Copying HDCAM Tapes

Hi there, if someone could help me with this and point me in the right direction i'd really appreciate it. Hopefully it's fairly simple!!
Basically a friend of mine has some HDCAM tapes that he needs create duplicate copies of in HDCAM before returning the tapes. I've offered to help and really need some advice as to the easiest way to do this without loosing quality. I have a Kona 3 card if i need to capture the footage and then print back out to tape again but this seems perhaps a little laboured as the footage does not need to be cut yet. I'm fairly new to the Kona 3 and HD workflows in general so want to make sure I get this right, and as it's a favour, I can't spend too much time on it!!
I did think the easiest & quickest way could be to link 2 HDCAM tape decks together and copy directly like that but was not sure if there was any limitations with this in terms of quality or anything else I may have missed while thinking about this.
Any advise to help me get this right will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Alex

HDCAM VCRs have a gazillion menu settings, and if you're not familiar with what each relevant menu does, you could make an inadequate dub.
IMO, he should take his cassettes to a facility that can handle the dubbing for him. The facility will also have the proper monitoring capabilities, to make sure the finished dubs are properly recorded.

Similar Messages

Compressor Help for HDCam Tape Layoff

I have footage that was shot on the RED, graded and output via Apple Color, and now has the following specs:
resolution: 2048x1152
pixel aspect ratio: square
frame rate: 23.98
field dominance: none
and I need to lay it off to HDCam for screening purposes. The venue has requested
"an Apple Pro Res QT to be laid off to HDCam tape at 1080i/59.94"
What's the best way to get them my footage without it getting mangled in the process?

As noted above, there are 6 versions of "ProRes Quicktime". It doesn't hurt to verify exactly which one.
Getting it done ....
Open up Compressor
Select the appropriate ProRes preset in Settings. It can be found in Apple> Advanced format conversions folder.
Copy it and select the copy in the Settings list.
Go to the Inspector window.
Change the name to something meaningful to you - "Red to ProRes 1080i" would work for me.
Start working through the settings. The key thing to keep in mind is you are turning a progressive 23.98 large raster image into an interlaced 29.97 smaller raster image. You will want to have FRAME CONTROLS turned on to get the best frame rate and image size conversion.
Do some tests with smaller segments to judge time vs quality. Unless there is a decided quality benefit THAT YOU CAN SEE, stay away from BEST. It adds enormously to the time.
Or, find someone with a Kona3 that can do the conversion to 1080i ProRes for you in hardware.
If you have additional questions, post back.
Good luck.
x

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

Working with HDCAM tapes

Good Afternoon!
My experience is limited to SD capturing and editing.
Now, however, I have been given some HDCAM tapes to capture and I am unsure how to proceed. I will be renting a HDCAM deck. Do I need a Kona card? (I have one, but have never used it.) What capture setting do I use? Do I edit offline?
I know these are elementary questions, so I respectfully appreciate any guidance.

I need an HD capture even if I am editing offline?
You need an HD capture card if you intend to capture HD. They are the only thing that can interpret the HD signal...even if you capture as DV...you still need an HD capture card.
I was under the impresssion that one does not actually edit with uncompressed HD footage, instead you work offline with compressed codecs, and then somehow batch capture only the HDCAM footage that was used in the timeline.
It is typical to offline...yes. DVCPRO HD is a decent offline codec. HOWEVER, some people edit at full quality if they only have a small amount of footage to work with. Or, you can now opt to capture as ProRes and work in that resolution. Full HD quality, but a fraction of the HD filesize. This would be a good option to go with, because FCP isn't the best at the offline/online workflow. It works for some, not for others...and has a variety of hiccups. If you have time to deal with those hiccups, then offline/online is a definate possibility. One that I'd look into if I had a LOT of footage...and I tend to have a LOT of footage.
Not sure on the delivery format, but I do know that it is playing in a theater.
You need to know this BEFORE YOU CAPTURE. This determines the entire workflow. Find this out before you do anything.
And you will need an HD monitor if you intend on doing the online/color correct yourself. If you don't, then no worries...you can do without it. The place you finish it will no doubt have one.
Shane

Copying HDV Tapes ...

