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

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Getting the best quality out of iMovie for Photo Slideshows

Hi, Finally I got my iMac the other day and have been playing around and trying to get the best out of it and was hoping to get some help from here. I have been playing with ilife on a friends mac for a while but never had a go in anger and now need some proper answers. Its quite simple. I create photo dvd slideshows and need to find the best way to do it. As far as I can tell there are a few ways. I can use imovie to get the running order - add the Ken Burns effects (that I DO need) - add music - add transitions and "share" to a .mov file and drag this into iDVD to put a menu on. Ok - this works but I get some MPEG artifacts (I know this is to be expected - I have been doing this for years on a PC). I can drag photos into iDVD but as far as I can tell I cannot have Ken Burns so this is out. I can use iPhoto to make a .mov file and again import this into iDVD. Am I missing something here? iMovie08 seems great and the .mov file is good enough quality to re-render in iDVD without losing too much quality so I guess this is the way to go but is there no way to go without rendering the .mov file and then going into iDVD? I have also used iMovie06 before and it had better transitions between photos - have these been lost in iMovie08?? I have set the quality in iMovie08 to "Profesional" but there stil seems to be a bit of artifacting. Should I try Toast?
Apologies for the long post but am really keen to get this sorted. I have posted before on here and got great responses but just want to get it right 100% before putting lots of effort in. I have next week off work to perfect the photos to DVD slideshow before I start to try to sell these things! many many thanks.Ben

Hi,
Many thanks for the post. It seems to be that iDVD is giving me the render quality issues. I am going to try toast to see what thats like. Thanks for the help with imovie06. I have been using it but it has a bug when you fade music out so cannot use it unfortunately!
Regards

This is my first time using FCPX and I just completed editing a music video. What are the last things I have to do to get the best quality out of my video before I try to upload it to youtube?

I want my music video to look as crisp as possible. I was wondering if there were an tricks or tips that needs to be done before i upload it to youtube. This will be my first time uploading anything to youtube so im not sure. also what does rendering mean? and compressing? thanks

Best quality = "master file" export. You can export said file and store it where ever you like.
But quality "out" depends on what you put "in." You can never "improve" on the quality during the edit process. If you had low quality H.264 files to begin with, that's the best it's gonna get. If you had HQ ProRes422 or even 4444... (which is "above" 2k HD quality) those are great. And the output will be rich. But most likely, you will have to compress that file to exhibit it. (I'll get to that later.)
Now, when you share to YouTube, you will be limited on quality. They have a prescribed bit-rate and compression. (Even though they do offer 1080p.)
Now, you will NOT be able to share a "master" file to YouTube. Much too big.
Luckily, in the share options, FCPX has an option for "YouTube." It does all the compression for you. BTW: This is awesome. It finds your account and does the "posting" for you. It's simple.
Rendering = calculations made on various effects. A non linear editor has to build files for some effects... dissolves, moves, filters, etc, etc. The software does "math" and crunches numbers--to make your image animate across the screen, example. This is called "rendering." Depending on your preferences, this is done for you.
Now when you output or "share," rendering is done for you automatically. If you choose to see how an effect will look "smoothed out," you can choose to render a file on the fly.
Compression means just that. Video files are, by nature, huge... billions of O's and 1's. To make them flow thru various pipelines (the electronic infrastruture) most files are compressed--or made smaller. Basically, some of the duplicate O's and 1's are taken out. (It's much more complicated than that, I'm givng a laypersson's definition.) The more you compress, the less quality you get. The picture begins to look "jig-jagged" or pixelated. There is less detail in the picture.
When you go to "share" to YouTube, FCPX will do this compression for you, up to (or should I say, "down to") YouTube's specs.

HOW DO I GET THE BEST QUALITY RESULT!?!!?

