Transferring VHS to digital via Final Cut

I am transferring a bunch of old VHS tapes via a data/video Bi-Directional Converter DAC-10 and everything is going well except that these taps are taking up a HUGE amount of hard drive space. The last tape was around 4 hours long and took up over 40 GBs!!! Is this normal? - if not what am I doing wrong?
Thanks,
Ham Stand

DV is 13GB per hour and that's a low-end editing codec.
http://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/videospace

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When I "Log and Transfer" my footage to Final Cut and the footage was filmed at 60 frames per second it always changes it to 29.97 frames per second. I need the footage to be 60 fps so it can be in slow motion. But if I start using the clips else where like After Effects CS5 it has the frame rate of 29.97 as I said before. Then my footage is kind a useless regarding the slow motion part.
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I have been trying for three days to the same thing.
I did get the video content off my camera via imovie 08 but the quality is very poor.
Haven't worked out how to improve the quality yet, I also tried importing the video
via ADVC 110 analog conversion device but that doesn't improve the quality.
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Hey all,
I'm recording some voice-over for a documentary shot on DV.
Here's my question: all other factors being the same, is there any disadvantage in terms of audio quality of recording into Final Cut (through an m-box2) using the voice-over tool, or recording into M-Powered Pro Tools using the mbox 2 (and then bringing the file to Final Cut)?
Pro Tools obviously allows for a far more sophisticated treatment of the sound after it has been imputed - but in terms of using it for capture?
I know that Pro tools allows 24bit recording, but I'd probably record at 16bit anyway so as to match the sample rate of the rest of my audio in the project.
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San Francisco

actually an in point by itself won't help you
a valid recording range needs both In and Out point, or simply a clip in the timeline which by its presence denotes the recording range
the recording range must be less than 5 minutes
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I am looking to optimize the export of my videos from Final Cut Express (4.0.1). I shoot HD Widescreen on a Canon Vixia HV30. I've been having problems getting good quality in a smallish package.
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Here are my settings for export (as Quicktime Movie with Quicktime conversion):
Compression: H.264
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This includes if you have upgraded FCP or OSX as well. QT as implemented in FCP seems quite delicate. The QT reinstall (linked to by David) usually fixes it.
It has been reported by more than one person to take more than one attempt to make it work. Also, be sure to follow ALL the steps.
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Like a lot of people, I have a bunch old 8mm tapes.
I'm trying to find out what camera I should be looking for in order to use a Firewire connection to my Mac Pro to get this footage into FCE, but I don't want to make a mistake and buy something that doesn't work.
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A friend of mine, a PC users, has a Cinemate film to video converter <http://www.moviestuff.tv/c_15.html>, and has digitized some footage for me. He saved it using three different systems: Scenalyzer, Vegas and Pinnacle. Each outputs a .avi file, which he put an a portable USB drive.
The files import into Final Cut (Express), but with this 'warning':
'The following media files are not optimized for Final Cut Express HD.
It is highly recommend that you recapture the media to create new copies of the files to improve their performance for multi-stream playback.'
They seem to playback, and the images 'appear' bring and sharp, so I don't really know what the warning means.
He does have the choice, when he captures, to save the files not as .avi -- his systems default -- but as NTSC DV files.
Would that be the preferred option? Or, put another way, what would be the best format for import into Final Cut Pro or Express?
Thanks,
Hal

<<You may want to invest in a software converter (flip4mac, for example) that will ingest your avi files into FCP.>>
This may turn out to be an option, but it isn't that FCPro won't accept the avi files; it's just that it gave me this warning that I didn't understand. If, as a previous posting said, it's just telling me that this wasn't imported via Final Cut, then 'no big deal'. If it's telling me something else, that's yet to be discovered.
<<If your friend saves the files as DV NTSC, they will still give you that warning when you bring them into FCP. DV NTSC may mean DV stream, which will have to be demuxed (the audio & video are mixed together) and is not easily editable. However, QT pro can demux these files for you.>>
It'll be an interesting 'experiment', and I'll be sure and post the results.
Curiously enough, iMovie imports these same files without blinking, and seems to convert them on the fly as it were to .dv files, with no apparently loss of quality. These can then be imported into FCPro/Express.
<<About the only thing that doesn't give a warning are files captured using FCP ....>>
If that's all it's tell me, that I didn't capture these using FCP, then I guess I could say it's telling me something I already knew. <grin>
Thanks for the input.
Hal

Opening MPG files in Final Cut Pro?

