Copying old VHS tapes via Director's Cut box into iMovie '08

Hi all, I'm trying to copy some old VHS home movies via a Director's Cut digitizer box into iMovie '08.
As the tape plays from the VHS player, the picture in the import window freezes every few seconds and then restarts, with the import timer resetting (in the top right of the window)? It's almost as if the digitizer box or iMovie is picking up some old editing codes and doing its own scene selections. Sometimes it does it after only a few seconds, other times it will go for a minute or so.
After it has processed the old tape, when you're in preview playback, fractions of the picture and sound are missing where it's done this odd "cutting". Any ideas?
Thanks

-Power everything off.
-Make sure all your connections are correct: a/v from your VCR to the Miglia ... FW from the Miglia to your iMac. Make sure the Miglia is the ONLY FireWire device connected to your iMac. No other FireWire devices should be connected.
-Turn on the Miglia. Make sure it is in NTSC mode; toggle it to NTSC if necessary. Then turn it off. Wait 10-15 seconds. Then turn it on again (required when you change between PAL and NTSC).
-Turn on your VCR, with a tape ready to play.
-Then boot your iMac.
-Start up iMovie.
-Make sure your iMovie Preferences show New Project Frame Rate = 29.97 fps (NTSC) - not 25 fps (PAL).
-Create a new iMovie project.
-Start your VCR playback BEFORE you begin capturing in iMovie.
Let us know if this solves the problem.

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Copying old VHS tapes

AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!
My wife volunteered me to copy her aunts crappy old VHS tapes to DVD. In order to do this, I have to capture the footage and then output it (I really should have gotten one of the stand alone recorders),
The problem is, even though I am running the VHS player through my Sony DVC deck, every time there is a hiccup in the VHS tape, FCP stops the recording! I have set the user settings to not stop on a timecode break (even though there is no timecode). I am capturing using a non-controllable device. Yet by the end of one tape, I have 20 clips, and of course, it also means I have to sit and babysit in case it stops partway through the tape. Is there any way to get around this madness!?!?!
Also, I tried capturing using Quicktimes recording feature, but this kept stopping as well!!

1
To Play back analogue video with a signal that is good enough to copy reqyuires a Time Base Corrector. This is a device that stabilises the inherent jitter caused by tape players, replacing the sync signals with good quality sync. The resultant signal is then stable enough to record.
you can buy a domestic version of this, which can be used with a DVD REcorder:
http://cpc.farnell.com/cyp/ctb100/time-base-corrector/dp/AV11954?_requestid=5518 23
there is a combined TBC and analogue video to Firewire converter which can be used to digitise the VHS for editing with Final Cut:
http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.com/products/ADVC300/index.php
2
If you buy a Panasonic recorder you can set the firstplay to 'track' which will only playback the video content without menus.
Message was edited by: Gary Scotland

Capturing old VHS tapes via Dazzle DV Bridge issue

Hey Guys!
I am capturing some old VHS footage (>20 years) in hopes to restore it digitally as much as possible but on one tape I've run into an issue. When using the playback on the DV bridge to my TV, the audio and video are great. However, in FCP after I have captured, I am noticing several audio and video "jumps" and distortions. I checked other segments of the capture and they seem to be fine, so I am assuming it may be the tape but since my playback on the TV was excellent, I'm not sure what to consider. Any ideas?

The tape has light physical damage. You need a converter that has a built in Time Based Corrector, such as [this one|http://desktop.grassvalley.com/products/ADVC300/index.php]. Expensive if you only need it for one tape, but you should be able to hire a unit.

Device for importing old VHS tapes into Mac to edit and make DVDs

Having tried one device unsuccessfully, we're looking for a device that we can use to convert old VHS tapes so we can edit in iPhoto/ Movie and store on DVDs. The one we tried came from the Apple retail store, but the Genius Bar was not able to get it to work. Thanks.

Here is how I do that (this only works with non-copy protected videos):
Connect the VHS tape player via RCA cables to an analogue-to-digital converter like, for example, the Canopus ADVC110.
Connect the converter via firewire to your Mac.
Import into iMovie as DV stream (I use iMovie 6). Edit out irritating commercials (from TV programs) and other glitches.
Convert to standard DVD format of mpeg2 in iDVD and burn to reliable media like Verbatim DVD-R.
Job done!

Capturing old VHS tapes

Hello.
Can anyone out there tell me the best way to capture old VHS tapes on to my imac? i.e. what software is best to use? What format is best? Best way to clean up the tapes/ machine before playing them? Basically any little tip and tricks for a good result.
I have searched and googled but cannot find information relavent to my set up. I have already imported quite a few tapes and the results vary from not too bad to terrible.
I would say that I have about 30 tapes that I want to go through and take bits from and am willing to give up a lot of time but only if the results are worth it. So far that has not been the case.
The set up I have at the moment is:
Hitachi VHS recorder (good one at the time)
Canopus advc-55
27" imac i7.
Also have Final Cut Express installed but find the capture/ achiving far easier in imovie.
Any help appreciated,
Pat.

