Workflow for VHS to DVD conversion

I am bidding on a large scale project to convert 123 VHS tapes to DVD. This is to be done a one-to-one basis and each DVD would have a simple chapter menu system. The client also wants the chapters to be saved on a separate DVD or CD as WMV files.
I am soliciting help for suggestions on the most efficient workflow. I assume that the VHS tape is brought in to the computer using an A-to-D converter and made into a DV file. I propose to bring the DV file into FCP 5 and section it with chapter markers and export it to DVDSP. DVDSP would have a template to receive the file and I burn the DVD from here. I would then cut the FCP timeline into clips and batch export them with Flip4mac WMV. Renaming the files to match the chapter markers would take time.
Given the large number of tapes, does anyone have suggestions on how to speed up or automate the workflow? Maybe droplets, compressor or applescript. I would like burning and rendering to be done at night in a batch scenario. I am willing to spend some money.
Thanks, Dan
Powermac G5 Dual 2.7 gHz Mac OS X (10.4.4)

The customer wants menu's and WMV files so this ruled out the dedicated VHS to DVD burner approach. I was thinking that maybe DVDSP or FCP could be applescripted to automate the file export and rename (chapter marker names to file names). Could I line up a series of MPEG 2 rendering sessions for an overnight run using compressor and could this be scripted? How could I get all the mpeg2 or QT files lined up to do a batch run through iDVD or DVDSP.
Thanks for your suggestions.

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Compressor 3 best presets for VHS to DVD

I used iMovie to edit footage that was injested into my MAC from the easy roxio vhs to dvd kit. I ran it through compressor because the video was not recognized by iDVD or iMovie. I used my preset iphone to FCP 6. just to see if it worked to solve my first problem and it did. Now I am curious as to what would be the best preset/droplet to build that will produce the best quality out of the VHS footage? I did notice there was a color drop from the iphone preset I used. That preset is an Apple ProRes 422 HQ and audio is listed as multi track passthrough. Thanks for the help!

>They come in as an MPEG-2 from roxio's easy vhs to dvd kit
Exactly. MPEG-2 is a highly compressed format with a lot of information for 14 out of every 15 frames being thrown out. And as you've discovered, it does not work natively in FCP or iMovie. So when you place an MPEG-2 video clip on the Timeline and render, you're converting the video yet again, suffering more quality loss. Then you exported ... which is yet another level of compression and another quality hit. Then it will have to be compressed to MPEG-2 again for the DVD process. Your chosen workflow is adding so much compression and conversion that it only degradates the image quality.
If this is the only way you have available, you could have used MPEG Streamclip to convert the Roxio MPEG-2 files so they matched your Seqeuence settings in FCP, thus eliminating the need to render (rendering converts the video so it conforms with the Sequence settings). Or better yet, purchase, rent or borrow a DVD recorder and record directly from VHS to DVD in one step.
Good luck with your project,
-DH

Best method for VHS to DVD

Hi, I'm just wondering which would be the best way to transfer VHS to DVD? Or the easiest. I know sometimes the easiest isn't always the best way.
1. Convert analog video (VHS) to DV using your VCR connected to a DV converter (ie. ADS Pyro AV Link), edit in Final Cut Pro, use iDVD or DVD Studio Pro to make a DVD (with chapter menu)?
or
2. Use a DVD/VCR recorder combo, or connect a VCR to a standalone DVD recorder, record DVD. Rip DVD onto computer, convert to MPEG, edit MPEG in Final Cut Pro, use iDVD or DVD Studio Pro to make a DVD (with chapter menu)?
And using this method, how much video can you record on a single layer DVD-R before the picture quality starts to look pretty crappy, what speed setting should it be set at?
And of the two, which would produce a better picture quality?
Or is there another way other than the two mentioned above?
Thanks for your input.
G4 AGP 1.2Ghz upgrade, 896MB ram, LaCie DVD RW Mac OS X (10.3.9) StarTech USB 2.0 card, 30GB, 80GB, 120GB HDs

Note to Mr. Schultz:
To start let me agree that any of Nattress' filters are worth the money you pay for them. Graeme makes great tools for us to use.
However, I cannot agree with your comments relative to the ADVC-300.
With all due respect to you, since your experience with the built-in filters in the ADVC-300 seems to be the exact opposite of mine, I would suggest that perhaps you are not using the built-in filters correctly.
I'm pretty picky when it comes to image quality, but I have had some very good results going through my ADVC-300 both directly into FCP and on to DV tape.
But to each his own. It's a free country and I'm not challenging your claim to have had bad experience with the ADVC-300.
But I am trying to point out to the original questioner that some of us do not share your experience of consistent failure with the built-in filters in the ADVC-300. That some of us think it is an excellent value and great tool if correctly operated.
I will admit the the ADVC-300 manual leaves a lot to be desired, and the whole filtering and level-adjusting process is not very intuitive. But after I figured it all out, I am consistently pleased with the results.
One note - I did need to find a used hardware waveform monitor and vectorscope to view the signal in and out of the ADVC-300 independently of FCP too make sure the levels and chroma in the outgoing signal were OK. If you are relying on the scopes inside FCP do this before capture, they are not reliable or accurate in this situation. That could cause error.
If you have the right scopes and have been taught how to read them correctly, a lot of this stuff is pretty easy to sort out.