Hi,
Can anyone PLEASE help. I am trying, ideally, to make copies of some HDV tapes? I contacted a local company who want +£40 per tape and I have 15 tapes. Someone suggested connecting 2 camcorders together and copying that way but that I may lose the codec on the copied versions? What is the best way for me to do this, or failing that how can I simply copy the tapes onto my hard drive?
Ali.

Hey Jaak:
Hopefully your camera supports firewire! Hmm, I think your camera has a hard drive, which from what I've come to undestand is tricky. You should be able to review your cameras instructions on "downloading to your PC" type topic.
You can also go to an apple store as well, if your near one. Sorry ,just don't know your camera. One more suggestion, call Sony tech support, I have a HV20 and Canon support is incredible. They walked me right through the whole shabangabang.
FFF out.

Can the RDR VX 535 copy a tape directly to a PC?

Can the RDR VX 535 copy a tape directly to a PC?

Hi,
It is not possible to copy the tape directly to the PC
Regards,
Jeevan

Can you copy cassette tapes?

Is it possible to copy music from cassette tapes onto an iBook G4? If so, how?

Ella:
Your cassette player should have some kind of output port e.g. the earphone jack. The will the source of your sound. Your iBook, unfortunately, does not have a sound-in jack, like a microphone jack. You will need a device like Griffin iMic, which interfaces with the USB port and can be used for sound in, or sound out. There are other devices that do what iMic does, but for the price it is the way to go.
Here is some bedtime reading to bring you up to speed:
Digitize your LPs and tapes
Converting Audio Cassette Tapes to CDs
From Tape to CD
Amicable split: Auto-chunking LPs and tapes
Now, aren't you glad you asked?
Let me know how it goes.
Good luck.
cornelius

Trying to learn how to copy audio tapes

I have posted this same question on the Audacity forum but have had no responses yet so I thought I might try here also. I am a brand new novice with my computer described below and had hoped to use it for amongst many other things, copying some old vintage cassette music tapes into my iTunes in mp3 format and then onto my iPod so that I could listen to the music on my old stereo system with the iPod plugged in. The music on these tapes is from the 1950's to the 1970's which I firstly put onto reel to reel tape in the 70s as LPs became obsolete and secondly onto the new modern revelation of the time, casette tape. I think that this conversion to mp3 if I ever figure it out will be the last in my lifetime. I guess I am dating myself and yes I have no problem in admitting that I am a senior citizen who needs to be carefully led by the hand to figure out how to do this project which will entail much work since the tapes (mainly Slavic music from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, etc. which originated in the old Soviet Union) number many, are obviously no longer available and there are probably about 30 - 50 hours to be copied. I think I have figured out the first step: Connect my tape deck player to my iMac using a cable with RCA plugs on one end plugged into the output of my tape deck and a mini jack plug on the other end which plugs into the back of the iMac in the Audio in/optical digital audio in port. I then read that I needed a program like Audacity. Well, I downloaded it (version 1.2.5 which was recommended since it was supposedly more "stable" than the newer beta version) and have absolutely no idea what to do with it - there appears to be no help menu of any use to me so all I am staring at is a window of a control panel with buttons for play, stop, etc. and a bunch of numbers underneath the buttons. I need very simple, clear, step by step instructions (sorry but it's a symptom of old age). I also have something called GarageBand on this computer which seems to have something to do with music and I wondered if it might be useful but of course have no knowledge regarding it's use. If anyone has the patience and time to provide me with very detailed, simple instructions (please don't presuppose I have any knowledge in this field) I would be very grateful. Thanks in advance.

You may use either Write-on effect or animate paint stroke.

When trying to copy a tape from Beta SP into Final Cut 6 does the audo end up of sync?

When trying to copy a Beta SP tape into Final Cut Pro 6 does the audio end up out of sync with the vidoe?