I have a canon GL2 and when I plug it in directly to the TV and watch my footage the quality is great, I then upload it to Final Cut and the quality is somewhat there, but when I go to export it I can never achieve the quality that it gets when I hook up the camera directly to the TV, and roll the tape. How do I export using compressor or not, to get the best quality, I dont care how big the file size I just need the quality!!! Thank you in advance for the help!

It depends on what format you want to output to.
If you just want the best quality, then output to 10-bit Uncompressed quicktime - the files will be huge though.
Do you need to output back to tape, DVD or something else?
Also, make sure that you have the right settings in your sequences, so you don't loose any quality there.

To get the best Quality for YouTube?

Hi there.
I have a question.
Which settings do I have to have in the media encoder in pro cs3, to get the best quality in a YouTube video?

I found this discussion from almost a year ago:
Drogba, "My YouTube video looks blurry using Adobe Media Encoder" #, 20 Oct 2007 10:32 am
...but the suggestions discussed there didn't help me, so I'm hoping someone reading this thread has other ideas. YouTube's PixelDestroyer® and VideoFracker® technology does an effective job of making my good footage look like it was shot through a thin film of mashed potatoes.
The H.264 codec seems to have ruination as its primary purpose. And the iPod and flv settings aren't much better. Heck, even if I export to mpeg (either keeping the native 720 x 480 resolution or shrinking to 320 x 240) my produced mpegs look great -- but once YouTube gets hold of them, they look like
dreck.
Sure, Vimeo or WhateverOtherTube service may have better quality, but when someone wants to search for a video, there's only one site that anyone thinks of going to. That's why Google bought them.

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

How can I get the best quality video on YouTube?

I tried what you posted from another poster, Steve, but had a problem at step 2, the part in red.
2. Import this AVI file into Windows MovieMaker, place the file on MovieMaker's timeline and Publish (to your hard drive) a
WMV, dvd-quality (4:3 size) PAL 3,0 M.
When I click Publish, the only option I get is "YouTube" and "Get Add Ons".
Since the option I was told to take didn't exist, I clicked "save movie" and then "high definition 1080p". Hey I'm just trying to figure this stuff out. I'm new to it, so I picked the highest quality I could find.
Well, the result is a movie on YouTube that is OK, but nowhere near the quality of the movie on my computer. Just for fun, I uploaded the AVI file to YouTube from MovieMaker. It was a huge file, it did upload, but the quality was still not there.
So, I return to my original question, which is almost the same as the originally posted question:
How should I save video with Premiere Elements to get the highest quality video to post to YouTube? The videos were taken in AVCHD format, but after editing, I don't know the best rendering option to get the highest quality video when viewed on YouTube. The videos look great on my computer, but on YouTube, the video is really degraded.
Thanks for any help!
I have an i7 processor, 8 gigs or RAM, and am running Windows 7 x64. Video editing is with Premiere Elements and my video camera is a Canon HG10 that shoots AVCHD.

I had the best success using the John Cloudman method from the link you posted. The video was much better quality on YouTube (in my opinion) with this method than the method of going to Movie Maker etc. I tried John Cloudman's Frame widtht of 1280 and Frame Height of 720 and then frame width 1920 frame width by 720. I found 1920x1080 better quality on YouTube than Mr. Cloudman's 1280x720.
I pasted in the part of the link below that I found most useful. A big thanks to John Cloudman for posting this!!
John Cloudman offers further advice:
From the Share tab, choose Personal Computer and then QuickTime. Choose the Cable Modem, DSL preset and then click the Advanced button.
From the settings window, do the following:
b Video Tab
*Video Codec: H.264
*Quality: 100
*Frame Wdith: 1280
*Frame Height: 720
*Frame Rate: 29.97
*Field Order: None
*Pixel Aspect Ratio: square
*Set Bitrate: checked
*Bitrate: 8000 kbps
b Audio Tab
*Audio Code: AAC
*Output Channels: Stereo
*Frequency: 44kHz
That should generate a .mov file that Youtube will handle correctly. You can modulate that Bitrate to reduce the amount of data size, and you can modulate the Quality number to reduce the encoding time. I wouldn't go lower than 3000 kbps for a bitrate or below 50 on Quality. Hope this helps everyone!