Good VHS to DVD conversion software/hardware to use on my iMac

I am in need of an easy to understand software/hardware program that will enable me to convert my old VHS tapes to DVD. I have read about Roxio's Easy VHS to DVD for Mac software, which retails for about $80 which I am interested in. I have a 20" iMac with 10.5.7 on it with plenty of memory on my hard drive. I have iDVD and iMovie as well. I have a VHS player (was thinking of buying a good TV/VHS player all in one). I have many VHS tapes that I need to convert to DVD format and I am interested in possibly doing this for family and friends as well. Does anyone have any recommendations other then the Roxio software?

That all sounds fine, but WAY out of my league price wise right now... I'm a novice, and looking to spend no more then $100 for both the software and hardware to start. Maybe after I get a better handle at this I may invest in a more expensive way with more options, but for now, I think I need something less expensive. Thanks for your advise.

Camcorder or DV converter for VHS to DV conversion?

I have home movies on VHS tapes that I have already converted to DVD's, but I decided I would like to import the VHS videos into iMovie as DV files as a long term backup/storage plan for my home movies before the tapes degrade. I already have a Sony mini-DV camcorder that has passthrough capability. I was wondering if the quality of the DV files created is any better with a DV converter (say like a Canopus model) or is there little discernable quality difference in the conversion process from analog to digital between using the camcorder or using a DV converter. I don't want to do much editing, I just want the best quality. If it's better with a DV converter, I'll buy one.
Thanks!

I am just finishing up doing the same thing as you: a long process of converting ALL of my old VHS home movies to digital in the form of DV tapes.
I second the recommendation to do it with a digital camcorder, and not use the pass-through method, but record from the VHS tape to DV tapes. This gives you a digital archive of your original VHS tapes. The DV tapes are small, easy to store, instantly available for importing into iMovie. And, when technology changes, your digital movies are ready to be brought into whatever is to come. DVDs may go the way of VHS tapes in a few years, and we will all have to convert our now 'old' DVDs!
And (something I highly recommend that you do), after I import my converted digital DV footage into iMovie, create my movies, create and burn my DVDs, I also 'share' the created iMovie back to my camcorder, saving the iMovies to DV tape. I am concerned that something may happen to my DVDs, even though I make several copies of each one. I want to have my created movies preserved in several digital forms.
Yes, that means a few more DV tapes, but now I have digital versions of the original old VHS tapes that were beginning to degrade, AND, I have my creative movies with titles, transitions, stills and music all preserved on DV tape, so I do not have to recreate any of my movies.
I do save all my iDVD projects as Disk Images, and store those on my external drive. Even if my movies bloat to over 40 GB, they are preserved at 4.7GB max (for my single layer DVDs) on my DVD Disk Images, with no loss of quality. From the disk images, I can burn another copy of any DVD that I have made.
I must have converted at least 120 hours of VHS footage. It didn't seem that long at the time. I would just set the camcorder to record the footage, return about 55minutes later to see where to break the recording to change the tape, and continue. Doing it all over a few weeks time seemed easiest. I also had a 'dedicated' camcorder for it, so my recording didn't interfere with taking movies of current family events!
Have fun...one of the best parts is getting to see footage that you have forgotten. My oldest tapes were of my daughter at age 2 3/4 and my son as a newborn, 25 years ago!

Vhs to dvd conversion

I know this is an "old" subject and there are many posts. But they all seem to be rather "old," meaning 2006 or earlier. and yes, I have read the Mac World forum on this subject.
I have a Mac mini (not Intel and no Superdrive) running 10.4.9.
I want to convert a number of VHS tapes to dvd. (They too are on the "old" side (<5 years) and some are commercial but others are copies of tv broadcasts.)
I "conclude" that Datavideo DAC-200 Bi-Directional DV to S(Y/C) Composite Video Converter is "best" -- available at amazon.com for ~$185.
Can I use this device to copy my vhs tapes from my VCR (1) direct to dvd or (2) via my Mac mini, using iMovie and/or iDVD?
Do I need anything else (soft or hardware)? I don't own a camcorder and don't want one. I doubt I would do much editing - just convert and burn to dvd.
Any other suggestions/advice is appreciated.

