[Macworld.com]

Old tapes to new discs? It takes a little cash and, perhaps, a lot of time. [more]

[webstyr]

"Once you have the video in iMovie, all you need do is edit it and export it to iDVD."
...or export it into .mp4 format and store it on a hard disk and view it through iTunes, transfer it to your iPod, view it through Front Row on your computer, or get the new Apple TV and view it on your widescreen TV.

[Yurtie]

Very timely, thanks. Is there another option such as having a professional do it? If so, where do you look for such people? I have analog video tapes I took of private dance lessons that I'd really like to get into digital form so I can edit in certain ways, but would be really bummed if I messed them up.

[g3jedi]

I use the Canopus ADVC 300 almost daily. It costs about twice as much as the ADVC 55 but it can really clean up old video that tends to have a lot of video noise. You can also use it to adjust contrast, brightness, and even boost the audio levels. It can make unwatchable video watchable. One of the great things about all of Canopus' conversion products is that they lock the audio to the video. With some other products your video can look like a Kung Foo movie that has been dubbed to English.

[g3jedi]

Yes, there are places that do this for you. I actually own and operate one here in Canby Or. Look in the Yellow Pages to find one near you. Also look on the internet. Do your research because many places overcharge. Also find out exactly what they do.
Kevin H.

[mosley]

All useful but it's the quality of the conversion that worries me. Is doing it oneself with an average VHS player ($250 about) better than taking it to a specialist who might have a better VHS machine? Also, doing the conversion at home at 1X speeds may be better than taking it to a specialist who might do it a 4X speeds or more. what do you think?

[reidnixon]

My Sony consumer miniDV camcorder from 2001 allows pass-thru video/audio conversion thru its FireWire (iLink) connection. Just hook it up and set the camera's menu to allow pass-thru like the article says and, bam, you're set to capture/edit in iMovie.

[kerby74]

I use an ADS Pyro over Firewire ($149) to convert from tape to DV. I think it does a great job and costs less than any other Firewire capture device I looked at when shopping around.
I have found my 8mm camera hooked to my TV or the DVD I made with iMovie and iDVD appear to have nearly identical quality so minimal if any noticeable loss.
Having the footage edited and in chapters that you can easily move through is so much better than watching from tape.

[shipguy59]

Exactly my issue. I know I could do it but I have no time to load in a million hours of video and then edit etc...
I found a guy on a google search safeandsoundvideo.com
He was cheap and did pick up and delivery - did a really, really nice job.

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Old tapes to new discs? It takes a little cash and, perhaps, a lot of time. <a href="http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/mac911/2007/01/vhstodvd/index.php">[more]</a>

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[hab]

May also want to consider the EyeTV 250 (currently $200).
http://www.elgato.co...oducts_eyetv250
It has analog to dv capability for bringing old video tape to iMovie plus comes with outstanding TIVO like capability for watching and recording TV. I bought the previous generation EyeTV 200 and have only great things to say about the product!

[GrahamAJones]

Hi,
Great article... However I have some imortant comments to add to / expand on what you wrote, especially in light of the comments people have already posted.
I am a professional video editor, and do all types of conversions on a daily basis, including TONS of VHS to DVD conversions. My tips:

1. Don't use a computer unless you absolutely must edit it:
HIGHER QUALITY: A component-style DVD recording deck will be almost always be higher quality than using your computer, for a number of reasons. Firstly, hardware encoding is almost always higher quality than software encoding. Secondly, if you use a DV converter box or your DV camera, the footage is being compressed TWICE, by two different compression types -- this degrades quality.
UNATTENDED CONVERSION: Many VHS-DVD combo decks have a one-button conversion mode--- you put in the VHS tape, put in a blank DVD, hit one button, and you can forget about it. I converted stacks of home movies this way--- throw one in when I wake up, one when I leave for work, one when I get home from work, one after dinner, one before bed -- you can get through 4-5 VHS tapes in a weekday, and the amount of actual user intervention is very small. If a family member is at home during the day, they can easily be taught to insert tapes and press "the button." Also, the combo units may offer slightly higher quality, because there is no external cabling degrading quality.
FIT MORE ON A DVD: Software encoders recommend a maximum of 2 hours on a DVD. Because of the higher quality encoders in component DVD recorders, you can fit up to 4 hours at the same quality. Just be aware that the cheaper recorders drop the resolution to half resoution at around 2 1/2 hours. Some of the better review sites (like CNET) can let you know how well the DVD recorder can handle longer DVDs... Some recorders will record a full 4 hours before dropping to half resolution.