You are having sync issues with your capture?
How are you doing the capture?
MtD

Copying beta tapes to DVD

I have some old beta tapes that I want to copy to DVD. I've seen products such as myTV.pvr that allow connecting a VCR to iMac, then copy the file to DVD. A few questions:
1. I understand that myTV.pvr creates files in MPEG-2 format. Does iDVD '08 support MPEG-2?
2. If anyone else has experience with myTV.pvr or similar Mac-compatible products, I would be interested in any recommendations or experiences (good or bad).
Thank you.

G'day,
I've had a lot of success with mpeg streamclip (free software) which allows a multitude of format conversions, especially mpeg2 (DVD) to .dv which imovie 6 requires. You will also need to purchase the mpeg2 playback add-on from Apple (inexpensive). Using mpeg streamclip you can re-edit previously burnt DVDs by opening them in mpeg streamclip and then saving them as .dv files. You can then import the .dv files into imovie 6 and burn them from idvd. The added advantage of mpeg streamclip is that it allows you to capture video projects created on non-firewire devices (most current digital camcorder models). Hope this is of use.
Cheers from Oz

Trouble importing HDCam Tapes

Project I am working on is a Dutch feature film 24fps shot all over the world on RED.
Except for the Indian part - which was shot on HDCam. Today I started to try and capture these tapes and I have not been able to do it right - and it's night now. I am kinda desperate.
They assured me they shot the material at 24fps. So I set the J-H3 System Frequency to 24 and Monitor frequency to 48hz. I had no image. Then monitor frequ. set to 60hz. No image.
Then i saw that the timecode on tape was 25 fps. Called the set again (in China now) to ask if they were sure they shot on 24 fps. Yes they were sure.
But when I set J-H3's system frequency to 25 and Monitor frequency to 50Hz, I had image.
So i captured a tape in 25 fps. Checked then if timecode was the same in the clip as it was on tape. It wasn't. Difference becomes gradually bigger towards the end. So that looks like a 24/25 difference.
So I then tried changing the capture settings to 24 (and keeping the device control at 25) and i tried it the other way round, and i tried putting both at 24.
All of these options gave me clips that had weird frame rates like 24,77 0r 24,02 or 24,52.
And with all of these different options, the timecode kept "walking away".
The other problem I have, is that I do not have a decklink card that can capture HD at its full 1080 resolution, so i have to downconvert it to SD through the SDI of the J-H3.
So I capture them in Pro Res 422 HQ SD. And that is quite a pity cause I edit the material that is shot on RED in Pro Res 422 HQ 720 HD.
But when I capture the tapes, they are 4:3 fullscreen. And when I tag the anamorphic field of a captured clip, it doesn't look right. People look to wide. It looks as if it really is supposed to be non anamorphic.
But that would be strange, as the rest of the projects aspect ratio is 2.35:1
Can it be that the image is cropped (sides cut off) when downconverted to SD in the J-H3?
A monitor that i connected to the composite out in the J-H3 showed the same strange 4:3 image...

FCP X automatically splits imported tapes into their individual clips and there is no simple way of preventing this.
The clips will be listed in the order in which they were shot which is fine if you are importing a tape that is exactly how it was shot in the camera.
However, if you have edited a video, putting clips in non-chronological order and then export it to tape, FCP X will return those clips to the chronological order in which they were shot .......... which jumbles up your edited project.
There is no cure other than to recapture with FCE or Legacy FCP.

Homogeneous Database copy without tape restoration

Hi all,
I have AIX 5.3 servers with Oracle as databse. I am supposed to do database copy on a new server from an already existing server. However there ios no tape connectivity to that server. But both the servers are on same SAN. How is it possible to do database copy. Both would be same OS and same Database. Please tell me what are the steps to be taken for database copy.
Regards,
Priya

