Converting VHS to DVD, which resolution?

I'm importing video into iMovie 08 from a VHS VCR using a datavideo DAC-200. When I'm exporting the video from iMovie so I can burn a disc in iDVD, I have the option of either 640 X 480 or 720 X 540 resolution. The source is VHS so it's 640 X 480 (or 240) so I'd assume I should use that. Or should I use the higher resolution to make a DVD?

Use 640x480.

Similar Messages

  • Converting VHS to DVD with preserved closed captions

    Can this be done via DV capture?
    I'm trying to convert some of my old out of print VHS tapes to DVD, since they are obscure enough to probably never see an official DVD release. I figured firewire/DV would be perfect for the job because...well, my Mac already has that built-in. My intended workflow is to capture via DV using an ADS Pyro A/V Link analog->DV converter box (see tip below if you're trying something similar by the way).
    Anyway, being the quasi-perfectionist that I am, I'd like to make as close a copy to the original as possible, preserving the closed captions. In researching this I've found that this data is stored in "line 21" which is normally not a viewable portion of the video signal, rather like metadata. I have read that DV does support this data in the "VAUX" data area, however before I even begin, I am concerned that any step of my intended workflow might not preserve this data (reencoding in the converter box, transferring into iMovie/FCP, reencoding onto DVD). I presume that any amount of editing to the captured video will hose the captions if they are preserved, but I'd only shorten the black padding at the beginning and ending of the program if anything, which I can't imagine would scramble it too bad.
    I have read many suggestions of just manually transposing the CC text to subtitles instead, however since the DVD spec does support true closed captions, I figure it's gotta be possible somehow.
    I'd like to be able to do this without purchasing a PCI capture card. And I'd also like to be able to do this without spending $6000 on a certain Mac captioning app (a ridiculous price for functionality which in my opinion should be free). I've seen some pretty cheap VCR+DVD combo standalone units on the market, but I'd like to think my Mac, as expensive as it was, will suffice.
    Am I asking too much? Should I just give it a try to see if everything magically works? And if my current setup is not up to this task, what sort of setup would I need to realize my goal?
    (Tip: By the way, if anyone is trying to convert VHS to DVD with a similar setup, be warned that the marketers of such analog->DV converter boxes generally don't mention that you'll also need a time base corrector (TBC) to do anything useful with less-than-perfect analog source video; I've found that without such a device, the video tends to drop frames like mad on rough spots of the source tape [I'm talking drops measured in seconds]. Too bad TBCs cost more than the converter box itself usually. Odd that those VCR+DVD combo boxes ostensibly must have a built-in TBC by definition, and yet often are cheaper than a standalone TBC...)
    Power Mac G4 dual 867 Mirrored Drive Doors   Mac OS X (10.4.4)  

    Ok well I tested it by going VCR->DV converter->iMovie->iDVD, and the closed captions were lost at some point. The tape does have closed captions when played in the VCR, and I know my DVD player displays closed captions properly (I tested a commercial disc both in the Mac and in a standalone DVD player and those showed captions), but the DVD I created doesn't display closed captions either in the Mac DVD Player or the standalone unit.
    So...anyone think maybe importing into Final Cut Pro and burning with DVD Studio Pro would work better for this than iMovie? I imagine there would be no difference (since iDVD uses the same Compressor app as DVDSP).
    So I guess I'm stuck. At this point I can't even use the DVD/VCR dub machine since it won't allow dubbing of copy-protected tapes (even though this tape will likely never see a DVD release and it's crappy VHS quality anyway and it's just for my own personal use as a backup)...any suggestions?

  • Is quality better with software for converting VHS to DVD than using an actual converter?

    Is quality better with software for converting VHS to DVD than using an actual converter?

    Not sure what you mean by "actual converter".
    If you mean if you just played a VHS tape to a DVD recorder and recorded like that... You will get close to the quality of the VHS.
    If you have a good capture software and hardware you might be able to clean the video and audio up. But VHS is pretty limited in quality.

  • Is the software from Roxio that converts VHS to DVD compatible with Yosemite?

