Converting VHS to DVD via iMac

[maximumzero]

Long story short, I've got about a dozen old family home videos from the mid to late 80s and early 90s that I'd like to digitize, edit if necessary, and convert to DVD. I'm not quite advanced enough of a user to do anything along the lines of restoring the picture and audio, but they shouldn't be that bad in the first place. Plus, once they're into the computer I'll always have a digital version of them I can fiddle with down the road.

My current VCR is almost a decade old and actually has a tape currently jammed in it right now so I'm gonna have to head to wal-mart and pick up a VCR/DVD combo deck to output video from, as I'm concerned my current one might start eating tapes even after I get whatever's in there unstuck.

I'm using the current entry-level 27" iMac. I've attempted this project in the past with ADS' "PyroAV" analog to digital converter with an old G4 I was using, but the PyroAV had a bad habit of cutting off whenever there was a blank area in the tape. So if I attempted to let a 6-hour VHS tape record into the computer I'd often return to only the first hour or so recorded before it cut off completely, which sucks.

So I waited a few years till I got some new computer hardware, and now I'd like to get some new Analog to DV hardware as well, as the PyroAV looks terrible these days.

So that's my situation. I'm looking for some hardware I can use to connect a VCR to my iMac to record some video, presumably directly into iMovie, unless you've got a completely different suggestion completely.

[rumplestiltskin]

There are VHS/DVD recorders that permit you to copy whatever is on the (unprotected) tape over to a blank DVD and then "finish" (close) the DVD. That would be the easiest method.

Alternatively, using an analog media converter (like the ADS Pyro but get something that isn't a POS - Canopus or anything that's -not- ADS) will permit you to bring in your footage, real-time, into iMovie but you'll be happier doing this with iMovieHD (v6) than any of the newer iMovie versions.

Apple permits you to download iMovieHD if your Mac has any of the newer versions already on them. If you can't find the download link, PM me.

[gspanos44]

Long story short, I've got about a dozen old family home videos from the mid to late 80s and early 90s that I'd like to digitize, edit if necessary, and convert to DVD. I'm not quite advanced enough of a user to do anything along the lines of restoring the picture and audio, but they shouldn't be that bad in the first place. Plus, once they're into the computer I'll always have a digital version of them I can fiddle with down the road.

My current VCR is almost a decade old and actually has a tape currently jammed in it right now so I'm gonna have to head to wal-mart and pick up a VCR/DVD combo deck to output video from, as I'm concerned my current one might start eating tapes even after I get whatever's in there unstuck.

I'm using the current entry-level 27" iMac. I've attempted this project in the past with ADS' "PyroAV" analog to digital converter with an old G4 I was using, but the PyroAV had a bad habit of cutting off whenever there was a blank area in the tape. So if I attempted to let a 6-hour VHS tape record into the computer I'd often return to only the first hour or so recorded before it cut off completely, which sucks.

So I waited a few years till I got some new computer hardware, and now I'd like to get some new Analog to DV hardware as well, as the PyroAV looks terrible these days.

So that's my situation. I'm looking for some hardware I can use to connect a VCR to my iMac to record some video, presumably directly into iMovie, unless you've got a completely different suggestion completely.

I use a pass through Canon videocamera attached to a VCR and my iMac Power PC G4 with iMovie 6.03. The workflow looks like this:

NTSC Videotape>CANON ZR700 NTSC Camcorder>iMac Power PC G4 10.5.8>iMovie 6.03

If you can't find a pass through video camera, you can record your tapes with any camera that records on mini-dv tapes from a VCR, then transfer the contents of the mini-dv tape to your computer.

Works great for me.

[rumplestiltskin]

gspanos44's advice is absolutely sound. iMovieHD is simple to use (much easier than the newer versions). If you need the iMovieHD app (which Apple has permitted to be distributed free as long as you have any newer version of iMovie on your hard drive), PM me.

[Mark-Leon]

I've just come through this exact dilemma. I trawled through the forums and read lots of advice on camcorders, DVD recorders, etc, etc and finally came to the conclusion of Video To DVD Creator from Kaiser Baas. I went to Dick Smith electronics store to buy a DVD recorder and this device was there at a fraction of the cost. They have a no questions asked returns policy so, I thought there's no harm in trying it. It took a while to figure out and one phone call to their support number but it works like a charm now. I highly recommend it.

The only thing I'm still trying to figure out are the codecs. I got some advice from them and they recommend mp4 but I still end up with 72GB files. I'm on here now trying to learn how to compress it for DVD without too much quality loss. The quality of digital file this device creates is amazing. I have just transferred the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games which has never been released on DVD and the quality is fantastic. The device is a RCA to USB adapter. Just plug the three colour coded RCA plugs into your VCR and the USB into your computer and install the software and that's it. You don't need you TV to view it.

[dizzie]

I've got a $10 solution for you if you are willing to tinker a bit. You can get an Easycap DC60 on Amazon for about $10 - http://www.amazon.com/EasyCap-DC60-Capture-Adapter-Software/dp/B0049RZFBY/ref=sr_1_12?...091166&sr=8-12

The newer models don't pick up audio, but you can just get a stereo RCA to mini-plug adapter cable to bring the audio from the VCR to the Audio In port on your Mac. Then, adjust the audio level accordingly in System Preferences under Audio on your Mac.

Then, get the free EasyCapViewer for Mac from Ben Trask - http://bentrask.com/easycap/ (consider a donation?). There are some good suggestions on his site regarding settings. I usually set it to export to MP4 at about 65 - 70% quality without deinterlacing. You can even record at half the frame rate, which yields a good 30fps. Then, to make a DVD, just drop the file in Burn OSX. Or, you can edit it first in MPEG Streamclip. Be aware that the file sizes from EasyCapViewer will be quite large - up to 10 gigs per 2 hours - so have plenty of room on your hard drive.

Let us know what you end up with!