capture 3/4" video

[wheatspark]

Hi, I'm new here. Can anyone give me advice on capturing 3/4" video? I have a Sony U-Matic VP 5000 player (also a 5600 recorder that doesn't work that I've kept for parts) and I want to edit with FCP on a G4 Powerbook. I have captured mini-DV footage for my current documentary project, but of course 3/4" is analog. When my Hi-8 gear was stolen I bought a Sony DCR-TRV 840 Digital 8 camcorder which supposedly converts analog to digital video. My plan is to use BNC to RCA adaptors to go into the Digital 8 Sony 840 and from that FW out to FCP.

I have 20+ hours of unedited projects from the mid-late 80's. A couple years ago I played one of the tapes and miraculously it was okay (I've tried to keep the tapes in cool locations, but they spent one summer in an attic) but I think I am going to have to keep stopping every 10 minutes or so to clean the video heads (when I interned in post-production we sprayed head cleaner on a blank index card and turned the video head drum against the card).

I realize that the converter in the Digital 8 is probably not the highest quality. I will appreciate any advice or criticism, but before you have at me (for waiting so long etc.) I'd like to explain that I used to work in film production in NY and LA but had to stop working in the late 80s due to a health disability resulting from carbon monoxide exposure on a movie set. Eventually I picked myself up and am trying to get back up to speed, volunteering at computer recycling drop-offs to get used equipment. So as a former pro with no income, I'm looking to squeeze the best quality capture at the lowest price - but if it's not worth my time unless I get a quality converter, please recommend which one! And how to set it up between a Sony 5000 and a Powerbook.

And I realize this is a longshot, but if anyone already has a set-up to capture 3/4" video and might consider allowing the capture of about 20 hours on their system, I could offer the Sony VP 5000(s) and/or audio, camera or art services (anything from portraits to wedding cakes). Thank you!!!!

[filmboss80]

3/4" U-matic put out analog signals just like S-VHS or Hi-8. You would capture the footage the same way. I'm not so sure about all the Mac-compatible devices, but here's one...

http://shopping.yahoo.com/3826967-canopus-advc-110-input-adapter

The question is: does your G4 Powerbook have a firewire port? I would think so, but I'm not sure.

[wheatspark]

Thanks for the Canopus link, I'll read up on it. Yes, my powerbook has a FireWire 400 input where I usually connect a camcorder, and I use a PCMCIA adaptor which gives me 3 more FireWire inputs for external hard drives, because supposedly it's better to keep the input device and the storage devices (with my media) on separate circuits, although you can daisy chain the HDs.

I haven't captured any analog video before, I used to just edit on linear systems.

[wheatspark]

There is another thread here about pass through and Sony camcorders, where there's discussion (specifically by danno78) about using a Sony TRV 840 Digital 8 camcorder to convert analog video from a vcr to digital files on a Mac - which was my plan prior to asking for advice.

Meanwhile the Canopus ADV 110 converter recommended above by filmboss80 seems to be the best converter I could purchase for my situation unless I moved up to the Canopus ADVC 300 model. (Actually it sounds like the 300 could do a lot to improve old video footage, rather than trying to fix it in FCP after capture.)

Does anyone know how the Sony 840's built-in converter and TBC compare to the Canopus converters? Or where I could find out?

(that would be way beyond Sony's customer service reps....)

Thank you

[edDV]

I have the Sony GV-D200 D8 deck which is electrically similar to the TRV 840. I've used it to capture a number of analog inputs to Mac and PC including VHS and Betacam SP decks. I also have a Canopus ADVC-100 (no TBC). The Betacam deck had a built in TBC.

Both devices work well. The GV-D200 has a TBC when playing Hi8. I'm not sure whether it works for analog pass through.

[2Bdecided]

I realize that the converter in the Digital 8 is probably not the highest quality.

I bet it's fine. Check black levels though.

(Check at least one TBC is on somewhere! Preferably in the U-matic deck).

If there's an S-video output on the U-matic, then using it should make a small difference to the picture - i.e. better than composite.

Cheers,
David.

[wheatspark]

Thank you to everyone for the responses! I would do some trial and error if it wasn't for the likelihood of drop-out and/or other damage to these old tapes even the first time I play them, but since I hope to get it right with only one play through of each tape, thanks for contributing to my making an informed decision of how to proceed.

edDV, thanks for the input - it's helpful to know that both a Canopus 100 and your comparable Sony device worked well.

David/2dDecided, thanks for your opinion and advice - although I'm aware there are a lot of color correction possibilities in FCP, would you please detail exactly how you would suggest I should check black levels and what to do about them, in particular at the capture stage?

There are color bars at the head of each tape, but I realize they won't necessarily reflect the black levels in the footage I shot, maybe just the state of the tapes. At the time I shot these tapes I was hearing more concern about blown out white levels in post-production, which I think was more of an issue with analog video for broadcast.

I actually have an old RCA solid state hardware oscilloscope too, but I never learned how to calibrate it. I imagine that if I knew how to use it I could place it inline before and after a converter to compare results. At one time I did film-to-tape transfers but I've forgotten most of what I knew about color correction and now have a lot to learn!

The Sony 5000 only has BNC video out or RF out, no S-video (I didn't think S-Video existed until Hi-8 and SVHS came out?). I don't think it has a TBC either, just skew and tracking adjustments.

Right now I'm trying to find 99% isopropyl alcohol locally for cleaning the audio heads.

[wheatspark]

BTW I don't know if it is poor form to mention a different site, but I just found a 2005 thread about the Canopus ADV 300 and analog to miniDV conversion on the forum at dvinfo.net which also has opinions on whether or not to just use a camcorder with pass through.