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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > Convert VCR Tape to Digital Image on Mac?

Convert VCR Tape to Digital Image on Mac?
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Jul 5, 2003, 02:24 AM
 
Anyone tried this? What hardware/software do i need?

I have VCR, the TAPE and a Ti PB...
     
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Jul 5, 2003, 05:02 AM
 
     
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Jul 5, 2003, 09:19 AM
 
Originally posted by Alezone:
Anyone tried this? What hardware/software do i need?

I have VCR, the TAPE and a Ti PB...
If you have a Digital Video Camera you may be able to do it easily.

I have a Sony TRV-10 DV Camera. I plug my VCR into the Video In/Out Port of the Camera. Then I hook up the Camera to my Mac via the Firewire Cable. Then select Import in iMovie and hit play on the VCR and Voila!! Analog Video is converted to Digital.

If you don't have a DV Camera, you'll need to buy an Analog/DV converter like "Dazzle HOLLYWOOD: 1394 DV Analog Video Capture" or something that has that feature. A Mac compatible TV Tuner should work as well, something like the "MyTV 2 Go USB TV Tuner."

I'm not famaliar with either of these products but I do know they have the required features to import Video.
     
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Jul 5, 2003, 12:13 PM
 
What are you going to use the digital video for? It would help to know.
     
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Jul 5, 2003, 12:47 PM
 
Here's my two methods..

EyeTV by elgato. USB TV Tuner, inputs cable & compost. video..

Pros: Excellent TV Tuner functions (menus, schedules, records, organizes, etc).. Nice for small video (I save weekend movies to watch while I'm out & about with my laptop)..I'm a video junkie.

Cons: USB (quality isn't DV quality but fine for viewing on a computer). While you CAN save these to DVD..quality is poor.

Formac FormacStudioPro. Firewire TV Tuner, Cable, Compost. & sVideo inputs. iMovie Capable in the newest version!!!

Pros: Fine TV Tuner (graphics can be imported for displaying the channels..a nice touch). The rest of the TV tuner functions aren't as nice/polished as EyeTV. Excellent for dumping video to iMovie. In fact, I never use the TV tuner functions..unless I'm burning something to DV or into iMovie. As a TV tuner, though, the functionality is a big gong.

Cons: TV Tuner functions aren't as nice. TV Preview window is ugly, boxy and has a thick grey border--and well that sucks. DV quality is too large for casual usage but excellent for iMovie/DVD usage. This is a con if you're getting this for the tuner functions.

Christopher

p.s. You can see why I have both...they're both great but both have their own issues...its really depending on WHAT you're wanting out of it... There is a third option but I don't recommend it. Dazzle Studio but for the price you might as well buy one of the above devices and get a TV tuner...
     
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Jul 5, 2003, 01:23 PM
 
If you simply want to convert VHS tapes to DVD, just buy standalone DVD recorder. They're about $400.
     
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Jul 6, 2003, 12:49 AM
 
Something like the Canopus ADVC-100

Takes all the connectors and stuff and converts them to a Firewire DV stream which you can access like any normal DVCam under iMovie, Final Cut, Final Cut Express.

http://www.canopus.com/US/Products/i...ducts_advc.asp

There are of course other versions such as the ADVC-500 which is their 'pro' version. Pick for what you need, sprinkle liberaly with cash.
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Jul 6, 2003, 10:50 PM
 
Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
If you simply want to convert VHS tapes to DVD, just buy standalone DVD recorder. They're about $400.
Is there anyway to do the opposite? I wanna play DVD on my Powerbook and make it tape from it.
     
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Jul 6, 2003, 11:00 PM
 
Originally posted by ae86_16v:
Is there anyway to do the opposite? I wanna play DVD on my Powerbook and make it tape from it.
what kind of powerbook do you have? on my pismo with s-video out, i simply plug the svideo into vcr along with an audio cable, then just click record (the s-video is converted with a simple adapter from the multi pin type to standard vcr input). Just play the dvd full screen and record away!
Rich
     
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Jul 6, 2003, 11:32 PM
 
Originally posted by ngrundy:
Something like the Canopus ADVC-100

Takes all the connectors and stuff and converts them to a Firewire DV stream which you can access like any normal DVCam under iMovie, Final Cut, Final Cut Express.

http://www.canopus.com/US/Products/i...ducts_advc.asp

There are of course other versions such as the ADVC-500 which is their 'pro' version. Pick for what you need, sprinkle liberaly with cash.
i'm using one of these that my dad borrowed from work, and i can vouch for its quality. It works great with iMovie, i used it to edit some video i had on VHS tape. I also set up a little loop to put the video from the VCR's tuner on the TV and sent the audio to the line-in on my PB so i could listen to the TV with headphones -- i know it's not the best use for a $300 box, but i didn't pay for it (and at some point my dad will have to bring it back)
     
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Jul 7, 2003, 01:54 AM
 
Originally posted by Rich Jercha:
what kind of powerbook do you have? on my pismo with s-video out, i simply plug the svideo into vcr along with an audio cable, then just click record (the s-video is converted with a simple adapter from the multi pin type to standard vcr input). Just play the dvd full screen and record away!
Rich
I got a Powerbook 800 DVI.

Okay, I got the S-Video park, do I just plug an audio cable into my audio jack? Aren't they different size?
     
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Jul 7, 2003, 08:45 AM
 
Originally posted by ae86_16v:
I got a Powerbook 800 DVI.

Okay, I got the S-Video park, do I just plug an audio cable into my audio jack? Aren't they different size?
depending on your TV/VCR... you probably need a small headphone-jack (mini-DIN i think) to the RCA plugs that (probably) go into your TV...
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Jul 7, 2003, 09:10 AM
 
Originally posted by ae86_16v:
I got a Powerbook 800 DVI.

Okay, I got the S-Video park, do I just plug an audio cable into my audio jack? Aren't they different size?
yeah sorry forgot to mention that... actually if you have any form of external cd burner, they usually come with that cable. One end plugs into the audio out on the powerbook, and the other end has 2 plugs, one red, and one white. These plug into your vcr.
     
   
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