Capturing video and audio from separate sources

Question

Capturing video and audio from separate sources

Hi.

I am wanting to produce a video podcast using a MacBook Pro using a DV camcorder for the video and running the audio from a separate mic via a mixing desk. I would like to capture both inputs in real time so that the timing of the audio and video are in sync. How do I achieve this? The camcorder does not have a mic input and the mixer has analogue out only.

MacBook Pro 2.4Ghz, 4Gb Ram, 250Gb HDD., Mac OS X (10.5.4), Sony DV camcorder and Beringer mixer

Posted on Sep 11, 2008 10:48 AM

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Answer 1

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Sep 11, 2008 1:40 PM in response to PCServices.info

The only way to capture and be in sync is to record the audio along with the video on the camera.

If you are willing to muck about in post trying sync things up, you can record the audio to the computer using QT Pro and the mic in and record the video to tape then import it using iMovie. sync the two in iMovie.

x

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Answer 2

Sep 11, 2008 4:07 PM in response to Studio X

So are you saying that there is no way to record both at the same time into one programme and have them in sync?

Is there no software that can capture the video from the DV camcorder and the audio through the line in on the Mac at the same time?

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Answer 3

MartinR

Level 7

24,330 points

Sep 11, 2008 7:02 PM in response to PCServices.info

1. The only way to get them both simultaneously and in sync is via the DV input from the camcorder. This is why we advise time after time after time to get a camcorder that has an external mic input.

2. There is no software that can do this.

If your camcorder has an analog video out, you can accomplish your objective by using an analog-digital converter like the Canopus ADVC-110. You would connect the analog video & audio to the inputs of the Canopus box and its DV out to your Mac. If you are using Final Cut Express, you will capture using the DV-PAL DV Converter easy setup and Capture Now. The Canopus box converts the analog video and audio to DV and sends the combined, sync'd DV signal to your Mac via Firewire. I do this all the time with analog sources in my studio.

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Answer 4

Feb 3, 2009 3:29 AM in response to PCServices.info

I've ended up using the firewire input from the camera and an analogue input from my mixing desk. The audio is 4 frames out from the video but, now that I know this is a constant I'm just shifting the audio by 4 frames before editing. It seems to work well enough.

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