Am I correct in saying that you cannot open MPG files in Final Cut Pro? We have Studio 2 and Studio 3.
From my previous experiences, we have always had to transcode to an MOV in Squeeze or some other program. I guess Compressor would do it too.
We have a client that has 20 hours of footage in MPEG. Yes, I said 20 HOURS! It's low-res, but if my thoughts are correct, we'll have to transcode all of it. I don't know what exact flavor of mpeg the source is in, but regardless...that should take a **** of a lot of time. We only have a quad core with 6 gigs of RAM.
Any thoughts? Would really appreciate it.

Which flavor of MPG are you referring to?
----- MPEG1?
As recommended above, Premiere Pro will allow you to import and edit MPEG1. Adobe makes a 30 day trial version available if you don't have it already with one of their bundles (or maybe it's time to get the Production Bundle and work After Effects and Photoshop into your workflow?)
You could also find a utility that demultiplexes MPEG1; however, you'd probably want to convert it to Photo-JPEG at something close to 320x240 in frame size. You'll have to create a custom Easy Setup and/or Sequence setting. You could start with OfflineRT NTSC and change the compression amount from 35% to 100%.
If you're not going the Premiere route, search Google for "How To Demux/transcode/convert Mpg on Mac" and some options will come back.
Also, if you have Roxio Toast, it might be able to do the conversion for you.
But, with all that said, the only time I use Premiere Pro is when I have to cut MPEG1.
MPEG1 is meant for viewing video on a computer and/or devices that support MPEG1 at "VHS" quality. Or, simply put, this is almost the worst possible source video you could be given. (I'd put Photo-JPEG video streams from early point and shoot still cameras just below it. But then again, those would be easier to try to edit at first only to have the picture completely break apart when you try to export it). Two decades ago, MPEG1 was awesome, but even then you encoded it from an edited master that was on something better than VHS.
If you can find some hardware that will play MPEG1 out via S-Video, it's probably worth patching that to a DV media converter or DV camcorder and pass that through to FCP at DV-NTSC settings.
----- MPEG2?
The MPEG2 QuickTime component should already be installed via Final Cut Studio, allowing you to open MPEG2 streams directly into FCP; however, you'll probably be better off batch converting from MPEG2 to DV-NTSC and then cutting at the DV-NTSC easy setup.
----- HDV (MPEG2 codec for picture and MPEG1 Layer 2 codec for sound)?
I'd guess this isn't the type of MPEG you're talking about based on your post. Also, this is, of course, supported in both versions of the studio that you have.
-Warren

How do I get HVX200 footage into Final Cut 4.5?

This may be a redundant question, and I am currently in the process of waiting for my upgrade to Final Cut Studio to arrive in the mail, but in the meantime, just received a HVX200 camera in the mail yesterday and was wondering if it is possible to get the footage in my computer. I followed the instructions in the operation manual and my G5 did recognize the camera as a separate drive via Firewire on the desktop which is full of .mxf files. Being new to HD video, I just did a basic Firewire hook-up from the camera straight into the computer and hoped that I would be able to capture the footage via Final Cut 4.5 HD. Obviously I was wrong. After doing some research, I've seen several ways of getting the footage into the system, most of which refer to the latest version of Final Cut Studio, but nothing much on how to get it into 4.5 other than some confusing mentions of somehow converting the footage in Quicktime files. If the .mxf files can be converted into Quicktime and then edited in Final Cut 4.5 until my upgrade arrives in the mail, can someone please help me with this? The bad news is as of now I only have Mac OS X version 10.3.7. I do plan on upgrading very soon, but was curious if it is still possible to make the HD footage editable on the system I currently are running - 10.3.7 and FC 4.5. If anybody could help, I would appreciate it very much.
Mac G5 Dual-Processor with Final Cut HD 4.5 Mac OS X (10.3.7)

