Canopus ADVC110

I found iMovie 6 to be the most userfriendly choice. The quality of the video is determined by the ADVC.

Never had any problems

which of these program's i should use to capture my old VHS footage

this is dependent on what you are happy with and what the end product is for

I love the comfort of my volvo but my daughter likes her mini cooper cause it looks coowel

I would never dream of using iMovie, its slow cumbersome and is restricted to a few codecs, cant colour correct and it wont display on a broadcast monitor. I use it for broadcast compliance.

My friends use iMovie because its on the machine and its simple for hoobyists to use.

As your data is being transfered as DV either application will work but the elegance of Final cut should help you decide

The question was "to capture" not "to edit"

Detlef Kretschmer wrote:

The question was "to capture" not "to edit"

no the question was;

"and will very soon be upgrading to FCP 6.I am using a ADVC110 and wanted to know which of these program's i should use to capture my old VHS footage"

As the capture function is a part of the editing workflow, it is important to use iMovie exclusivly, or FCP exclusivly

Nonsens

The ADVC produes a DV stream, and the best the software can do is record it. Both do nothing else and the result is identical - unless, of course, you are recoding - remebre also every time you recode you lose.

Sorry this makes no sence to you, many users think that all video applications can capture import play and edit any video format and codec. the following should help, taken from the FCP user manual.

DV stream and QT DV files are significantly different, although they are based on the DV codec.

iMovie uses DV stream files natively, FCP can not not use DV steam files natively.

DV stream files use the DV stream container, have a higher data rate and imaging structure resulting in a larger file size, the audio is 44 K, it has no time code

QT DV files use a QT container using the QT DV codec, 48K audio, and has Time Code

If iMovie is used to capture and FCP is used to edit, FCPwhen imported, FCP has to convert the audio and video in the background on the fly, which can choke the play back; often causing the render files to corrupt.

DV stream files should be converted to QT DV with 48K audio so that FCP can work with a native file format.

Therefore, using the same application to capture and to edit will ensure a stable workflow.

This is what iMovie records. Don't mistake the actual recorded video with what iMovie produces as output.

Hi

There is a differences in conveniences and in what end-product You'll do

• If result is a DVD - then iMovioe'08 to 11 are not the tools of choice - as non of them can deliver 100% interlaced SD-Video over to iDVD (or whatever authoring program that is used). All will import OK but as far as I learned the Export process is the problem that I can't work around.

• Then there is iMovie HD6 and FinalCut left over

_ iMovie HD6 - can be set to Import without cutting up in individual clips - and as there are no timecode delivered from the VHS (or any other analog media) - is it of importance to set this so - or every drop-out will be setting off as a new clip

_ FinalCut can not be set to do this - But halt's - and after some hundred re-starts of the importing process one get's tired of doing this

The two solutions are

• import with iMovie HD6 - and then Export over to FinalCut for editing - or -

• Use a Canopus ADVC-300 - as this has TimeBase correction => Meaning that it in some ways mend small drop-outs AND KEEPS AUDIO in perfect Sync. even if tape is somewhat problematic.

I took the last resort - but had a HollyWood bridge first - so I've done a lot of first one too.

Yours Bengt W

What I do is record using iMovie, but I don't export the clips, I go into the Contents. There is a Media folder which hold the unmodified clips and these I import into FCS, Works fine.

Hi

Let me guess.

You need to render - a bit - or rather often - or even more ?

At least that's what happens to me when doing so.

I think converting from the codec iMovie import via - to one that FinalCut can use (AIC) will make this so much easier. I use QuickTime Pro (7.x) to do this.

Yours Bengt W

I agree. All depends upon what I want to do eventually.

I just like to do all my transformations either using JES Deinterlacer or FCP. I don't trust iMovie 😁

should use to capture my old VHS footage in as much lossless quality as possible.

I have done lots of that.

To get your VHS video into iMovie, use the Grassvalley ADVC300 (It's much better than the ADVC110). With the ADVC300 Audio and Video go in, FireWire comes out. It also comes with a nice Macintosh application that works flawlessly with iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11 (I have used it a few times with iMovie 11).

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

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).

http://www.videoguys.com/Item/Grass+Valley+ADVC300/035303230363.aspx

I would use iMovie 06 with iDVD 09/11, why?

iMovie 09/11 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 09/11, 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 11 is a "lossless" combination.

So would i find it easier importing using iMovie6 or FCP6?

Easier to import - Not as the Q: is set.

A. Import is not the big issue in regard to iMovie'08 to 11 - As they fail on Export full interlaced SD-Video over to iDVD

B. Import from iMovie HD6 and FinalCut differs in two ways

• type of file created during import

• ability to import even with drop-outs

1. iMovie HD6 imports in a different format than FinalCut = Moving material from one to the other results in for ending in FinalCut - lot's of lot's of renderings

2. iMovie HD6 can be set to NOT import as individual clips = less disturbed up on drop-outs - and less often in need of re-starting Import - FinalCut is very sensitive and with an ADVC-110 this can be challenging if tapes are some years old and there are many drop-outs.

So I would

• use iMovie HD6 - and -

• edit all in this

• close it - and-

• open a new project in iDVD and drop movie icon into this.

(Sorry thought I was in iDVD forum)

In FCS-Pro forum - I love to Import and edit in FCP (6) and using ADVC-300 as this takes care about 99% of the drop-outs and 100% of Audio Sync. problems.

Yours Bengt W