    Is the software from Roxio that converts VHS to DVD compatible with Yosemite?

    Check the Roxio web site.

  • What videocamera VHS do I need to convert VHS to DVD?

    Hi, I want to convert my VHS video tapes to DVD or Mpeg, I´ve been searching info, and I didn't know that I can plug a videocamera to my powerbook G4, But I don't have a VHS videocamera, so I would like to buy one, can somebody tell me what camera I need, or if any VHS camera can be plug to my computer, I want a good one but not very expensive, and If am I gonna need an extra software, or if I can do this with imovie or iDVD, and one more question, Is this the best way to convert my VHS videos to DVD?
    Thanks.

    VHS (and s-VHS, Video8, and Hi8) are all analog formats and output their video as either composite (phono plug) or s-video (4 wire round connector). None of those plug directly into any newer Macintosh.
    Your Powerbook has a Firewire input connection. That will transmit audio/video from a digital video camera: DV or Digital 8. This is most definitely NOT the same as what your VHS tapes can natively do.
    What to do?
    I assume that your tapes are really VHS and NOT s-VHS.
    1. Let a service transfer he tapes to DV (to keep the best quality) or directly transfer to DVD. Since VHS has not more than 330 lines of resolution, DVD compression is probably OK, but if you want to edit later, you'll need to convert that over to digital video (DV) format in the computer using some software; I use DVDxDV, but there are others (dvdxdv.com).
    2. Get an old VHS dec and rent or borrow (or buy if you are going to do more video taping) a DV or Digital 8 camera with a s-video and/or composit to DV (Firewire) pass through with conversion. Some DV cameras don't have either, some only have s-video. Check out the specifications carefully. Then use iMovie or Final Cut (Pro or Express) to bring the video into your computer as a project in one of those programs. After you capture each hours worth of tape, I would export it back to DV tape immediately as a backup.
    3. Then edit that DV footage to get the "movies" you want to place on a DVD, and use iDVD or DVD SP to create those.
    NOTE: If you have s-VHS or Hi8 video tapes, you should use the s-video connections; they both have about 400 lines of resolution and the composite connection can't do more than 330 lines no matter what the source is.
    When I converted all of my old Hi8 and VHS tapes, I used a media converter from Sony (the DVMC-DA2); there are others. I achieve pretty good results.
    Ed

  • Can I convert VHS to DVD using elgato game capture HD?

    Hi,
    So I was wondering can I use a Elgato game capture HD to covert old family VHS tapes to DVD or digital (store them on my imac Hard Drive). My VHS player is a combo, so it has a DVD player as well as a VHS player in one and has HDMI. Its the one in the picture....
    Can this be done?

    not sure about this device
    but any tv tuner device which connect by usb to a computer and support composite or component input should be able to grab and convert an analog video source into a digital file
    did it with an old borrowed usb tv tuner to get several old analog handhend video tapes imported an made into dvd's a few years back takes some time but pretty easy and one don't have to wait while it's being don

  • How to convert VHS to DVD using FCP 7?

    Hello. For a brief, non-technical, introduction: I have dozens of family VHS tapes that I'd like to convert into a digital format where I can edit them and eventually transfer them onto an external hard drive and possibly DVDs as well. Ideally, I'd love to do all of the logging, capturing, and editing in FCP, but I am having difficulty figuring out set up and proper format conversions to obtain the best results. I am not a computer wizard, so a "Just-For-Dummies" walk through would be greatly appreciated.
    My questions are:
    1) What should my flowchart of devices be from VCR to FCP? (ie: converters, cables, inside FCP setup)
    2) What is the best video format for VHS to digital conversion?
    Here are the specs for devices I currently possess. I realize I may need to purchase more, but this is what I have to work with at the moment.
    MacBook Pro: Mac OS X Version 10.6.8. | Processsor 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 | Memory 4GB 1067 MHz DDR3
    Final Cut Pro 7.0.3
    VCR: Toshiba SD-v295ku (output is Red, White, Yellow RCA)
    ION Video 2 PC converter: RCA cables to USB (this is already installed on my Mac and has successfully worked for video capture alone)
    Sony Digital Handycam DCR-TRV330
    My Passport 2TB Hard Drive
    Thank you so much in advance for any help you can offer.