Can I use this device to copy my vhs tapes from my VCR (1) direct to dvd or (2) via my Mac mini, using iMovie and/or iDVD?
Yes, it appears that is exactly the type of device you're going to need. You will need to import your video to the hard drive (usually with something like iMovie) and then use some software to convert it to a DVD (you can use iDVD). You cannot convert video directly to DVD with the software that comes on your Mac mini.
Of course, if you want to burn DVDs, you'll need a Super Drive. You can get an external FireWire burner for a very reasonable price nowadays.
-Doug

Best workflow for Blu-ray/DVD projects

For most of my encore projects, I end up creating a blu-ray and dvd version of the project. What is the best way/workflow to do this? I always seem to end up running into problems.

Unless you are working with a high end pro format, Pro Res 422 is perfectly fine to use as a master file. PR 4444 is PR HQ with an alpha channel so you probably can save a lot of space and speed up your exports by dropping down two levels.
If you use the BluRay prests in Compressor, it should do a very good job of encoding. Perhaps Toast is recompressing your file. I don't use the software but I think there is a setting simewhere to avoid the second compression.
Or have FCP make the BD directly.
Russ

Workflow for converting PAL DVD to NTSC

Hi,
I have read this thread
"http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=7387015#7387015"
but am a little unclear and would appreciate some help.
I have shot 3 short movies in PAL anamorphic, edited in Final Cut Express HD 3.5, exported using the Quicktime Movie option, altered with QT Pro to put back to anamorphic, then added to an iDVD '08 widescreen project.
Everything is fine, but I have realised that some of the recipients are in the Bahamas and require NTSC.
The project is a paid commission so I want to ensure the conversion is as good as possible, without any re-digitising / editing.
I duplicated my iDVD project and have used the project info pane to change to NTSC format. I deleted the encoded assets and this has set of iDVD to re-encode. Is a re-burn all that is required once encoding is done?
It seems this is the easiest option, but are you suggesting the conversion can be better if i use the free JES deinterlacer product.
To integrate this into my workflow I am assuming I could duplicate my asset folder (that contains the quicktime exports from Final Cut) and convert them using JES.
Modification to these quicktimes (ie. a re-edit and export from Final Cut) would usually result in iDVD updating its content upon open.
Am I on the right track?
I have had a quick look at JES. I have added a file to convert and looked at the projects tab.
Do I just have to choose "Standards conversion" & select "NTSC"? What should I set out of "Blend, Telecine or Minimal Blend" for best quality.
I am using an Intel iMac with 2gb of memory.
Thanks
Eric

Thanks for responding. I am currently trying a few options in JES but I was wondering if you have any idea of the best options to select.
I have tried the Export radio button option to DV Stream and Quicktime, but the resulting output is quite a bit smaller than the Final Cut Express Movie File that is the source. I am concerned the quality is reducing.
I am now using the Direct / DV-NTSC output option to see the file size of that.
With regards to iDVD, that process took a hour or so for the automatic re-encode of the project assets and then a burn. It seems to play fine on my MacBook, and there appears to be no detectable degradation. The process seems fine. Has Apple caught up with JES Deinterlacer, or is the benefit not appreciable when not using HD footage or better?
Thanks
Eric

Workflow for combining 3 DVD's to single DVD

Hi all,
I have been trying to convert three individual DVD's of training seminars approximately an hour and a half each into a single DVD. These DVD's were made a while ago and there is no original data to work with. I have been trying to rip with handbrake to AVI, MP4, etc trying to get something that will go into DVD studio to make the new DVD.
I have tried running all the files that I produce into compressor however it will take many days to convert them all according to the system and my waiting 3 days already. Is there a workflow anyone else uses that would do this?
Quality is not too much of a concern as we know it's going to come out ****** anyway, we just need to combine everything to one disc. Thanks for the help!

Just so I'm clear. You want to combine 3 videos each 1.5 hr long onto a single disk - that is, generate a 4.5 hr project?
Even with a dual layer disk, that's a lot of stuff and the bitrate is going to have to go quite low ...
In any case, you are using the wrong tool. You want MPEG Steamclip to extract the files back into an m2v/ac3 format. Once there, they can be brought into DVDSP and a new menu created.
Good luck,
x

Best way for vhs to digital conversion on imac

what is best method to convert old VHS tapes to digital format on iMAC?

Try the Blackmagic Design H.264 Format Video Recorder (for Mac Only). Works like a charm. I use it at work a lot. Click here: http://goo.gl/DoHsZK

I need a workflow for a PAL DVD from Sony HXR-NX5U footage.

Dear community,
My task is as stated in the title.
Please let me know what process you guys and/or gals have with complete success.

