Converting analog to digital video

hi Tom:

I think you would be far better off getting a DV Camera with pass-thru capabilities for your conversions. That way you 'd have a camera and a converter in one.

You can find refurbished Sonys all of the time on-line with a simple Google search.

Just my opinion tho-

Sue

I concur with getting a DV camcorder that has the pass through capability. But if that's more than you can afford you might look for a used ADS USB Instant DVD for Mac. It captures and encodes the video to MPEG format which saves you the time to have to do software MPEG compression before burning to DVD. It also comes with an MPEG-friendly DVD authoring application called CaptyDVD.

The problem with low-cost analog-to-DV capture boxes is that they have quality issues. The good units are made by Canopus and Miglia but sell for about as much as a basic DV camcorder that has analog-to-digital passthrough.

From VHS to DVD
Give New Life to Old Movies
http://www.macworld.com/2004/05/features/fromvhstodvd/

The Pyro isn't the best converter:

Some tested DV converters:
http://www.macworld.com/2004/07/reviews/firewiredigitalvideoconverters/

I bought one too however I am having problems importing the entire movie into IMovie..it breaks up in places..any help?
I also had a ADS instant dvd converter for my windows machine and that worked without a hitch so am disappointed with this product.

Not sure what you mean by "breaks up in places".

In iMovie4, the maximum clip size is 2 gigabytes. When importing from a camera or converter, iMove will just start a new clip ever 9 1/2 minutes (2 gb), but you don't lose a single frame.

If you're getting irregular breaks, including the loss of video (may be hard to tell, if it's only a frame or two), you either have a cable problem (maybe just not plugged-in securely) or a VHS tape that is a bit out of synch. For that, you might need Time Base Correction, where the hardware will basically ignore the synch data on the tape and replace it with it's own. There are VCRs and video converters that have TBC built-in, but they're more expensive. There are also separate pieces of gear that do only that. I dunno whether digital cameras are available that do this.

First, I'd see if it happens with other tapes, then try another VCR, before spending megabucks on more gear.

It puts a VHS straight to a DVD, and then I can edit and re-burn on a computer.

No, that probably wasn't the best way since now you'll have to convert the DVD back to DV which will really compromise the already compromised video.

Sue