    Buppas
    Getting out of my depth here a bit.
    I do have FCP 6 but have not used it much at all.
    There are many people here that are more able than me who may come to your rescue but anyway here are a few suggestions to try.
    Sony can be set to one of 2 audio modes, 12bit=32kHz, or 16bit=48kHz.Ensure set to 16bit , around page 85.
    Capture has to match 16bit=48kHz.
    In FCP7 User Preferences >General check box "Abort capture on dropped frames.On timecode break Make New Clip ".
    Also in Preferences> General I noticed this but not sure if it will help...Check box "Sync audio capture to video source if present".
    Coming back to the Sony, and still stabbing in the dark, there is a Time Base Corrector (TBC) setting that you could try both on and off.
    Also,do not start and stop the VHS player frequently; let it run through from start to end if you can to avoid breaks.
    Another option but not ideal.
    What happens when you import into iMovie, do you still get out of sync?
    If you dont then you could import to iMovie and then import the DV file/files to FCP7.
    This will not take up double the space as FCP7 references the files in iMovie.
    Other than this you could try a "search communities" or hope for more suggestions to come in.
    Good Luck.

  • Converting VHS to DVD

    Hello,
    I've got quite a few old VHS's that as far as I know have not been made available on dvd/ I would rather not buy them again and as it's my right as the owner to make a personal backup copy (please correct me if I'm wrong on this). Anyway, I've recently bought the new iMac iSight and I was wondering how I can do this. How do I connect a VCR to my iMac? I'm assuming I need another bit of hardware, but what is it?
    Thank you,
    Brian

    Hi Brian, there are hundreds of posts in these forums on that subject, but real quick here's the scoop. I've recorded my home movies onto DVD from VHS by plugging my VCR into a Formac Studio, which is a firewire device. The connections are: VCR video and audio out --> Formac Studio video and audio In. Then in iMovie or FC/FCE, the Formac shows up like a Firewire video device. Hit play on the VCR and capture in your iMovie or FC software. You don't get any timecode info however. There are other capture devices besides Formac, I don't know what they are though. I'm sure there are recommendations here on the boards as well.
    My Formac recently kicked the bucket after several years of faithful service, so what I do now is plug my Mini-DV camcorder into my VCR, and record onto the MiniDV. Then it's trivial to get the video from MiniDV to your Mac.

  • Converting VHS to DVD using old Dazzle product

    I have read various posts about converting old family VHS tapes to DVD. I have an opportunity to buy an old Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge unit. The manual that came with it says that it will function with these minimum system requirements:
    300Mhz or Higher MacIntosh G3/G4 desktop, Powerbook G3
    Operating System: Mac OS 9.0.4
    Ram: 64MB
    I know that what runs in an OS 9.0.4 environment does not necessarily run in OSX. I am still running Tiger. Does anyone know if the Dazzle Hollywood DV bridge would work successfully with my machine and its current operating system (Tiger)?
    Incidentally, I can still open Classic 9 on my machine, but I prefer not to use it. If the Dazzle unit work will not work with Tiger, will it work if I run my machine in Classic 9 or am I just asking for trouble and wasting my money on the old Dazzle unit? I am a total beginner at all this. Thanks for your help.

    or am I just asking for trouble and wasting my money on the old Dazzle unit?
    I'd suggest any other Analogue to Digital Converter than the Dazzle. Nothing but unreliable reports from our camp.
    An inexpensive _Mini DV_ camera with _Pass Through_ ability would serve you well.
    The camera will act as an A/D Converter or better still dub the VHS stuff to Mini DV tape, capture, edit, burn.
    Al

  • How to convert swf to dvd which contain buttons

    i've made an swf multimedia design and i want to convert it to a dvd in which buttons in my swf work is there any programme or solution to make it done

    This is the Adobe Connect forum. Please post this to the proper Flash forum so the experts there can help you.