2. If you must edit it, use an MPEG-2 hardware encoder (like EyeTV 250 or Plextor ConvertX)
As I mentioned earlier, compressing twice (like when you use a DV converter or camera and bring it into iMovie or Final Cut, and then burn to DVD) degrades the quality. The EyeTV 250 or Plextor ConvertX have a hardware MPEG-2 encoder -- it allows you to do simple editing, but does not re-compress the footage, because it can record in the DVD "MPEG-2" native format. Just be aware that the EyeTV Hybrid and many other TV devices that offer A/V inputs (such as Miglia) do not have a hardware encoder -- their software encoders tax your CPU, and are lower quality.

3. Use high quality cables:
If you can, use S-Video (4-pin) cables for the video. If you can't, at least use short high quality cables with gold connectors, to prevent signal loss. Do NOT use the screw-on 75 Ohm cables that you use to connect your cable TV.

4. Use high quality DVD media, and take care of it
Stay away from cheap media! It will not last long, it may be glitchy, and may not play in as many players. For professional uses I stick to Verbatim (best), Fuji, Maxell, or Sony. You can find some great deals on these brands... I get stacks of 100 for about USD$25 here in Toronto. Also do not use sticky labels, and be aware that markers may eat into the coating of the DVD and shorten the lifespan... either use high quality CD markers, or you may consider buying printable DVD media and getting an inexpensive inkjet printer like the Epson R220, which print safely on the DVD surface.

5. Do it yourself -- save lots of money, maybe higher quality
You can find some relatively inexpensive services, but you may still be paying upwards of $20 per hour, or at best $20 per 2 hour tape. Plus -- brace yourself -- they may be using very old equipment and low-quality methods to do the conversions. I've seen the suites!
If you have 15-20 tapes, you could actually purchase a high quality VHS-DVD combo recorder which will allow high quality, unattended conversions, and still come out saving money. Plus, it will still be useful after you've made the conversions. If you have 30 tapes or more, the savings could be substantial.

Hope this helps!
Graham Jones,
Broadcast video editor (and developer of iEye Captain software),
Toronto.

[Schneb]

I did it with the least sweat by using a DVD Recorder by Panasonic. I just hook my video source (VHS ans Hi8) at its highest quality setting, save these as originals, then rip out the content I want via MPEG Streamclip.

[AppleCoder]

Quote:

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Very timely, thanks. Is there another option such as having a professional do it? If so, where do you look for such people? I have analog video tapes I took of private dance lessons that I'd really like to get into digital form so I can edit in certain ways, but would be really bummed if I messed them up.

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Not to put myself above anyone who tries it, as I know, doing it yourself saves money, but if you are not skilled, trained, or have had any experience in editing anything and making it look good, you are really wasting time and money to try and edit your own material.
If it is just a straight transfer, than so be it, but for editing, I have been editing on FCP since 1985 and have gone to film school and post production school and I am certified as an FCP and AVID editor, as well as, photoshop.
I am one of those that do what you are trying to do and you can find me here. DVD Memories
remember it is not as easy as one thinks it is, and even when, say your little nephew or friend does it with their little videos, it is NOT a professional package that one will cherish forever--unless a nine year old did it, and you are just proud that they tried.
- peace

[cmflyer]

I have a Go Video DVDRW-VCR combo that I bought at Cosco for around $200. The VCR is excellent at playing old videotapes that on some VCR's have muffled sound. I'm getting good DVD's.