Transfering from 3/4" machine to DVD recorder

[Soundhound]

I got an old used, but in good working order 3/4" tape machine to archive some old tapes to disc. I'm thinking I might have to first record them to my DVD recorder, then import them into iMovie, quicktime from the files on that disk. But I'd love to do it directly, so:

1) Anybody know of a way to go from a 3/4" deck with BNC outputs (I think that's the kind of output it has, the model is Sony BVU-150. Into a modern DVD recorder with a single rca video and stereo rca audio inputs, also has an s-video imput.

2) Or is there a way to go directly from the 3/4" machine, into usb or firewire?

[ozymango]

The output of your 3/4" deck is simply composite video, just with a BNC connector. So you just need a BNC to RCA adaptor (I've got a drawer full of 'em, egads that dates me), plug an RCA cable from the 3/4" deck to the composite input on your DVD recorder, split the audio (I'm guessing mono?) from the 3/4" deck to the stereo inputs on the disc recorder, that's pretty much it.

You can't go "directly" from the tape player to your PC just because the old deck just outputs straight video. You'd need something like whatever the current good video-to-AVI streaming box (Canopus?) as a go-between. Maybe you could tweak the video better that way, but it's a chunk of change and at least for a test, a simple adaptor will get you started. Good luck!

[edDV]

A Canopus ADVC will work but so will a DV format camcorder (MiniDV or Digital8) with the "analog pass-through" feature. In that mode, the camcorder converts composite or S-Video input to DV over firewire. That can be directly captured by iMovie.

[Soundhound]

Would the video and audio be coming through the same output on the 3/4" machine? I don't see an output for audio. There's a row of bnc outputs, one of them is labeled RF (from tape). I'm guessing that's the one I should use and that it's both video and audio. If that's true, how do I split the video and audio?

The output of your 3/4" deck is simply composite video, just with a BNC connector. So you just need a BNC to RCA adaptor (I've got a drawer full of 'em, egads that dates me), plug an RCA cable from the 3/4" deck to the composite input on your DVD recorder, split the audio (I'm guessing mono?) from the 3/4" deck to the stereo inputs on the disc recorder, that's pretty much it.

You can't go "directly" from the tape player to your PC just because the old deck just outputs straight video. You'd need something like whatever the current good video-to-AVI streaming box (Canopus?) as a go-between. Maybe you could tweak the video better that way, but it's a chunk of change and at least for a test, a simple adaptor will get you started. Good luck!

[ozymango]

Ah, a bit of a mystery here ... I took a quick look for a BVU-150 Sony deck and the specs say it's actually a portable PAL desk, is this correct? I see you have a USA address so just assumed it's NTSC, but if it's PAL, that's a whole 'nother issue that's gonna require more tools.

But if maybe it's an NTSC deck, and only BNC outputs ... what are they labeled? I'm hoping they're all labeled, give us a breakdown and we can figure it out. I'd be surprised if the audio output was BNC but still possible ... if there's any output (1/8" jack) for "earphone," you could use that for audio output (another adapter, 1/8" plug to RCA jack, or 1/8" plug to RCA cable, it's gotta be mono audio).

[ozymango]

I found a link to a BVU-150 on ebay (of course!) and from the pics, there should be a couple of BNC outputs for Video 1 and 2, and the audio outputs are XLR connectors, they're three-pin plugs about an inch across, and you can get adapters (of course!) that'll take XLR (balanced audio) to various unbalanced audio (e.g. your basic "line" output or headphone or that like is unbalanced).

[Soundhound]

I hope it's not PAL! I'm not sure how to check on that? I do see two BNC outputs for video one and 2, and there's a NBC output labeled: RF (Off Tape). So all those outputs only video? And there does look to be a miniplug output with a level control that says headphone putput. So maybe I could use that for audio.? There are xlr outputs labeled for audio 1 and 2, so I guess those are the audio as you say. So all I need is adapters from bnc to rca, and two from xlr to rca? If so, I owe you a soda pop! thanks!

I found a link to a BVU-150 on ebay (of course!) and from the pics, there should be a couple of BNC outputs for Video 1 and 2, and the audio outputs are XLR connectors, they're three-pin plugs about an inch across, and you can get adapters (of course!) that'll take XLR (balanced audio) to various unbalanced audio (e.g. your basic "line" output or headphone or that like is unbalanced).

[ozymango]

We're getting closer! Okay, you just need a BNC to RCA to test this desk -- hook up an RCA cable from the adaptor (connected to either Video 1 or Video 2) to your DVD recorder, and see if you can get a playback image on your TV. If it works, great, it's NTSC. If the picture is just a bunch of wavy lines ... well, either it's got bad/dirty heads, or it's PAL. It's possible they make this deck in both formats and maybe they're just more popular overseas, so maybe that's the case.

Anyway, I'd do the test to make sure you've got good video before you buy the XLR adapters, just because I'm cheap.

EDIT: And actually I would just get a cable that's 1/8" plug on one end, RCA on the other, and then use that for your audio from the headphone jack -- you can split the RCA into two inputs for your audio in on your DVD recorder, and adjust the audio level with the volume control on the 3/4" deck. That *should* work, but if the sound is all distorted, turn the volume all the way down to start, then very slowly turn it up, see how that works. You may still need to get the XLR adapters for best sound quality, but maybe not. Worth a quick test, anyway.

EDIT EDIT: Oh, and as for the other BNC outputs ... looks like Video in, Time Code in and out, RF out, Video out 1 and 2, and one output I don't recognize, can't quite make out the label. Maybe mic in?

[Soundhound]

Will do. Can't thank you enough for all this. I'm going to get a bnc to rca connector and try it out. I've actually got a few different 1/8" (stereo) to rca connections, so I can try that as well. The soda pop's in the mail.

We're getting closer! Okay, you just need a BNC to RCA to test this desk -- hook up an RCA cable from the adaptor (connected to either Video 1 or Video 2) to your DVD recorder, and see if you can get a playback image on your TV. If it works, great, it's NTSC. If the picture is just a bunch of wavy lines ... well, either it's got bad/dirty heads, or it's PAL. It's possible they make this deck in both formats and maybe they're just more popular overseas, so maybe that's the case.

Anyway, I'd do the test to make sure you've got good video before you buy the XLR adapters, just because I'm cheap.

EDIT: And actually I would just get a cable that's 1/8" plug on one end, RCA on the other, and then use that for your audio from the headphone jack -- you can split the RCA into two inputs for your audio in on your DVD recorder, and adjust the audio level with the volume control on the 3/4" deck. That *should* work, but if the sound is all distorted, turn the volume all the way down to start, then very slowly turn it up, see how that works. You may still need to get the XLR adapters for best sound quality, but maybe not. Worth a quick test, anyway.

EDIT EDIT: Oh, and as for the other BNC outputs ... looks like Video in, Time Code in and out, RF out, Video out 1 and 2, and one output I don't recognize, can't quite make out the label. Maybe mic in?

[edDV]

My search also favors PAL. I agree the first task is to play an NTSC tape to a monitor or TV.

BNC->RCA for video ... Cost is $1.77 at Frys. Radio Shack? Maybe $10.

XLR->RCA for audio .... on second thought, forget audio for now. Video will tell as a first step.

BTW ignore the RF connector. It was for U-Matic to U-Matic dubs only*.


* Nerdy alert ... Also for TBC dropout compensators.

[olyteddy]

...
BTW ignore the RF connector. It was for U-Matic to U-Matic dubs only*.


* Nerdy alert ... Also for TBC dropout compensators.

Also used while optimizing tracking or checking head wear by hooking it to an oscilloscope...