Hi,
Do the following:
1. Take Latest Offline/Online Oracle DB Backup of that Source System, from which you want to copy DB.
2. Copy that Offline/Online Oracle DB Backup Fille and Backup log file (*.anf) of that Source System to the Target System, on its free available local disk space.
3. Perform Homogeneous System Copy using Oracle DB Restore method:
     3.1 Restore Target Oracle DB using that Source Oracle DB with the help of BRRESTORE command.
     3.2 Backup Control Files from Source System and Change it according to the Target System directory structure before applying to to Target System.
     3.3 Perform Recovery using available Offline redo-log files (if you have restored Online Backup)
All above mentioned steps are well described in this useful document "[Homogeneous System Copy using Online/Offline Database Backup|http://www.basisconsultant.com/component/remository/Sytem-Copy-Guides/Homogeneous-System-Copy-using-OnlineandOffline-Backup/]" with proper understanding. Download it with simple registration and Please read it carefully and follow the steps mentioned in that guide.
Upon error, post your message.
Regards,
Bhavik G. Shroff

Trying to copy VHS tape using PINNACLE MOVIE BOX to FCE 4

Hello,
New to FCE and trying to transfer VHS tapes to clean up and movie them.
The salesperson in the local Apple Store suggesting using FCE and Pinnacle MovieBox. I connect an VCR using the RCA cables to the Pinnacle, then Firewaire to my MBP. Using FCE as per instructions and forums, Capture and hit "Now".
It starts to transfer and then stops with "Locating TIme Code Break Press Esc to Stop". Then stops.
I've tried setting clips, but get other errors, about not able to find the start points.
It's a basic non-audio VHS I would like to transfer from start to 2 hour finish.
Imovie 08 works, but can I transfer it in to FCE with out loss of quality. THe sales guy felt I should use FCE.
Can it be done, am I doing something wrong. I basically want to transfer it while I attend to something else. Do not want to watch all these VHS tapes.
Thanks,
Art

Hi,
when you use that DV converter setup, is your device already connected and working?
Can you see it listed using the system profile under the firewire devices?
I have a Canopus device which does the same kind of video conversions and it works fine on FCE4 using the DV PAL converter (in my case I work with PAL).
Have you tried direct connection with the firewire port of your mac (that's if you are using some sort of chain connection through a disk firewire hub)?
I have noticed my Canopus did have some trouble when it was connected through a firewire hub on an external disk. Now it's on a dedicated firewire hub and it works fine.
Regards,
Armando.

How to verify whether backup has been physically copied to tape ?

I have installed OSB and have a tape library. After backing up to the tape, I am able to see successfully backed up message. However is there any other way to confirm the backup really exists on the tape ?
Regards,
Sandeep

Do a test restore of the data to another folder or another machine? When we install a new environment we always do a test restore to ensure it is working. In the past we have uncovered drive firmware problems with encryption where the backup would work fine but the restore would always fail and the manufacturer had to fix it in the drive firmware. Always best to test.
Thanks
Rich

How to dub (copy) VHS tapes to DVDs (DVR670KU)

Josh @ Toshiba Tech Support (800-631-3811) gave these instructions which worked for us. Note: first VHS tape we tried ejected immediately. Second VHS tape we tried stayed in and dubbing worked.
- turn DVR670KU on
- press DVD button
- press Input Select button and choose "L1"
- insert blank DVD
- press Rec Mode button and choose mode (ex: SP)
- press VCR button
- insert VHS tape
- press Play button
- press Pause button
- press Dubbing button
- unit automatically begins VCR to DVD dubbing and displays "DB" on front panel
- press Stop button when done

Note that I'm not Josh. I'm not a Toshiba employee.
Are you saying that you followed the steps in the original post, up to and including
"Press Dubbing button" and the VHS tape did not begin playing? If so, did you get
any kind of notification on the screen? The VHS tape should have been in pause mode,
and should start playing once the DVD Dubbing button is pressed on the remote.
Are you trying to dub a commercial tape? (which you can't do with the Toshiba DVR620 and
DVR670)
What type of recordable DVD are you using? DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW? And it's
either blank or unfinalized?
Can you play the tape when you are not in a DVD dubbing situation? That is, just insert
the VHS tape, press the VCR button on the remote, then press Play on the remote?

Copying HDCAM Tapes

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for