Getting the best video out of FCE 4?

Hi All - I've been reading a lot here and respect the opinions of everyone on this forum. I have one question which, through all my research on Final Cut Express 4 (maybe not enough research) eludes me.
I'm about to purchase either a Canon HV30 or HG20 and I want to know, using a Mac Book Pro and FCE 4, how can I ensure I import/edit/export the BEST quality video?
First and foremost the video will be watched using an HTPC(Mac Mini) on an HDTV and secondly I'll be exporting to the web and DVD. I'm primarily concerned with the video being watched on the HDTV/Mac Mini.
I guess my one question is actually a few questions:
1. Will I lose any quality importing HDV/ACVHD (imported with the Apple Intermediate Codec), editing in FCE and exporting to a Quicktime Movie? The Geniuses at the Apple Store say no, but I'm not so sure they are Geniuses.
2. What can I do to ensure the best quality from import to export?
3. Is there a better codec I can use (I'm willing to buy it) that will work with FCE? Not sure I want to spend the $$$ to upgrade to FCS 2 just to get the ProRes 422 codec (which I could just buy the codec).
4. Is there hardware I should be considering?
5. If there is to much loss using FCE is there a better NLE for the Mac (up to $500) that I should be working with?
On a side note, I'd like to get 5.1 sound from my videos, are there any recommendations on what program I can use for this? It's not as important to me as the previous fives questions, but it is something I would like to be able to do at some point soon.
I'm currently work with the following:
Mac Book Pro
2.16Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB Memory
128MB ATI Radeon x1600
120GB Internal SATA Drive
160GB External Drive (USB 2.0)
So far this platform has worked fine editing the HH video from my Sony HDR-SR10 (being replaced by one of the Canons), but I'm not 100% sure I'm doing everything I can for optimal video. Honestly the 1920x1080 60i looked terrible in great lighting but I think that is a problem with the Sony not FCE.
Please let me know if there is any further information I can provide to help you better answer my questions.
Thanks for any help you can provide.

trebu2005 wrote:
1. Will I lose any quality importing HDV/ACVHD (imported with the Apple Intermediate Codec), editing in FCE and exporting to a Quicktime Movie? The Geniuses at the Apple Store say no, but I'm not so sure they are Geniuses.
AIC is designed to give 29,97 full image/second (for 60i)but HDV and AVCHD are based on long group of images (GOP) at each 0.5 second. That's one full image at each .5 second with many inbetween uncomplete images. Transcoding AIC doesn't improve the original compression, but doesn't degrade it.
2. What can I do to ensure the best quality from import to export?
The problem relies on delivery with HD content. It's difficult to authoring and burning BR-DVD right now. The aren't many BR burner, authoring program, BR DVD blanks, etc, on the market.
AIC timeline can give excellent results but how to view the resulting movie is more complicated.
3. Is there a better codec I can use (I'm willing to buy it) that will work with FCE? Not sure I want to spend the $$$ to upgrade to FCS 2 just to get the ProRes 422 codec (which I could just buy the codec).
ProRes is almost similar to AIC when applied to convert HDV/AVCHD
4. Is there hardware I should be considering?
A current solution is to use excellent 3 CCD camcorder with good lenses, steady tripod, subject that convert well under HDV/AVCHD limitation, well lighted set. Apply a color correction to your final sequences. Use a more efficient compression app. Use a calibrated monitor.
5. If there is to much loss using FCE is there a better NLE for the Mac (up to $500) that I should be working with?
I do know any one. Final Cut Pro use the same technology than FCE except that it support more codecs and more format (like the newest HD formats for broadcast purpose - needed by professional cameras).
On a side note, I'd like to get 5.1 sound from my videos, are there any recommendations on what program I can use for this?
Final Cut Pro support 5.1.
May be Premiere Pro from Adobe. Check the website.
I'm currently work with the following:
Mac Book Pro
2.16Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB Memory
128MB ATI Radeon x1600
120GB Internal SATA Drive
160GB External Drive (USB 2.0)
A laptop is not mainly designed to edit HD in optimal conditions.(relatively small monitor, no internal dedicated hard drives, small keyboard. USB is not supported by FCE to handle video capture/edit.
So far this platform has worked fine editing the HH video from my Sony HDR-SR10 (being replaced by one of the Canons), but I'm not 100% sure I'm doing everything I can for optimal video. Honestly the 1920x1080 60i looked terrible in great lighting but I think that is a problem with the Sony not FCE.
Remember that HDV and AVCH have teir limitation. Search the web, you'll find a lot of links explaining those limits.
Michel Boissonneault