Do I have to be running the latest version of Tiger for this to work? I ask because the new Quicktime download method did not work from OS 10.3.9. Maybe I'm still doing something wrong. Either way, I'm completely confused. First of all, what mode does the HVX200 need to be in? MCR/VCR or PC/DUB mode? My main question is how to convert those .mxf files into editable and viewable Quicktime files. Can I select a "convert" option somewhere? Am I overlooking something here completely? The thing that baffles me is the Firewire cable running from the tower to the camera displays the HVX200 files on my desktop under a white-drive icon that reads "no name". I just so badly want to grab them and convert them to editable Quicktime files that my 4.5 Version of Final Cut will import and recognize. Looks like that would be a relatively easy thing to do, but apparently not. Honestly, all that I got out of the link that you attached was apparently just how to upgrade to the latest version of Quicktime which would recognize "XL1" footage, not HVX200 HD footage. The posting didn't appear to be directed towards the HVX200/FCP 4.5 solely.
In your original posting, you mentioned that FCP 4.5 would actually allow HVX200 footage in or at least knew a way to go about getting the footage into a system like mine. My question is, from your personal experience, can you give me a more accurate step-by-step description of what I need to do from hooking up the HVX200 to the G5 tower via Firewire and so on....
It just seems that only upgrading Quicktime doesn't really get me anywhere near where I need to be. As I just try to figure out the common-sense of this all, it sounds like the computer IS recognizing the camera and the P2 card - hence the icon the appears on my desktop full of my video files labeled as .mxf files. So from here, the only thing that I can figure is that the only way to see my clips are to convert those files into another file (such as Quicktime) that FCP 4.5 wouldn't have any trouble reading??? CORRECT???? Seems like this is the only way it's gonna fly on the system I have...until I get the FCS upgrade. That said, I've got a two week wait and I'm impatient to watch my footage on my high quality Apple monitor!!
Sorry to be a bother about this, but any additional help is welcomed!

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<<You may want to invest in a software converter (flip4mac, for example) that will ingest your avi files into FCP.>>
This may turn out to be an option, but it isn't that FCPro won't accept the avi files; it's just that it gave me this warning that I didn't understand. If, as a previous posting said, it's just telling me that this wasn't imported via Final Cut, then 'no big deal'. If it's telling me something else, that's yet to be discovered.
<<If your friend saves the files as DV NTSC, they will still give you that warning when you bring them into FCP. DV NTSC may mean DV stream, which will have to be demuxed (the audio & video are mixed together) and is not easily editable. However, QT pro can demux these files for you.>>
It'll be an interesting 'experiment', and I'll be sure and post the results.
Curiously enough, iMovie imports these same files without blinking, and seems to convert them on the fly as it were to .dv files, with no apparently loss of quality. These can then be imported into FCPro/Express.
<<About the only thing that doesn't give a warning are files captured using FCP ....>>
If that's all it's tell me, that I didn't capture these using FCP, then I guess I could say it's telling me something I already knew. <grin>
Thanks for the input.
Hal

QT Error -8961 generated when exporting from Final Cut Server

Not sure about this one. We have a user that is trying to export a clip through quick time via Final Cut Server, but they are getting error -8961.
Has any one heard of this error before?

Yes, go into the Admin window in the Java client (as opposed to the System Preferences pane) and go to Transcode Settings. FInd the setting you wish to be able to export with, double click to open it, and add the "Export" device to its list of destination devices. Save and close. You may need to log out and back into FCSvr to see the changes reflected in your Export window.

Final Cut Studio, no audio

I installed Final Cut Studio on my new MacBookPro, but I do not have any audio. Neither when I play in footage, nor when I play it via Final Cut. Can anybody help?