  • [TV@Plus] Convert VHS to DVD

    Hello to everyone,
    I had success in coniverting to from VHS to VCD ( I used TMPGenc). Then I tried to convert to DVD but TMPGenc doesn't support the file. Is there a solution for this or another way of doing it
    I'd really appreciate anyone who will give me advice on this matter.
    Thanks

    do you have the TV@nywhere Plus card? (not listed in your sig)
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  • Request Assistance - Converting VHS and DVDs for Apple TV

    I have an Apple TV and love it. My mission is to take my old VCRs and DVDs, convert them and place them in my Apple TV Library. I have run into a snag however when the movies is multiple tapes or DVDs. Up to now I have been simply posting them as Part 1, Part 2, etc but that is clumsy and makes my menu in Apple TV very large.
    Is there a method for splicing these tapes and DVDs into one large movie? I have tried using iMovie 08 (I will have 09 in early February), but it keeps crashing as the films are too long (3+ hours).
    Has anyone else attempted to do what I want to do and have you been successful? If so what software did you use?
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    I have probably 200 home movies and 50 hollywood movies in my TV, and it definitely helps to have some organization.
    I have found that I can go to the Movies section in iTunes, from the source pane on the left. You will see a list of all your movies. Pick one of the three you would like to organize together. Right-click (or control-click) and select "Get Info". Now go to the "Video" section and type in the name you want to organize this 3-part movie into in the field called "Show Name". You can also type an episode number if you want. Under "Sorting" you can also put the Show name in. Click "OK". Repeat this for your other 2 portions, and they will all show up under the "Show Name" on the TV.
    For example, I have 14 videos from a recent trip to Turkey and Greece all under one show, and I have Godfather 1,2,3 all under Godfather.

  • Going from VHS to DVD, which codec?

    Hi all,
    I'm bringing in VHS material through a JVC deck with firewire out. The source video then goes to someone else to be edited, then to DVD through iDVD or VisualHub. I'm recording through QTPro, and I would like to export that recording as the smallest possible file (H.264?) before sending it out (so I can fit it on a smaller external drive or even fileshare it). Since the file will be compressed by VisualHub or iDVD, will giving either of those programs an H.264 file look terrible in the end? Does the file always have to be compressed as mpeg-2 to go to DVD? Are there no mp4 vob methods?
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  • Converting old VHS to DVD

    I am in the process of converting some old VHS to DVD. I am running the VHS feed in through my cameras analog input which converts to digital on the fly. The footage seems dull and I am wondering if there is a loss of saturation or maybe just a gamma adjustment that will fix it up. I wasn't sure if it was something I should do in FCP with a filter or if I can possibly just fix it in compressor on output. Any ideas on what is happening on import to dull the footage and what recommended steps I should take?

    It will lose a little saturation on the capture, which can be corrected with the CC filter.
    It will not look the same, as the video on the computer monitor is only a proxy representation, and the monitor gamma is different. You should hook the TV to the output of your camera and monitor FCP over Firewire. Then you can really tell.
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    tim

  • How to convert VHS  home movies to DVD?

    How do I get best quality converting VHS to DVD. I will need to use iMovie as some need heavy editing. I know I can get them into iMovie via firewire using the D/A converter on my newer Canon camcorder. My Question (s)? is /are: What settings & format should I use to import into iMovie8 and to export to iDVD for best possible quality when played on a large screen (50inch). Several of the tapes were in such poor shape that the D/A converter on the canon wouldn't play them and I had to digitize them by playing through Eye-Tv(not the best solution but the only one I could come up with). Thanks in advance for any guidance you can give.
    Dave

    How do I get best quality converting VHS to DVD.
    Use iMovie 06 instead.
    iMovie 08 now uses single-field processing. This means every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage.
    I find I get the best quality using iMovie 06 and iDVD 08 (use Professional Quality encoding in iDVD 08).
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    http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imovieHD6.html
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    http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC300/index.php
    You will need to use a "Real" Mac, (with a Firewire input).

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