Film to DVD transfer

I am planning to transfer 16mm film to DVD by having the film scanned onto a hard disc and then transferring the file into iMovie. A sound track will then be added and the result burnt to a DVD.
My questions are:
1 What is the best hard disc file format for the highest quality result?
2 Is there a file size or time limit on the transfer of a file to iMovie?
Looking forward to some advice
John

Hi
Best - is a demanding question - I can only share what I would do
1. streamingDV (as with miniDV tape Cameras)
DVD-standard is limited in it self - There are no HD-DVD as to yet.
Blu-Ray are better but demands in programs and burner and disks and players !
2. The video - if an external hard disk is used
• External hard disk *HAS TO BE* - Mac OS Extended formatted !
• And Should be a FireWire one - USB/USB2 performs badly
3. iMovie'08 or 09 - are not the tools to use if result is aimed to be a new DVD
• They both discard every second line resulting in only half the resolution
Use
• iMovie up to version HD6 - or -
• FinalCut any version
Yours Bengt W

Similar Messages

Transfer 8mm film to DVD

My father has rolls and rolls of old 8mm film from the 1950s and 60s. Any one have any ideas on what is the best way to get that film onto DVD? I figure at the very least I can project the film onto the movie screen with a digital video camera pointed at it, and record them. Any other ideas?
Thanks

Use of a digital camera and projector, as you've suggested, is probably the simplest way. I would only suggest that, instead of a projecting onto a screen or wall, you use a video transfer device such as those designed originally for transferring movies-to-tape.
These devices have two openings and an internal mirror at a 45 degree angle. The projector plays into one opening, and your video camera records at the other opening.
The resulting quality will be much better than if projected/recorded off a wall or screen.
They should be cheap, and even be available on ebay .

Movie film to DVD

Is there any way to transfer super 8 movie film to DVD. I have literally thousands of feet of movie film that I want to transfer so even at $.15 a foot I can not afford to have it done "commercially". I am willing to sacrifice quality if need be.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Dave

Well, I have a really labor-intensive way to do it...but the results are pretty good.
I have a GAF model 788 projector, which has a sprocketless drive, an inching knob, and a reflector lamp mounted at a right-angle to the film plane, with a small front-surface mirror right behind the gate. What I did was to remove the mirror and the lamp from the projector. I stuffed a daylight-balanced 40w vanity light into the lamp holder (using a socket and cable I bought at a hardware store) and replaced the mirror with a piece of white styrene plastic. I attached a 3" slide projector lens to the front of my camcorder lens, and lined everything up. I connected the camcorder to my PowerBook and used a frame capture program to capture frames at 720x480. The camcorder is focused (via the three lenses) directly on the film in the projector gate. I captured frames on the PowerBook and assembled them as a QuickTime movie at 18 FPS. I'm not sure if iDVD can handle a QuickTime movie with an oddball frame rate or not, but I also have Avid Xpress Pro, so I can use that to change the frame rate to 29.97 FPS for conversion to DVD.
I'd put together a web page detailing the process, but it's kind of hard to take pictures when my camera is the subject of the photo.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Costco's Film to DVD service

I recently learned of Costco's film to video transfer service and have a load of regular 8mm and Super 8mm material from my student filmmaker days that I would like to have digitized. I ultimately want to clean up the edits and sweeten the sound quality before burning to final versions via iDVD.
However, the hotline operator for the service advised that I would not be able to extract the file from the DVD to my Mac and that the software that they include on the disc that they provide is PC only.
I figure she must have just been quoting the company line on the file extraction question. Does anyone out there have experience with pulling these files off and working with them in iMovie '08?
Thanks in advance for any assistance.

I read of an app called MPEG Streamclip elsewhere in this forum. Would that do the trick for converting MPEG-2 to a format that will work with iMovie?
It is my application of preference. However, be advised that while the application is free, it requires the $20 QT MPEG-2 Playback component from Apple to bridge the MPEG engine with the QT structure embedded in the current Mac OS. It will allow you to convert to DV or AIC (high quality/large files), M-JPEG or Photo-JPEG (good quality with moderate file size) and MPEG-4 or H.264 (lower quality but smallest file sizes when video data rate is limited) compression formats -- all of which are iMovie '08 compatible. DV files are compatible with virtually all versions of iMovie and AIC is also compatible with iMovie HD without import conversion.
What format will I be changing it to?
As indicated above, MPEG Streamclip offers a number of options to suit both project needs and available storage space. Each option has its own strengths and weaknesses.

I am going to place a 30 minutes dvd film on a website for one of my clients. Before converting tje old vhs-film to dvd I must know what format will suit the needs best. HTTP, Flash, Quicktime or something else?

I am going to place a 30 minutes dvd film on a website for one of my clients. The film was shot 15 years ago and is in vhs-format. Before I will have the film converted into a dvd-format I want to know what format will suit my needs best. HTTP, Flash, Quicktime or something else? I will make it easy for myself placering the dvd film on the site and for the vistors who wish to look att the film.