How are you trying to monitor the audio?
Check the bottom of your VIEW settings and see that the audio is set to play on your internal speakers.
If you have it set up to play the video to an external monitor the audio will default (sometimes) to 'audio follows video' and you'll need to 1) change it back to internal (lag or latency here would be an issue) or 2) set up speakers on your external conversion device.
Hope this helps... else check your main mixer window in FCP and make sure that the main audio THERE is set UP. (BTW - that's a good trick to play on people... set THAT audio there to off and there is NOTHING anyone can do to get audio out of FCP cept for going there and fixing it!!!! hee)
CaptM

Run Final Cut Express through Apple Remote

I am trying to capture a lot of video clips and to do that I have set up a couple of Mac Minis with tape decks connected and want to run them from one work station through Remote Desktop. Trouble is the Mini won't run Final Cut Express unless a monitor is attached. It does not recognize the video card being installed without the monitor. Is there a solution I am not seeing? Any ideas would be welcome.

We shoot hours of video everyday on mini dv camcorders. The tapes are then captured via Final Cut Express to a G5 Mac Pro connected to a dv deck with firewire. Clips are then mpeged and stored on a server for everyone to use in their research in the office. The tapes are about an hour each and I want to capture more than one at a time without setting up a bunch of workstations for one person to man. I want to have three or four decks connected to three or four computers all running Express and I want to operate those computers through Remote Desktop without monitors on those computers. This all works, I have set it up and done it with a couple of G5 Mac Pros but when I bought a Mini to save space and cost the Mini will not open Express without a monitor connected to it. Is there an easier way to capture video than I am thinking. I welcome any advice.

Preferred input format with VHS via Canpous 55 to iMovie/Final Cut Express

I am using VHS deck to Canpus 55 to iMovie 08/MacBook Pro.
I do the input to iMovie 08 as it is less problematic for input than Final Cut Express and also I can share these with family for their video making in iMovie.
However I import the video files from iMovie events to FCE for editing.
1. I notice the VHS-to Canopus-to iMovie are .dv files with frame size 720x480 and compressor file says DV/DVCPRO - NTSC, not Apple Intermediate Codec.
2. I also import AVCHD files and those are frame size 960x540 and compressor is Apple Intermediate Codec.
When I bring the .dv files in from iMovie 08 to FCE, I sometimes get the warning about the files not in the standard settings and the drop down list of settings include Apple Intmediate Codec in various choices and the NTSC in various choices.
Should these be somehow standardized or will the eventual output be ok? I had one VHS 15 min segment look great on the computer in iMovie, then FCE but was very digitized after output to iDVD.
Thanks for the help.

misterdmmc wrote:
... and I also don't have Imovie.
you do.
on the Installer Disks, your Mac came with, there's 'Installed software', which allows to install the iLife Package only.
for most of your needs, esp. being no professional editor , iM offers all you need:
https://sites.google.com/site/karstenschluter/how-to-make-a-vidcast
shows you how to use pic-in-pic, green-sceen, integration of 'charts' and other 'effects' of iM, to produce a vidcast.
-Subtitles
'Subtitles' is for me a switchable feature on DVD ... if you mean 'titles in lower third' - any editor offers this. what iM does NOT offer, is a free-locatable title (or e.g. logo-bug), but there's a simple workaround working with transparent pngs, see my site too ....-
-Split screen video. Half/Half or Full screen for one video source, and a tiny screen say on the top left of another source...
side-by-side? iM no, FC yes.
-Export video in ipod compatible format
afaik, any Apple video-app allows that ..
general advice:
• iM is meant for consumers - convenient, but limited.
• FC/e or /p is meant for (semi)professionals - what iM offers as a 'one click done'-solution, is a many-steps-process with some background-knowledge and understanding needed.
• for sure, FC offers MUCH more options .. any option, you'll soon get lost
• the learning curve for FC is steep! buy a book of master-mind TOM WOLSKY, who generously participates here at this board ...-
• I don't see a need for you in spending 1.000$ more for the FC/pro suite ... Motion? Color? Compressor? Highly complex tools for even more complex processing ...
I would 'play' with iM to get familiar with your project - what do you need, how should it look? if you reach the limits, have a look at FC/e at any Apple-store ... if it doesn't scare you, get the app and the book, and spend some months studying ...
and Welcome misterdmmc to the  boards ...

Transferring VHS to digital via Final Cut

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