I import in HD and Export in HD 1280x720 and Use the IDVD burner How do I get the best quality? It seems to be a generation down on quality.

Need help with getting best quality for DVD's.

The best quality you can get is to first understand that the biggest frame you can play back using a DVD player is 720x480. So no matter how big the image is going into iDVD it is throwing away some information to get it all to fit 720x480. Your best option then is go to Share Menu > Media Browser... Then choose the Large size.
Open iDVD and find your video project by clicking on the Media button in the iDVD lower right hand corner. Then above that there's the media browser window with the Movies button on the right hand side. Click Movies button and browse for your project under the iMovie star icon.
Drag that project into a clip and burn the project to a DVD-R.

Please suggest a method and some settings to get the best quality DVD

I’m trying to find the correct settings to use to make the best quality DVD of an iMovie project. It includes still photos (a couple use the Ken Burns effect), movie clips, titles, maps, transitions, and audio. The project is 33 minutes long. So far, I have burned it by using 3 different methods and the results vary, but not one of the three is optimal for everything. Is it possible to make a DVD that has the best quality of everything or do you have to sacrifice one thing to get the best of another? Here’s the workflow for each method.
#1 iMovie09 ->share to media (960x540) ->burned with iDVD (best). Everything is acceptable except for the movie clips which have low quality with smeared details.
#2 iMovie09 ->export to Quicktime (Apple intermediate codec, current frame rate, data rate-auto, compressor native, 1440x1080) ->burned with
Toast 9. Compared to the first method, the titles are pixelated, the animated map arrows show jaggies, one Ken Burns zoom shimmers a lot, the quality of the photos is slightly less, but the movie clips are a lot better and are acceptable.
#3 Quicktime .mov file from #2 ->MPEGStreamClip (deinterlace, all other settings auto or default ->burned with Toast 9. Movie clips are the best of the 3 methods, photo quality is better than #2, but not as good as #1. Titles and other effects are just a little better than #2, but not as good as #1.
Can anyone suggest some settings using any combination of the programs mentioned above to produce a DVD that has the best photo, effects quality, and movie clip quality all on one DVD?
Rick

from a prior post, I find this worked quite well, but i think you already thought it was not that good for you, i did not get the 'smeared details" or so I thought:
"In iMovie, do not "Share to iDVD", it makes a pretty bad product. Instead,
"Share to Media Browser" and choose the "HD" version if you can, this will take your iMovie project and export it (Can take an hour or 2) into a 720p movie (that looks close to your original iMovie project). That 720p .mov file will be hidden in the iMovie's Project's file; access it if you want by right clicking on the project, show contents, movies (but you dont need to look at it as it is directly accessible through iDVD). SO after the movie has exported, you then open iDVD and click on the MEdia button in the lower R corner, then Choose MOvies, then choose iMovie and you should be able to see that 720p movie that iMovie made. Drag that movie version into iDVD's window (after setting up your theme, background music etc) and then burn. It should look pretty good. Remember, all DVDs are compressed to standard definition (SD) so you will lose definition from the 720p to the 480 resolution of a DVD, but hopefully it will be fine.

How do I get the best quality DVD rip?

