Importing VHS & 8mm tapes at highest quality?

I've been using the VHS-to-DVD USB device to import old VHS and 8mm tapes to my Mac (using S-Video cable, then work on them in iMovie. Simple, but I'm wondering if there are alternative means with higher quality results. The mpg files I get are 640 x 480. Are there some professional products that are significantly better, or should I be satisfied with the current results?

I have been using iMovie, since iMovie 02 (and now use iMovie 06 and iMovie 11).
I have been constantly exploring the best way to convert VHS to DVD with a Macintosh.
I like the Grassvalley ADVC300 A/D coverter.
I've played around with countless other conversion systems, ranging in price from $79 to $399. Short verison, this is the ONLY unit to own. No dropped frames at all, even with questionable quality tapes, no jitter, great color, excellent sound quality. Zero setup with iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11.
This is a prosumer deck. The time code function is alone worth the price if you have old analog footage. Absolutely NO "Out Of Sync" audio.
ADVC300 is for anyone who wants to do editing and is concerned about quality of color and speed, for the novice it is an incredible gizmo that will restore VHS tapes to a state close to the original fixing midtones, highlights and shadows on the fly. Not only can you simply convert analog to digital you can actually manipulate the signal going in (if you want to).
A bit pricey but it WORKS.
The program that comes with the ADVC300 has some nice filters that can improve video and audio of the source material.
For maximum quality use iMovie 06, or Final Cut Express. If you don't need to do fancy editing, then there's no reason to have Final Cut Express.
Your workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, iMovie '06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels, aspect ratio, and original quality.
iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11 is a 100% "lossless" combination and my DVD's look like they came from Hollywood!

Similar Messages

Will FCE 4 Import Analog 8mm Tapes (unlike iMovie '08)

Hello--
I've had a heck of a time importing my older analog 8mm tapes onto my MacBook and was wondering if dropping bigger bucks on FCE 4 will help.
Since iMovie '08 for some reason won't import analog 8mm tapes from my Sony TRV-330 Digital8 camcorder, I've had to import the tapes using iMovie HD. The problem is then I have to save the iMovie HD project before I can import the video into iMovie '08 where I want to tag and edit it...and this takes a lot of extra time (hours per tape).
On other discussion boards, people have suggested using other video importing applications such as Vidi, iDive, and QuickTime Pro. The first two didn't seem to work out for me, so I just spent $30+ to get QT Pro...that was a mistake because the video and audio quickly got out of synch which was completely unacceptable (some of my older tapes have periodic video and audio dropouts due a problematic camcorder at the time, which I understand can cause that problem...but it didn't seem to be a problem for iMovie HD).
So, since I've read on these FCE discussion threads that FCE uses QuickTime it makes me wonder if I'd have the same video/audio synch problems in FCE (if it even would import analog 8mm video at all).
BOTTOM LINE: Has anyone successfully imported analog 8mm videotapes from a digital camcorder into FCE 4? I'd really like to be able to catalog, tag, and edit ALL my tapes (analog 8mm and Digital8) in iMovie '08 (but am willing to try to do it in FCE 4 if that's a better comprehensive solution). When will Apple fix iMovie '08 to make the lives of those of us who want to transfer old analog 8mm tapes easier??

Thanks for the response, M.R. I didn't know QuickTime was also the import engine for iMovie HD...if that's the case, I don't know why iMovie HD would import my analog 8mm tapes while iMovie '08 doesn't (assuming iMovie '08 also uses QuickTime as the import engine).
I haven't really considered a converter box since the Sony TRV-330 camcorder does the analog to digital conversion...seems like it'd be unnecessary. Do you think there's the possibility that the output from a converter box would look different than the output from my digital camcorder to iMovie '08?
--Bill

Importing VHS-C Tapes

I'm a long time FCP 7 user but seem to still be scratching my head over FCP X. I've set up a VCR directly into a MiniDV Camcorder which I'm feeding into my Mac. I was doing this on FCP7 yesterday and everything was working fine. But due to some technical issues I had to swap computers and am forced to now use FCP X. All I want to do is import about 25 VHS-C tapes and then I'll use the RAW footage later for editing.
When I'm running FCP X I can see the footage playing but everytime I click 'Import...' the timer in the top left corner starts counting. ex. 'Importing (0:08m)...'
but when I click 'Stop Import' they're no files. What am I doing wrong? I don't even know if anything is importing. I'm use to setting capture scratches and capture presets...this iMovie hybrid is just messing me up. If anyone can help it would be very helpful. Thanks!!!

Tom this is quite upsetting. So you can't use a deck anymore for capturing with FCP X? Any other ways/programs one can use to just capture the .mov file coming from the camera?

How do you transfer VHS/8MM tapes to disc using my Mac 10.5.6?

Can you direct me in how to tranfer VHS/8MM video tapes to disc using my Mac?