Hi
Canopus advc-55 - should work OK
I use a Canopus ADVC-300 as this has two important (to me) features
• TimeBase correction - mend's small drop outs
The Capture doesn't halt
Audio is keept in sync - even when drop out frames
• Picture enhanzing
Then I prefer to use
• iMovie HD6 - and this set to Capture NOT in a cut up version as then drop out frames will trigger new clips (called save as individual clips in iMovie HD6 pref - I turn it off)
Else I don't need anything else.
Capturing in FinalCut Express or Pro - is more problematic to me as they are much more sencitive and halt's Import much easier. (Much more baby-sittings) - my notes on this following.
Analog to Mac/Digital
From
• S-VHS, VHS, VHS-C - Camera or VCR (VHS-C needs adaptor cassette - SVHS/VCR in such cases)
• Video 8, Hi8 ...........................................( Camera / Digital8 Camera or special VCR-player )
Can be done via
• Camera and tape or video trough (if present) (miniDV or Digital8)
• A/D-box
    Several brands (Must be FireWire)
        Canopus ADVC-55 (now Grass Valley ADVC-55) - (only on way)
        Canopus ADVC-110 (now Grass Valley ADVC-110) - (two ways)
        Canopus ADVC-300 (now Grass Valley ADVC-300) - (Timebase/code-correction)
        EyeTV
• VCR --> DVD (result needs conversion to be of use)
Captured/Imported by
• iMovie 1 to HD6
• iMovie’08 & 09 & 11
• FinalCut Express or Pro
• Final Cut Pro - X ( iMovie’11 Pro? )
• QuickTime Pro
• iDVD
SCART - Must use an SCART-adaptor with in and out switch. The one that came with Camera is one way. Camera ----> VCR/TV - not other way around.
RCA - Connect right way around
USING the S-Video out than RGB-video (Composite) from SCART will give a significantly better result !
Why
• Want to do a DVDs
• Want to edit
Connect VCR to A/D-box via SCART---RCA (EU) or via RCA---RCA (US) and set SCART switch to out (if used). The A/D-box may have an in resp. out side. Connect to in-side. Set A/D-box Input selector to Analog in.
My ADVC-300 has two sets of dip-switches on bottom - for PAL they are set to
Left one number 6 is set to on - all others in off state.
If 6 in off state then it is NTSC
From A/D-box via FireWire 6-pin to 6-pin or 9-pin end to Mac FW port.
Now turn A/D-box or Camera ON
Start iMovie or QT or FinalCut
Select Import or Capture
Re-wind tape in VCR or Camera
Start - Play on VCR or Camera
Import or Capture Now
See that the saved movie is collected on a hard disk with sufficient space
1 hour needs 13.5Gb
8 hour needs 105-110Gb (e.g. a 240VHS tape recorded in LP-mode)
How to store the material
• As is - Icon with a Star on it (iMovie HD6)
• As a set of DVDs
• Collected in a folder - FinalCuts Scratch folders + Movie document on an external/second hard disk
• As DiskImages
• Back to miniDV tapes
Do not use LP-mode with miniDV tapes. Two major problems.
a. When Camera dies - so does the tapes - Can’t be play-backed securely on other Camera even if
brand and type number is the same - the tolerances are to small
b. Audio goes out of sync due to 12-bit recording and/or drop outs in video makes video and audio
not walk in pace / parallel. Resulting in a very tough re-sync problem.
Yours Bengt W

Is there a way to import videos from old VHS tapes so that they can be later accessible to processing with imovie?

Is there any way to import videos from old VHS tapes so that thry can later be processed by imovie?

I recently got a new iPhone, and after restoring all my stuff from my old iPhone via the iTunes restore thing, I had to put all my music on manually, instead of it being restored.
iTunes content is not included with your iPhone's backup - no music, movies, tv shows, podcasts, audio and print books, tones, and apps. All iTunes content must be transferred back to your iPhone when restoring. If you sync music with Sync Music selected under the Music tab for your iPhone sync preferences with iTunes, music is transferred back to your iPhone from your iTunes library when syncing - syncing is followed after the iPhone is restored. If you manually manage music and videos with this selected under the Summary tab for your iPhone sync preferences with iTunes, you must manually drag all music from your iTunes library back to your iPhone. Manually manage music means manually all the way.

I'm looking for software for my iMac to use to copy old VHS movies onto DVD and old records (digital turn table) in CDs. Recommendations please?

