool claiming to convert DVDs into dv-stream...
• Use iSquint for your conversions : www.iSquint.org
from: Bobby Keene
none of these apps override copyprotection mechanisms as on commercial dvds...
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6018.shtml
be nice to copy rights ^-^
... and, next time, try the forum's search-feature...
from Beverly M.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42724
Yours Bengt W

8mm video tape to DVD conversion

I have a stack of old 8mm video tapes from 5-15 years ago that I wish to convert to DVD and eventually edit. Is there a device for converting these tapes? I do have a working 8mm camcorder that I borrowed from a friend that can play these tapes.

To record an analogue signal onto a (digital) PC/Mac calls for a player, a converter, a recorder and a re-purposer.
Ignoring the player (you're sorted there) conversion can be done either by using an external recorder (typically a digicam c/w analogue-in recording), an external converter (see pinnacle, canopus or miglia) or an internal converter (vince1327's idea of using the new generation TV devices is an inspired one).
You'll then need software to record the signal. Apple suggestions include QT-Pro, iMovie or Final Cut Express. Traditionally there was a challenge with dropped-frames and other failures so, especially if your using an external converter, use something simple to record with (QTP?) and something like Tiger Cache Cleaner (or OnyX) to keep the keep your machine "clean" throughout the process.
You'll need to re-puropse the result; this can be done in any of a number of ways depending upon whether DVD, PSP, iPod, etc will be the final viewing medium. QT-Pro/Flip4MacStudio and iDVD are all good, but in truth the world's not short of widgets, freeware, shareware and mainstream applications (for example the previously Popwire applications now at Flip4Mac/Telestream) for re-purposing results.
ffmpegX being a good, free choice.
Cheapest - borrowing a mate's digicam is free and the results are guarateed; Second cheapest? Try vince1327's idea TV idea; at least you'll be able to use that hardware after you're finished recording.
pBook 12/1.5mhz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Moving Events and archiving videos directly from Canon HF100 to External HD

Hello,
After purchasing my Macbook and my canon HF100 camcorder I got too carried away and excitedly imported too many videos to Imovie. When the Macbook had no more space to import new movies, without reading instructions ( NOW I KNOW... ALWAYS to read instructions first) I archived the videos directly onto an external HD ( 500 gb FAT 32 format).
Now in order to free up some space I tried to move the existing events and projects from macbook to the same hard drive , but the HD icon has a yellow exclamation mark, which I now know means that it has to be formatted to MAC OS. and MAcbook will not allow moving of any events or projects to the hard drive..
My problem as below:
1- If I format my external HD now, it would loose all the previous data etc which I do not want. Since the directly archived videos are stored in FAT 32, does that mean they are now unusable for I Movie import? What should I do next in order to store the currently archived movies properly that Mac recognizes and reads the data correctly?
2-I need to free up space on my macbook as soon as possible as the startup disk is totally full. I do not want to buy another external HD to move my data but i do already possess an I book external hard drive which is also Fat 32 format and has photos etc.. which I do not want to loose by formatting it.
Can I copy all the files from my external HD ( where I archived the movies) to the I book ( where there are other movies and photos from windows computer) which is FAT 32 format and then format it to MAC OS and re transfer the archived movies back. Will Macbook recognize the files then?
All the videos and photos are very precious to me and I do not want to lose them. Any help with my problem is highly appreciated. I wait eagerly for an answer. Many thanks in advance.

Do I need to create a seperate folder for the RAW archived files which are yet to be processed by I >movie?
In general, you want to be able to move it back exactly as it was, you can drag it over to the iBook, then drag it back. If it helps to put everything under one folder to do this, that is OK. When you move it back, make sure it looks like it looked before you moved it.
Can the RAW files be transferred to a FAT 32 HD without formatting to MAC OS.. will this not >corrupt the data?
Probably. I'm guessing you are using an 8GB SDHC card or similar with your Canon. If you put your card in a card reader on your Mac you should see it in the Finder (or you can connect your camera directly). If you see it in the Finder, do a right-click/Get Info. I would bet that your SDHC is formatted as FAT32. So if the original camera is Fat32, you know that FAT32 is fine for the archive.
Here is why. FAT32 has an architectural limitation for file sizes. Files cannot be more than 4GB (minus one byte) - or 3.999999999 GB.
The files on the camera are highly compressed AVCHD. Further, you would typically press record and stop several times while shooting, so no one clip is going to be bigger than 3.999999999GB. The only way you would exceed this is if you recorded a 2 hour event by pressing the record button once and letting it run without stopping. Even then, Canon probably has a workaround where they divide it up into 2 files that are each smaller than 3.999999999GB.
So if the camera can accept FAT32, why can't iMovie? The reason is that on import, iMOvie converts the highly compressed AVCHD into full frames of Apple Intermediate Codec. The file size will typically increase by a factor of 8 to 10. So now it is quite possible to have a clip that exceeds the 4GB limitation. So iMovie does not allow FAT32 as a valid file structure.