I need to rip some video from a DVD (my own work, no copyright issue) and everythign I try makes a noticably inferior quality video image. I have used Handbrake and a few different commericial utilities. I am looking to acheive a file size which is similar to the file on the DVD, which is about 1 GB. I tried one utility which converted to Apple Pro Res .mov, but it made the file a massive 8 GB, but the image looked significantly worse! Can't understand that. I know the image is compressed on a DVD, but what is the best way to get it off and looking no less quality than it did on the DVD. I eventually want to edit that file in Final Cut Pro X to make a showreel.
Thanks

Tom Wolsky wrote:
That's wrong. You should use 720x480 anamorphic, which is what the original file should be if it was correctly made. I can't say what rip it is doing but that's the way it works.
I don't see the option to use "anamorphic", so it comes out 4:3. How do I fix that?
In terms of Ripit's involvement in the process, I have also tried this using Streamclip, direct from a DVD and get the same results, so for all intents, Ripiit is not a factor here. I only use it to get the encrypted DVD on to my drive (see earlier note about the material being my own work!).
The distortion I see seems to coincide where interlace shows the most distortion too, so I'm figuring this may be related to de-interlacing, but I do need to de-interlace, so how do I get around that? Here's the same image from the non-interlace output. Otherwise, the Streamclip copy looks good, but stil need to deal with interlace.

IMovie 10.0.5, share as a file. Is mp4 the only option? How can I get the best quality, no matter the file size?

Hi everyone, I made a project in iMovie 10.0.5 and I want to get the most out of it in terms of quality. When sharing I don't see any options. File is mp4. What can be done? Thank you in advance for your answer.

iMovies design is designated to 'convenience' - as little as confusing 'options' as possible.
mp4 is just a wrapper, or media container, don't be confused with the antiqué mpeg4 codec - the mp4 iMovie creates, contain h.264 as codec.
When you export a fullHD project, the bit-rate is ~20-25mbps - close to max., a camcorder creates (28mbps).
For sure, pic quality depends on many more factors, not only export-settings.......

How do I get the best quality Quicktime movie

Hi
I have a wedding fair coming up and want to show some of my films on my laptop. I want to achieve the best possible qualiy I can but am not too worried about file size. I also want a large frame size, ideally 1024x576 or larger. Can anyone suggest the settings to use, I've tried converting using quicktime movie but can only manage to get a small frame size. Incidentally, my laptop is a PC so I wont be able use FCE.
Many Thanks
Adrian

Hi Tom
Im shooting in Mini DV PAL, do I just export as a quicktime movie and set it the same?

Getting the best quality video

First, I have a new Canon HV20 and I would like to record in High Definition, edit it in my Premiere Pro CS3, and export it so that it is clearly visible as HD. As practice I have connected my camcorder via Firewire for capturing. What settings or presets should I verify or modify before I capture in order to ensure the highest quality video? Any help you can give me, I'd greatly appreciate!!
Dean

Thanks Jim. I have been using the preset, but when I upload for editing, it loses some of the quality. I was just wondering if there was another option so that I would lose the quality.
Dean

What is the best format for ripping CD's to get the best quality?

I'm sure this has been asked before but I wanted to see what was the latest thinking. Any ideas of the additional Hard Drive usage? Thanks

mysteryroach wrote:
My questions are: What are the best settings for ripping cd's in the AAC format?
It is a matter of opinion, but I suggest 256 kb/s, CBR, and leave all other settings on automatic.
Will I be able to burn cd mixes with the tracks I import into itunes after importing using the AAC format?
Yes. Just put them in a playlist and burn.
Does the AAC format have VBR like the MP3 format?
Yes. You will see it as an option in the Import Settings.
Is there other ripping software such as dbPoweramp and Exact Audio Copy that does a better job ripping cd's in the AAC format?
EAC does a better job of correcting errors in damaged CDs, but for normal CDs iTunes does a fine job of ripping to AAC.

Getting the best quality out of capturing old VHS tapes?

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