Triming DV files for a "clips" movie

I have recently converted 100+ 6 hr VHS tape to 2hr DVD's and now have converted those to DV digital files. I have the converted MP4 files AND the DV files(which are much bigger) I now have about 200, 2 hours DV files. These are all on about 3, 2TB Firewire drives.

My goal is to just take 10-20 sec clips from these DV files and make a Movie of the family over the last 30 years..I'm imaging a 1-2 hr movie.

My question is: I how do I manage file sizes of these clips. How do Import them? DO I trim the clips in the DV file within FCE?

Any suggestion on how to handle the big files would be appreciated. Thanks so much for any advice.

iMac 24", Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Dec 28, 2010 5:19 PM

17 replies

pwsher Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 30, 2010 9:19 AM in response to Alchroma

Thanks Al, just to clarify I converted the VHS tapes 5 years ago and may be confused how I converted my 8mm DV tapes (I do have all the originals of these, about 40, 2 hr tapes) to DVD but they are indeed on DVDs. I no longer have a working 8mm DV players so am relying on those DVD's I burned. In any case these old DVD's have the 2 folders, one labeled DVDV_IRS and VIDEO_TS (with the associated VOB types files, etc.) It is these 100+ DVD's I have converted to H.264 (all files take up about 600GB) and then to DV files (these take up about 4,500 GB)

You are saying I would be better off video and audio wise to try and import everything directly into FCE(or some other program?) using an analog to video converter for the VHS files and just playing the 8mm DV tapes straight into the program?

Al, I really appreciate your diligence here. I have literally spent a month every chance I got sticking a DVD in, naming it, and converting it. I searched the internet for the best way but did not find this great advice anywhere or maybe I didn't understand it then. I guess I will borrow the analog to digital converter, try a few and see if I see any difference.

Wayne the pain.

Alchroma

Level 7

23,946 points

Dec 30, 2010 5:54 PM in response to pwsher

To clarify:
There is a camera format called mini DV, this is what consumer cameras use and the tape is called mini DV. This tape is 8mm wide but uses a smaller shell than that of older 8mm video (larger shell/case).
mini DV tape recorded on a miniDV camera will always be in digital format and can be imported to FCE directly with a firewire connected cable.

8mm or it's higher end cousin Hi-8 (VHS is the same deal) uses the larger tape case and is always analogue and cannot be directly captured to FCE, hence the need for an A/D conversion in every case.

However:
When mini DV was first introduced to the market, Sony, in their wisdom, made a range of cameras called Digital 8. The idea was to bridge the gap between users with the older 8mm format and the newer digital format. These cameras were back compatible with 8mm analogue video and tape shell, they used the larger shell and could playback users tapes in analogue format. What these cameras could also do is record in digital format but only onto the larger tape shell using metal evaporated Hi-8mm tapes. You with me? A camera that crosses the line of analogue to digital but not using mini DV tape (the then newer format).

My point is when you say 8mm video we need to be specific as to what type, as some are in digital format and others may not be.

You are saying I would be better off video and audio wise to try and import everything directly into >FCE(or some other program?) using an analog to video converter for the VHS files and just playing >the 8mm DV tapes straight into the program?

I am saying that the less converting the better.

Some of your stuff obviously requires converting (analogue video) whereas other stuff (already in digital form) will arrive in FCE the long way round with the edges knocked off it. If you are happy with the result, then that's the man thing as you have already done lots of work on your project.

Al

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Triming DV files for a "clips" movie