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

Flash archive to tape

I would like to make flash archive to tape device.
But the following 'flarcreate' command failed.
' flarcreate -n archivetry1 -H -c -t /dev/rmt/0'
where archivetry1 is just the name of archive
/dev/rmt/0 is tape device just attached.
Solaris version is 8
Is there someone who knows the correct format of this command.

Further trial with another command like 'mt -f /dev/rmt/0 erase' reported media error.
So after replacing tape media, 'flarcreate -n archive1 -N -t /dev/rmt/0' was successfully completed.
However, restore operation failed with dump as of now.
Is this command format of flash archive creation correct?

RE: CS4 Premiere Pro - what is best to backup/archive video to minimize size

RE: CS4 Premiere Pro -> what is best to backup/archive video to minimize size?
I use export>media to adobe media encoder. I am using the avi. the avi file generated seems large. i.e. for 27 minutes the file is 6 gb.
what is the best format to use to minimize file size?????
any help will be appreciated and thks in advance.

>what is best to backup/archive video to minimize size?
That's the wrong question to ask. Ideally you don't change anything about the original media for backup. It's size it it's size, and you get enough of whatever you nee to accommodate that.

Problems with importing video tape into iMovie '08

I'm using a canopus advc 110 to import video tapes from a vhs recorder into iMovie. BUT, the process often stops after only a few minutes when I still have a long way to go. I'd like to be able to leave it to work for 20-minute chunks (longer if possible, but I think that's about the limit), but it keeps stopping after a few minutes. When I come back in the room, it keeps trying to import (time in upper right corner keeps going) but had quit earlier according to time on the lower center of the iMovie screen. This is adding to my frustration and time, which is limited. Any suggestions??

The canopus advc 110 will work IF you have a perfect tape.
Look at the Grassvalley ADVC300 it has the ability to compensate for bad tapes. Using Line Time Base Correction (LTBC), ADVC300 instantly cleans, stabilizes and preserves old VHS and Hi8 videos in clean DV format. No need to monitor, just start and forget. Fast forward the tape all the way and then rewind all the way before import will never hurt.
The program that comes with the ADVC300 has some nice filters that can improve video and audio of the source material. The ADVC300 will take Audio and Video from any source and convert it to FireWire (iMovie will treat it like a camera).
http://www.grassvalley.com/products/advc300
The ADVC300 is for anyone who wants to do editing and is concerned about quality of color and speed, for the novice it is an incredible gizmo that will restore VHS tapes to a state close to the original fixing midtones, highlights and shadows on the fly. Not only can you simply convert analog to digital you can actually manipulate the signal going in (if you want to).
A bit pricey bit it WORKS.
I would use iMovie 06 with iDVD 08/09.
iMovie 08 and 09 uses 'single field processing' meaning every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage. iMovie 06 uses ALL of the image to form the video.
Your workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, so iMovie 06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels aspect ratio, and original quality. If you share your movie from iMovie 09, it gets re-rendered at 640x480 or less, and then iDVD upscales it back to 720x480. The end result is obviously not as good.
iMovie 06 and iDVD 08/09 is a "lossless" combination.
iMovie 09 is a wonderful programs assuming that you're using it for what it was designed to do, assemble videos to share on the Internet.

Final Archived video export options?

Final Archived video export options?
Hello All
What is the best method for exporting video for archive purposes, once you’ve done all you editing, correcting, toning, grading and so on. So that you can have a master corrected file incase the Premiere file should become corrupted or something else. I deal in 10-20 short clips maybe 10-15 seconds each and I want to keep them in an uncompressed HD format.
Suggestions?
Thanks
Mark

If you're talking about master output media, as Harm says, the important thing is that you use a lossless codec such as Cineform or Lagarith.
If you're talking about the actual prproj files, you don't have much choice other than Project > Project Manager > Trim Project. This will remove unused material and give a few other options. Store the whole project - trimmed material and all - -on a removable drive.
Before the days of cheap storage, the rushes would be deleted and, if ever needed again, re-digitized and reconformed using the prproj and EDL files.

How best to Convert, and edit video tape to digital

I want to convert, and edit VHS and Betamax video tapes to digital. My research indicates that there are a number of ways to achieve this, including:
1. A video recorder with a hard disk and DVR (Which?)
2. The "pass through" feature on a MiniDV camcorder (Discussion Sites)
3. EyeTV 250 Plus (Magazine)
4. Canopus' (ADVC300), which “cleans and stabilises analogue video before conversion so the digital is a higher quality than the original analogue” (Magazine and Discussion Sites)
Some claim that an S-video connection is essential for best results.
Can an expert advise the best solution?

I have a Canopus ADVC-300 that I use when digitizing VHS and Hi8 material.
It works quite well. The included software allows you to adjust the quality of the image as it is being converted.
Connect the tape deck to the ADVC-300 using SVHS cable and an audio RCA cable then firewire between the ADVC-300 and your mac. Turn on everything and launch iMovie to capture the playing video stream.
If you have technical questions regarding iMovie and or iDVD, each has a specific forum here on the Apple Discussions site.
Good luck,
x

Archiving Video Tapes

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