The DVD format (MPEG-2) isn't appropriate for Web use.
Use QuickTime and H.264 video codec with AAC audio. Size the file at 320X240 (best fit for your old file).

Preparing my film for DVD - in quicktime?

I have down-converted my film from FCE to quicktime and when there is fast camera movement, lines appear around the subject
I have tried all the settings in quicktime conversion but none seem to improve the situation.
Im working in DV-Pal which was converted from HD.
Im converting using Quicktime conversion under the following settings:
Compression: H.264
Quality: High
Key frame rate: 24
Frame reordering: yes
Encoding mode: multi-pass
Dimansions:384x288
I have been told it may be interlacing, but I am wanting to produce my film onto DVDs - how can I do this in the best quality?
thanks

You need to start by shooting in true 24fps or at least with a camera that shots 23.976fps. Or you need a very sophiticated software application like Compressor or I think Nattress' standards converter to convert your media to 24fps. Then you need FCP or an application that supports 24fps, and finally you need DVD Studio Pro to make a DVD in 24fps.

Is it easy to convert films from dvd to ipad?

H, trying to convert films from DVD to watch on my ipad 2, is there an easy way of doing this? any help would be great, Thanks.

Sorry, but if you're referring to commercial and hence copy-protected video DVDs, breaking the copy protection, which would be necessary to copy the videos from the DVD and convert them, is illegal in the US (and other countries), so we're not allowed to discuss it here. Some DVDs and Blu-Ray movies come with a "digital copy" that allows you to download a copy of the movie for use on portable devices. You might see if any of the DVDs you have come with such a feature.
If these are home movies that you or someone has burned to DVD and hence are not copy-protected, Handbrake (freeware) is one of the more popular converters. Once converted, you just drag the movie into the iTunes window on your computer and you can then sync it to your iPad.
Regards.

Films Portfolio DVD with playback mode option.

I need to make a films portfolio DVD. The "TV" menu must to have 12 buttons targed to 12 Tv comercial films. I would like to know if is possible to include a command for playback mode at each botton, one mode is for play only the target film and stop, other mode is for play this targed film and all next films to the end of the program. Someone? excuse-me for the poor english.

You might try this utility to clear out cache files (select "autopilot" mode).
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/19596
How much free drive space do you have? If it's too full, it can slow down the system or cause other problems.

How To Transfer 8mm film to DVD

HI,
My Mom just gave me a bag of 8mm and super 8mm film reels. I want desperately to figure out how to get them into my mac for editing.
She does not have the projector any more.
Can anyone advice me on a course of action. I know I can go have them done some where but I would rather figure it out and do it myself.
Do I need to go buy a projector? If so, is there a specific projector I should be looking for?
Once I have the projector, how do you get it into your mac? adapter, go between?
I so appreciate your help. My Parent's wedding is on there and I have never seen it. I would be a dream to get to edit that for them.
Thanks in advance,
Susan

Start looking at links from this site:
http://www.moviestuff.tv/
As people are alluding to above, you'll have to decide how pristine of a transfer you want. I would advise looking into local companies if you're in a decent sized town/city. Then you don't have to worry about where your film will be or go to. Discuss the techniques used with the proprietor. I was able to find a company in Maryland that did a terrific job with stuff going back to the 30s using equipment from Moviestuff. The main thing to keep in mind is that you should NOT attempt to run the films through a normal projector that has a full-brightness bulb, which can result in your film getting cooked instantly due to their age. Also, a quote from one transfer site regarding home projection:
"The films are subjected to the harsh pull-down claw mechanism of a projector that may or may not be in good working order. The films of the participants may leave dirt and debris in the projector that will scratch the subsequently projected films." (see http://www.bonofilm.com/super8reality.asp)
--JV
Message was edited by: jvolino

75-minute film to DVD -- how?

Greetings. A simple question, I'm sure...
I've got a 75-minute film that I need to export to DVD. My elementary-school students and actors each need a copy; we'd also like a DVD to show the whole school on a big screen.
I've got...
... Final Cut Pro X
... Compressor 4
... iDVD
The "options" are overwhelming. My experiments have resulted in poor quality output.
Could someone suggest a straight-forward settings/methods for accomplishing this transfer, without loss of quality?
Many thanks!
Cat