Your going to need Conversion Software and a USB Adapter.
I use > Roxio Easy VHS to DVD for Mac - VHS to DVD Conversion Mac Software

I've imported a lot of 8mm tape into a single project. I need to split off

I imported many hours of 8mm tape into iMovie. There are about 40 clips now and I want to split the 40 clips into about 7 different projects to edit individually. I don't want to re-import the 8mm tapes (read: I want to safely split off the clips without losing valuable import time).

Now that you have one project go to the clip you want, select it, then go to share, select Full Quality, click the box selected clips, save the name and it will make a dv file with those clips. Then after you have all the clips into a seperate folder start IMovie, create new project and drag the clips you want for that movie. It does take time to write clips into new file. You also need a good amount of drive space.

Import VHS-C with a sony camcorder

I am trying to import VHS-C tapes into iMovie using a VCR and passing through my Sony TRV-17.
I am able to do this but when I play it back in iMovie there are many breaks in the video. I get a blank grey screen that keeps popping up while the sound continues to play without interuption. I have played the very same VHS-C tape in the VCR while viewing it on a TV and it plays perfectly.
I tried a Canon Optura 600 and did not have any luck at all. Is there something I am missing? How do I do this?

Here is an update for anyone who is having trouble while using the same equipment......
I have a Sony TRV17 camcorder that I was using to "pass through" video into iMovie from a VHS-C tape playing in my Sony SLV N750 VCR. This setup was not working on some of my tapes giving me 1 second breaks in the video. NOTE.. the VHS-C tapes played fine on the TV with my Sony camcorder.
As a last resort I borrowed a JVC HR-VP77OU VCR and my problem went away. This confuses me because the Sony VCR played the tapes perfectly on the TV so I did not think to try another VCR. I was thinking that my problem was the cord from the camcorder to the VCR or the jack itself on the camcorder.
I am just glad it is working properly now. Thank you all for your input on this!!!
Kevin

Quality of VHS/8MM imported through DAC 200 anolog converter

I purchssed a data vision DAC-200 to convert my VHS and 8MM tapes and import into iMovie. However, when I import there are breaks in the import and the quality of the import is poor, even though the quality on the TV (VHS) and camcorder is good.
Mac OS X (10.4.8)

To tell you the truth I've read complaints/questions about configuring this and several other datavideo units but none about quality.
Any other suggustions
No, other than double checking other selectable features on the converter.
Is it possible that the DAC - 200 is defective?
Sure, that's a possibility. Or maybe the best quality this unit can produce doesn't meet your expectations.
If either is true I would suggest purchasing an inexpensive Mini DV camcoder w/passthru feature (HD Camcorders will drop in price soon and become the defato, no since in spending a lot of money), then you could record, convert, play etc. (more features than purchasing another converter)
Note:
If you setup your converter on another computer using the same VHS player/8mm camcorder and input source, you'd have a comparison to base your next decision on.

Importing VHS tape into iMovie.

I am importing VHS tapes into either imovie 09 or 06. When I play back in the program, it has good quality. But when I save it, no matter what format: mp4, .avi, .mov, etc. The quality is very poor when played back on DVD player.
Any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong?

I am importing VHS tapes into either imovie 09 or 06.
Use iMovie 06 with iDVD 09.
iMovie 09 and 11 uses 'single field processing' meaning every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage. iMovie 06 uses ALL of the image to form the video.
Your workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, so iMovie 06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels aspect ratio, and original quality. If you share your movie from iMovie 09, it gets re-rendered at 640x480 or less, and then iDVD upscales it back to 720x480. The end result is obviously not as good.
iMovie 06 and iDVD 09 is a "lossless" combination.

Importing VHS tapes w/ADVC-300 help

Please help, I'm converting a large number of VHS tapes to DVD using a ADVC-300 Analog to Digital Converter and a Sony VCR. Everything imports fine but everytime the signal hits a break in the tape (the old VHS snowstorm) iMovie stops importing. Since most of these tapes were made by my mother in law, nearly every couple minutes there is a break in the tape and I have to constantly hit import to begin again after a break.
While I enjoy being glued to 45 VHS tapes of my wive's childhood, I rather set it and forget it! It might be a function of the ADVC-300 but I was hoping there is a way to configure iMovie to import till disk full or stopped regardless of the signal coming in.
Thanks!

Hi Tom
I have an ADVC 100. I've imported VHS video through a panisonic VCR snow and all with no problems into imovie 5. The problem could be with the VCR or the ADVC 300.
A possible work around could be to set the VCR to play the video through to a mini DV tape camcorder. It should record one continueous video on a single time code. Then you should be able to import directly to iMovie -- snow and all!
It's an extra step, but you don't have to baby sit the VCR.
Good luck
Carl

Importing VHS tapes to iMac on the cheap?