I'm looking for software for my iMAC to use to copy old VHS movies from a VCR into DVDs and records from my digital turn table into CDs. Any recommendations?

For the VHS movies, try googling Elgato - they make a number of USB devices that are supposed to be able to do this, but check what formatting options they offer : you will want a device that converts directly into .MOV files (to play in QuickTime), or into H.264 for iTunes / iPods, etc.
As for the vinyl records - first you need a device that will convert the analogue output (phono) into a digital form and will connect via FireWire or USB. The Griffin iMic is one such USB device (if still available?). From there you can use the free Audacity download to read in the signal and convert to a suitable format, e.g. MP3. (You will need to use SysPrefs / Sound to switch to an external audio device, instead of your Mac's built-in mic.)
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Getting the best quality out of capturing old VHS tapes?

I want to capture some old VHS tapes using a ADVC55 and Final Cut 6 or maybe 7. The VCR I have does not have S Video.
1. Will using S Video make any difference with visual quality?
2. Are there any settings in FCP that I can make that will improve visual capture quality?
3. Any other general tips?
Thanks!

A TBC will correct timing errors that are inherent in analog tape playback. You'd probably recognize timing errors visually as wavy-ness (i.e.; not straight) in vertical objects in the image. Most of the stand-alone TBCs also have proc amp controls that would allows for phase, contrast, luma and chroma adjustments.
Thinking about it more, using an S-Video cable will help eliminate Y/C delay, which has the affect of shifting chroma slightly to the right of where it should be. S-Video (aka Y/C) transmits the luminance and chroma portions of the signal separately instead of together like a composite signal would do.
Using a different or newer NLE won't make any difference. It's the capture codec you choose that can make a difference. Most people would use DV NTSC (or PAL, depending on your country) since VHS resolution is only about 240 lines.
-DH

Capturing from old vhs tapes

I want to capture a bunch of old VHS tapes into CS6. I have an analog to digital converter that I'm going to plug a VCR into and a Firewire cable from the converter into my computer.
1.) Can anyone recommend any general settings for making sure I get the highest quality possible?
I'm looking at using the following settings:
Sequence Preset
DV - NTSC
Standard 48kHz
and then going to:
- File > Capture
- Press play on the controller at the bottom of the window
- Press record on the controller at the bottom of the window
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

There are a few ways to take care of this. One is to crop the 2 pixels from the top and the 2 from the bottom from the source when you export. If you do that, you can scale it up a bit to take care of it, or stretch to fit. Either way, it is unlikely to be noticeable since the analog wasn't picture perfect to begin with. Or, you can just leave the black above and below. Hardly noticeable at all - depending on how you display it. If you put it full size on a white web site then it is a problem. Playing it out on a DVD is not problem at all. Nobody sees that far to the edge on most TVs anyway. Although more and more they show the entire picture.
Basically, I suggest that you capture a few seconds of video and play around with it before you get too far into the project. You might not even have the noise.

How can I view DVD's that I dubbed from old vhs tapes? I finalized them and can play on other DVD players but not my IMac. Is there a specific program?

I dubbed DVD's from old VHS tapes. I finalized them and can play tehm on differant DVD players, but on my IMac I can't play them. Ultimately I want to create home movies with pics, but how can I play the DVD's?

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Lenovo IdeaCentre B520 - Plug in a Vhs and record my old vhs tapes!

Hi!
Besides of all i want to thank you for the time you gonna lose to read this post.
I bought a lenovo ideacentre B520 and i want to record my old vhs tapes.
I plug in the VHS into the AV in ports (yellow, red and white) and then i switch in the monitor to the av mode.
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Thanks for the help, and sorry my english writing...
Cesar

You'd need to tell us what kind of film and cameras you have. I think you'll need to buy some equipment to do that.
An alternative is to send your film to a place like Integrated Imaging and they could transfer it to DVD or another suitable format for iMovie.

Old VHS tape to DVD

I have a old VHS tape that I made but want to put it on A DVD or CD. Is there anything cheap that I can get so I can transfer it to my computer and burn it from there? Its only about 15 minutes long so its not really a big deal but not sure on how to go about it. Any ideas?

Hi
Using the Camera is a great way and best quality (my opinion) and a rather
straight forward way to do it.
Using DVD disc as an in between - works but reduces quality.
Only thing to know about using a miniDV tape Camera is:
• The Camera must have Analog-in. Often limited in EU due to tax as a VCR.
• You need a SCART-plug that has an in/out switch so that the VCR can deliver
to the analog in on the Camera.
Yours Bengt W

Converting old VHS tapes through camcorder to IMovie???

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Sue, that was not my point per se. I am not rich enough to own two video cameras. For others in my position a tried and tested analogue to digital converter seems a simpler answer, and a lot less work.

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Copying old VHS tapes via Director's Cut box into iMovie '08

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