Well, I still maintain that iDVD will do excellent quality DVDs - I've used it for years with excellent results when the physical disk is displayed on HDTVs, projectors, etc. On the suggestion to use High Quality, my recollection is that High Quality equals one-pass constant bit rate. It can give excellent results, but if you have a lot of motion you might see some artifacting. And, it used to be limited to only 60 minutes of video on the disc - I assume that's still the case. Professional Quality encoding will almost always give better quality, and will fit more video on the disc.
I took a little time today to experiment with using Compressor instead of iDVD. I immediately ran into the fact that there are practically no options for making a professional-looking contents screen for your disc. I just don't know if I could live without all the polished iDVD themes available, unless I was just making a quick-and-dirty preview disc - but I never have a need to do that. I always make use of the "fancier DVD menu options."
In addition, I often create DVDs that are not just one video, but rather several shorter videos on one disc. I can't see a way to do that when authoring in Compressor. I even checked out a few web tutorials and the lynda.com training for Compressor. If it's possible to have multiple videos (not multiple chapters) on a disc created in Compressor, please tell me how.
So why not compress in Compressor and use those files in iDVD? As Tom said earlier, iDVD won't recognize them. I think they're meant to be used in DVD Studio Pro or some other higher end DVD authoring tool.
It may be possible that if you are creating a disc with only one video, can live with a contents screen that is bare bones (or nonexistent), and tweak the settings in Compressor to two-pass vbr and maximum data rate, you might get a DVD that is slightly better quality than iDVD can produce. However, I'm not yet convinced, so in the interest of open-mindedness I will be testing this when I get time this coming week. And, for my particular needs it's going to have to be noticeably better to offset the authoring and workflow restrictions it would impose.

DVD transfer to NANO

I just bought my NANO. I had no problem transfering my music, as I owned a shuffle before, but how do I transfer some movies/TV episodes from my DVD collection to my nano? Or is that not possible? Am I only allowed to download DVDs from the internet to the NANO? I'm not very technically savvy, so if it's possible to transfer from the DVDs, please be very specific. Thanks so much!

If you mean commercially released films or TV shows on DVD I'm afraid that can't be discussed as that involves breaking the encryption on them. Such discussions are against the terms of use. "Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.":
Discussions Help & Terms of Use
US Code, Title 17 Sec. 1201. Circumvention of copyright protection system

IDVD 7 and leader film before DVD menu

Dear readers and helpers
I try to produce a DVD with iDVD, which until this stage does it well.
Now, as with professional DVD's, I would like to see a leader/entry film before the DVD menu is showing up.
Does anyone know how I could achieve this with iDVD or maybe with Final Cut Pro X?
Thank you for anyones help and suggestions.
Regards from Switzerland
Thomas Thaler

Hi Thomas,
I am not sure what "leader films" are but if you a referring to something like a preview before the motion menus you can accomplish this.
Open DVD map and you'll see boxes. Basically drag your movie file on the very first box.
Basically after you disc is burned, that movie in the first box will play and then the motion menus.
I hope I addressed your question correctly.
Calbe

Convert online film to DVD Format

Where should I begin to simply download a full length film and convert it to DVD format?

Start with the tutorial list in message #3 http://forums.adobe.com/message/2276578
As long as there are no license issues, a downloaded video is like any other video... as long as it is a codec that PPro will edit
For CS5 and later, the easy way to insure that your video and your project match
See 2nd post for picture of NEW ITEM process http://forums.adobe.com/message/3776153
-and a FAQ on sequence setting http://forums.adobe.com/message/3804341

MiniDV to DVD transfer via iMovie and iDVD?

I own a Sony DCR-PC9, which is a digital tape video recorder (MiniDV) circa 2001. (yes I know, time to upgrade) I have about 20 tapes to transfer to DVD. I am using iMovie to import and edit the video and iDVD to burn the DVD. Digital tape is not HD of course and I really do not know what resolution it is. All the tapes were shot in 4:3 (vs. 16:9) so I know I will have some issues with bars on the sides. My real questions are:
1. How do I make sure that I import the highest quality image I can from the recorder into iMovie? I do not care about the size of the file.
2. I have no problem actually importing and editing but the DVD I create is very poor quality when played on a new LCD HD TV. Is that just the way it is? A “bad” source (digital video tape) being played on a brand new TV? Is there something I can do either in iMovie (editing) or iDVD (compress, not compress, upconvert, etc.) to make the DVD quality better? I really have no knowledge of what “compress, not compress, upconvert, etc.” mean and I threw those in there as I see those words all the time. It seems as though there is some choice in how the DVD is burned in iDVD. Are there other products that can improve the video quality before it is burned to the DVD?
I am not interested in making any fancy edits, adding titles, etc. I just want simply to get the digital video tape on a DVD but with good quality. I did plug the video recorder directly into my new TV and as expected, the quality was not good. Am I just doomed because I have a “bad” source (digital video tape) being played on a brand new TV?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Your camera is a miniDVD camera with FireWire. It is 4:3.
Have you tried the OneStep DVD approach in iDVD? (Look in the iDVD HELP for OneStep).
This will let you transfer your video content to a DVD without using iMovie.

Mehrere Filme auf DVD

Wie kann ich mehrere Filme auf eine DVD brennen ? Ich benütze Premiere Elements 10.

Select the option to burn your DVD files to a Folder rather than directly to a disc. This will create a file folder called VIDEO_TS on your hard drive.
Then use a program like ImgBurn to burn this VIDEO_TS folder to as many DVD discs as you need.

Film to DVD transfer

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for