Capturing video in Imovie - single field processing (again...)

Hi

Like you I have been involved with the "single field processing " question.I therefore obtained iMovie HD 6 after starting out with iMovie 09.

I am 99% ( no, 99.9% ) convinced that there is no loss of quality on the import (capturing) process of DV into iMovie 09, or any version of iMovie for that matter. In my opinion, in iMovie 08 and later, it comes from the SHARE (exporting) process.Therefore if you do as you suggested and import the .dv files into FCPX from the iMovie 09 Event Folder, then I am sure this will achieve what you are wanting.

Just to be clear, the original .dv files in iMovie 09 Event Folder ( and 08 ,11) do not get altered even if a project is made and then "shared". These files are just referenced to make the project.

After you have imported the 09 .dv files into FCPX you may wish to delete the 09 .dv files (Event Folder), as your hard drive will soon fill up ,13GB per hour of footage.Before you delete any files do a trial run with some footage to make sure it is doing what you are expecting.

I cannot comment on why your Canopus 55 is not behaving with 10.7.3. These converters have been very popular with Macs but maybe Lion has changed this situation.Others would need to comment on this, and hopefully they will.

Hi

Yes so I learned too. That the imported original is OK (.dv) - But I've not found any working way to get interlaced full quality movie out from it - any way taken.

So if You want a DVD with best possibly quality then

• iMovie HD6 ---> iDVD

• FinalCut ----> iDVD (not seen any alt in the new FCP-X as DVD-Studio Pro is not bundled any more)

iMovie'08 to 11 will not deliver - but it can be used if quality is not top priority.

Yours Bengt W

Bengt

Are you saying that the proposed workaround, as mentioned above, will not give jhvv what he is expecting?

The thought is that by importing the .dv files from the 09 event folder into FCPX would produce the same quality as if iMovie HD6 was used.You seem to disagree with this.

Your first paragraph firstly seems to say it is OK then you say " But I've not found any working way to get interlaced full quality movie out from it - any way taken". iMovie 08 to 11 will not deliver.

I am not trying to be contentious, but feel that as jhvv is about to start on 40 VHS tapes he may want some reassurance and clarity in what is being said.

He is after a way to get around the "single field processing" issue.Do you think this will work for him as descibed?

Your time and thoughts are much appreciated.

Hi

It's hard to be 100% consistent when speculating and when more experienced people might have a solution, me unaware.

To use iMovie'08 to 11 to Import/Capture - then move the .dv files over to FCP-X - should work as far as I understands it (Have no FCP-X) - BUT

Why not Import/Capture in FCP-X directly ?

But if You've made any editing's or analyzed etc. and try to Export/Share or get from iMovie Project folder - Then as I see it - there are no interlaced video here - not even if Exported in QuickTime and set as interlaced. Not in my Mac at least - If anyone can fix this I'll be VERY GLAD.

Yours Bengt W

Hi Bengt

Thanks for your reply.This should give jhvv the confidence he needs to proceed with his workround as he is having problems using the canopus with FCPX directly.

Hi jhvv

Suggest you try a small sample amount of video with the 09 to FCPX workround to ensure you dont get any problems with video and audio being out of sync.Best find out soon rather than after 40 VHS tapes later.

You didn't say what your end product was to be. DVD?

If it is DVD then take the sample video right through to a test DVD to ensure that all stages perform to your expectations.

Your problems with the canopus 55 and FCPX may be due to FCPX not seeing Timecode.

The canopus 55 ,and other converters, do not generally output timecode that you would normally get from a digital camcorder.

I'm having some strange issues with sound quality and FCPX crashing during video capture.

Yes - I saw it and are of the opinion that if in Your situation this would get 100% attention so that it would work OK. Then everything else also come into place.

Yours Bengt W

I'm in the process of digitizing my families old home video VHS recordings

I have done LOTS of that.

I've purchased a Canopus ADVC55

I have one of those units in a drawer, the quality is not too good. Get the Canopus ADVC300.

I have iMovie '09 and Final Cut Pro X. Sadly no iMovie HD, seems hard to find...

iMovie 06 is what you need, about 10 are for sale on eBay $30 - $200. (part of iLife 06.)

FCPX continually crashes during video capturing.

Probably caused by frame dropouts with AVDC55.

or do I really need to look harder for iMovie HD

It's not hard. Buy iLife 06 on ebay.

Your problems with the canopus 55 and FCPX may be due to FCPX not seeing Timecode.

The canopus 55 ,and other converters, do not generally output timecode that you would normally get from a digital camcorder.

The ADVC300 has a built in time code function.

I've played around with countless other conversion systems, ranging in price from $79 to $399. Short verison, this is the ONLY unit to own. No dropped frames at all, even with questionable quality tapes, no jitter, great color, excellent sound quality. Zero setup with iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11.

This is a prosumer deck. The time code function is alone worth the price if you have old analog footage. Absolutely NO "Out Of Sync" audio.

ADVC300 is for anyone who wants to do editing and is concerned about quality of color and speed, for the novice it is an incredible gizmo that will restore VHS tapes to a state close to the original fixing midtones, highlights and shadows on the fly. Not only can you simply convert analog to digital you can actually manipulate the signal going in (if you want to).

A bit pricey but it WORKS.

I have found that I can import in iMovie 11 witH no loss for DV. My camera does not work for FCPX since FCpX wants to import from a DV camera with time code, and my consumer level camera does not have time code.

I have found that in Final Cut Pro X, I can use the File/Import iMovie Events command and bring all events into FCP.

This may take a while. I recommend running it overnight. When it finishes, close FCP (may take awhile). Then restart your Mac.

When you restart FCP you will find all your iMovie Events available to FCP and it will not use much disk space.

This is because FCP will reference your iMovie event through a Hard Link (much like Time Machine) so you can have two apps referencing the same physical file in different folders.

I had, for example, a 1TB drive with 850GB used. After importing my events into FCP X, I might have 852 GB used, because it does not double u p the dv files, but it does generate thumbnails and analysis files.

Another advantage of doing it this way is that FCP will not import DV Stream. It needs DV stream to be converted to a mov file with separate (not muxed) audio and video tracks. You can do this in Compressor, but it is a pain if you have a lot of files.

However, if you import from iMovie, FCP handles the DV Stream just fine.

Pretty slick!