OK, my camera shoots in NTSC frame rates only, as I purchased the cam in the US. (Subsequently, Sony released this upgrade to make the NX5U have the option to switch to PAL Frae rates) whcih I will be doing...
Do you mean that this camera is natively switchable between PAL and NTSC - how so?

How to convert VHS to DVD using FCP 7?

Hello. For a brief, non-technical, introduction: I have dozens of family VHS tapes that I'd like to convert into a digital format where I can edit them and eventually transfer them onto an external hard drive and possibly DVDs as well. Ideally, I'd love to do all of the logging, capturing, and editing in FCP, but I am having difficulty figuring out set up and proper format conversions to obtain the best results. I am not a computer wizard, so a "Just-For-Dummies" walk through would be greatly appreciated.
My questions are:
1) What should my flowchart of devices be from VCR to FCP? (ie: converters, cables, inside FCP setup)
2) What is the best video format for VHS to digital conversion?
Here are the specs for devices I currently possess. I realize I may need to purchase more, but this is what I have to work with at the moment.
MacBook Pro: Mac OS X Version 10.6.8. | Processsor 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 | Memory 4GB 1067 MHz DDR3
Final Cut Pro 7.0.3
VCR: Toshiba SD-v295ku (output is Red, White, Yellow RCA)
ION Video 2 PC converter: RCA cables to USB (this is already installed on my Mac and has successfully worked for video capture alone)
Sony Digital Handycam DCR-TRV330
My Passport 2TB Hard Drive
Thank you so much in advance for any help you can offer.

Buppas
Getting out of my depth here a bit.
I do have FCP 6 but have not used it much at all.
There are many people here that are more able than me who may come to your rescue but anyway here are a few suggestions to try.
Sony can be set to one of 2 audio modes, 12bit=32kHz, or 16bit=48kHz.Ensure set to 16bit , around page 85.
Capture has to match 16bit=48kHz.
In FCP7 User Preferences >General check box "Abort capture on dropped frames.On timecode break Make New Clip ".
Also in Preferences> General I noticed this but not sure if it will help...Check box "Sync audio capture to video source if present".
Coming back to the Sony, and still stabbing in the dark, there is a Time Base Corrector (TBC) setting that you could try both on and off.
Also,do not start and stop the VHS player frequently; let it run through from start to end if you can to avoid breaks.
Another option but not ideal.
What happens when you import into iMovie, do you still get out of sync?
If you dont then you could import to iMovie and then import the DV file/files to FCP7.
This will not take up double the space as FCP7 references the files in iMovie.
Other than this you could try a "search communities" or hope for more suggestions to come in.
Good Luck.

I used Roxio VHS to DVD for Mac (have iMac with Snow Leopard) and the audio does not synch with the video when playing in iMovie. Any suggestions to fix?

I used Roxio VHS to DVD for Mac (have iMac with Snow Leopard) and the audio does not synch with the video when playing in iMovie. Any suggestions to fix?

Thanks for the reply. I tried playing with detaching the audio in iMovie, but with 20+ hours of video to correct, it would take too long. After 28 hours, Corel/Roxio tech support replied that it is a known bitrate mismatch problem and they have no real fix. I strongly suggest not to buy this product.

Is quality better with software for converting VHS to DVD than using an actual converter?

Is quality better with software for converting VHS to DVD than using an actual converter?

Not sure what you mean by "actual converter".
If you mean if you just played a VHS tape to a DVD recorder and recorded like that... You will get close to the quality of the VHS.
If you have a good capture software and hardware you might be able to clean the video and audio up. But VHS is pretty limited in quality.

What's best workflow for adding subtitle to existing dvd?

We have been requested to add a foreign language subtitle to an existing dvd. It was authored in DVDSP so we have the original files. The translators are requesting a QT or dvd with window dub of the timecode for timing. How would I do that if the assets are already encoded and in the DVDSP timeline?
Also, the project is setup on 5 tracks, many short chapters in each. Because the cost for translation is per file, it means we pay the minimum charge for each track which ends up being double than if we would have kept all the files on a single track. Other than re-authoring the dvd is there another way to do this and save the money. If I get a stl or son file of a long video stream can that file be broken into separate files for each of the tracks? Also looking for a better workflow for the future.

rshellhammer wrote:
...we have the original files. The translators are requesting a QT or dvd with window dub of the timecode for timing.
Take the file you used in Compressor to make the mpeg and make a mov file h.264 I believe will maintain the timecode.
Also, the project is setup on 5 tracks, many short chapters in each. Because the cost for translation is per file, it means we pay the minimum charge for each track which ends up being double than if we would have kept all the files on a single track. Other than re-authoring the dvd is there another way to do this and save the money.
No.
If I get a stl or son file of a long video stream can that file be broken into separate files for each of the tracks?
Not without a lot of work.
o| TonyTony |o

Workflow for VHS to DVD conversion

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