Is there a way to import a VCR tape to the iMac on the cheap? I guess some type of cable convert from a composite out on the VCR to an input on the iMac? These are just tapes of tapes and such and do not need to the quality output of either the Canopus ADVC 110 or Elgato EyeTV 250. I copied a VCR tape to a mini-DV and was able to output into iMovie with no problem. But that seems a bit tedious!

I have this device. I don't know if $89 will be considered "on the cheap."
http://daystar-store.com/xlr8xtraview-theeasytousevideo-insolutionforthemac.aspx
It takes RCA composite or S-Video input and sends it to the Mac over USB 2.0 (must be a direct connection). It comes with software to convert that input to MPEG-4 or other compression format. It also has audio input (a pair of red/white RCA connectors); you can use that for audio or the iMac's built-in audio input.
I mostly use it to watch the output of my old TiVo box on my iMac's screen.

Highest quality import settings for iTunes 9?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;ylt=AooGuxvheq40oC0etoPY8yvty6IX;ylv=3?qid=20090909143724AALIlSP
*What are the highest quality import settings for iTunes 9?*
I just got iTunes 9 and I want to know what the HIGHEST quality import settings are with the exception of Apple Lossless. I usually import cd's as
AAC
Stereo Bit Rate: 320kbps
Sample Bit Rate: 48.000 kHz
Channels: Stereo
Now when I go into the custom menu and try to set these settings, it gives me an error message that reads the following:
"The selected combination of bit rate and sample rate is not allowed."
I was thinking about using WAV but I want a format that will be compatible with other/future personal media players as well such as Zune's and Creative MP3 players. Right now I have an iPod and don't plan on changing anytime soon. I just want the highest quality sound for my ears to hear.
so, *What is the highest for AAC?*
*Should I switch to WAV?*
& if you could, *What are highest quality settings for the other formats as well.*

well i personally think you should go with mp3 at 320kbps (max for that file format) main reason for this is that mp3 is compatible with pretty much everything, where as aac isn't although it is getting a bit better. the main difference between aac and mp3 is in the lower bit rates, i.e aac 128kbps sounds equivalent to mp3 192kbps (suppoesdly) but when you go from 192kbps and up both file formats sound basically the same, just a variation in file size. ig you want the highest quality for you ipod i would say 320kbps mp3. anything higher isn't worth it becuase most earphones cant even pick it up, only if you have high quality ones.

What's the best iTunes import setting for highest quality and universality?

What's the best iTunes import setting for highest quality and universality?

Highest quality?
Apple Lossless. (But the files are way big)
Universality?
MP3 (choose the bit rate you think sounds best and doesn't take too much space)

I have scanned photos using an Epson V500 scanner set to jpeg format using the least compression (highest quality) setting. When I try to import the scanned jpegs into iPhoto I get an error message saying "The file is an unrecognized format." But if I

I have scanned photos using an Epson V500 scanner set to scan using jpeg format at the highest quality (least compression) setting. When I try to import the scanned jpegs into iPhoto, I get an error message from iPhoto saying "The file is an unrecognized format." But if I reduce the quality setting on the Epson scanner to just slightly below highest quality, the images import into iPhoto just fine. Why won't iPhoto accept jpegs scanned at the highest quality setting? Wondering?

What scanner format settings dis you use? Are these color photos? If they are B/W did you scan as grayscale images? That could be the problem.
Are you able to open them with Preview? If so do a Save As, select full quality and save as a jpeg with a new file name. See if that file will import and work as intended.
OT

How do I import with highest quality ?

How do I import with highest quality ? Should I chose ''optimized media'' when importing or chose nothing ?

Hey Marcs,
The answer is no, but I suggest you have a read of some of the excellent articles out there about this to understand whats going on, and how to choose settings on import, and when sharing.
Here is a good article for example ...
http://www.larryjordan.biz/fcpx-when-to-optimize-media/
Cheers,
Bammers.

Maintaining highest quality possible during importing

when I import 320 kbps music into ITunes, the songs are ending up as everything else but...and I am losing quality...I am most interested in maintaining the highest quality playback...can you assist?

Ahhhhh!!! I see the problem now. You are NOT importing music. Instead you are ADDing it. There is a big difference.
"Importing" is when you read music off an audio CD and convert it to whatever import preference you set (e.g. MP3, AAC, etc). Or it is when you pick a track in your library, right click, and pick the Convert To... function which will make a new copy in whatever format you have set for your import preference.
But when you take music already on a hard drive and drag and drop it onto your iTunes library, there is no conversion done at all and you are simply doing an ADD to library where the file, as is, it used by iTunes. So if you take a 128kbps MP3, drag & drop it onto your library, it gets added just as it is, a 128kbps file.
If you really wanted to, you could right click on those lower bit rate files and do the Convert To... to create the higher 320 kbps files you have the import preference set for, but there is really no point since you will gain nothing in the conversion (the quality loss has already happened and you can not put it back) and may even make the quality slightly worse with another conversion.
Patrick

Importing VHS & 8mm tapes at highest quality?

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