Video Capture with the iMac

Hi. Not quite a computer nerd so bear with me please 🙂

I purchased a Kaiser Baas VHS to DVD video capture thingo the other day and really wanted to use it on my 20" iMac (at the time with Mac OS X Leopard) with my PS2. It's a Empia USB 2861 device? Am I right?

So I installed the driver it came with connected it to my iMac, connected the PS2, opened up Empia capture (that it came with) and I got some nice video capture BUT NO SOUND! When I go into the sound settings of Empia capture, the device doesn't even come up in the source list. So went through a million forums on the net and discussions and couldn't find anything to help me.

So then.... I looked at my beautiful new 13" MacBook 🙂 with Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Plugged in the Kaiser Baas video capture device, installed it, connected my PS2, opened up Empia Capture and found some nice video capture AS WELL AS SOUND TO GO WITH IT! Perfect exactly what I wanted.... BUT on a 13" MacBook.

I really want this all on my 20" iMac. So then I thought... maybe it was to do with Leopard and Snow Leopard, so thought I might as well upgrade to Snow Leopard on the iMac tisn't thaaaaaat expensive.

But still doesn't work.....

Anyone know what's going on?

iMac 20" Early 2009, Macbook 13" White Late 2009, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Dec 19, 2009 8:25 PM

Reply
6 replies

Dec 19, 2009 9:44 PM in response to MissJessicaKey

So I guess this device connects by USB?

When you open System Preferences Sound pane Input tab, is that USB source listed there as a sound input device?

Make sure you try connecting the device directly to the iMac's port, instead of going through a hub. Also, try it with no other USB peripherals connected, except for your keyboard/mouse.

If you can't get the sound to come in over that USB connection for some reason, you can try feeding the audio into the iMac's sound input mini-jack. If the source uses RCA connectors, you can convert it to the stereo mini-jack using an adapter you can buy at Radio Shack. Hopefully, this Empia Capture software allows you to select the audio source.

Dec 20, 2009 12:41 PM in response to MissJessicaKey

VHS to DVD


I have done a lot of this.

I purchased a Kaiser Baas VHS to DVD video capture thingo


The Kaiser Baas is USB. I have never been happy with the quality that a USB coverter provides (they always look grainy to me).



USB coverters use single-field processing. This means every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage.

Use a Firewire converter like the ADVC300. The ADVC300 uses ALL of the image to form the video.

http://www.grassvalley.com/products/advc300

The ADVC300 will take Audio and Video from any source (VCR, Tivo, Satellite Receiver) and convert it to FireWire (iMovie will treat it like a camera).


The ADVC300 also comes with a nice Macintosh application that works flawlessly with iMovie 06 and iDVD 09 (I have used it with iMovie 09 a few times too).

The program that comes with the ADVC300 has some nice filters that can improve video and audio of the source material.


I would use iMovie 06 with iDVD 08/09, why?



iMovie 08/09 uses 'single field processing' meaning every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage. iMovie 06 uses ALL of the image to form the video.

If your primary workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, iMovie '06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels aspect ratio, and original quality. If you share your movie from iMovie '08 / 09, it gets re-rendered at 640x480 or less, and then iDVD upscales it back to 720x480. The end result is obviously not as good.

iMovie 06 and iDVD 09 is a "lossless" combination.

iMovie 06 and iDVD 09 is 100% "lossless" combination and my DVD's look like they came from Hollywood!

Feb 13, 2010 2:08 PM in response to Ziatron

Hi i'd like to purchase advc300, but i have a problem, i have a new imac and it dont came to fire400(IEEE 1394a). So anyone knows some divecee to recive signal for MY VHS or old camera?

I see in apple store :
-Elgato Video Capture but its ***** , dont have resolution to PAL 720 x 576;
-Grass Valley ADVC300 dont have firewire 800
-Grass Valley TwinPact100 Video Converter the same, dont have firewire 800
-Grass Valley ADVC110 Advanced Digital Video Converter

I start asking if the problem dont is on iMac....

Some solution? buy a pc to convert my videos?

Apr 26, 2010 3:42 AM in response to MissJessicaKey

I am wondering if someone can help me out.

I have recently purchased the Kaiserbaas Video Capture USB device (Video to DVD).
It seems i have installed everything as per the instruction guide and my VHS video is hooked up via the USB provided ("capture device").

I can see the images from the video come through onto my Macbook 13", however there is no sound either recorded or played. I have fiddled with the sound settings on my macbook (inout & output) as well as the option on the software that came with the device which is EMPIA CAPTURE.

I am tearing my hair out trying to figure out what is it that I am not doing correctly?

All is missing is the audio to go with the video!

Help 🙂

Apr 29, 2010 12:04 AM in response to MissJessicaKey

Hello, my name is Hasan from the Kaiser Baas help desk. The Empia software provided on the installation disc is not Snow Leaopard compatible. We have new capture software available from our support site called Video Glide which fixes the audio issue. You can download it from this link -

http://kaiserbaas.helpserve.com/index.php?m=downloads&a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=38&nav=0

You can also contac us on 1300 302 306 for assistance.

Thanks
Hasan

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Video Capture with the iMac

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