Capture from VHS tape... help!

Question

Capture from VHS tape... help!

I want to import & capture some footage that is on a VHS tape. The only way I can think to do this is to play it on my TV & hook my SONY PD-150 up to the VCR to record it on DVcam then capture it from the dc cam tape to Final cut...
is there an easier way? can I hook a certain VCR player up to my apple & capture it that way?
Thanks!
-Jeff in NYC

14" IBook, G4, Mac OS X (10.4.6), 1.33 GHz, 768 MB Ram, FCE HD, Lacie Ext Hard Drives 160G/250G, Lacie Ext DVD Bur

Posted on Jul 9, 2006 10:37 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 9, 2006 11:12 AM in response to Jeff Goldstein

Hi Jeff.

If your Sony has analogue INPUTS you can play it straight into FCE.

Connect your VCR to the Sony which in turn is connected to your Mac with FW.

Change FCE's Easy Setup to DV-NTSC DV Converter and use Capture Now.

You can't connect a VCR to the Mac other than by using your camera or an A-D Converter which will cost upwards of $200.

Ian.

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Answer 2

Jul 9, 2006 11:24 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian
Yes my SONY does have an S video connector, so I guess I can connect the VCR player to the SONY and then the sony to my mac.... ok I'll try it.

Thanks much!
-Jeff

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Answer 3

Jul 9, 2006 11:33 AM in response to Jeff Goldstein

It will only work if your camera has Analogue-In - many don't.

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Answer 4

Jul 9, 2006 11:44 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian
I found this out anout my SONY:

Analog to Digital Converter Pass-Through

The PD150 can pass through an analog video signal and output a digital one and visa versa. Simply put, this eliminates the need for an outboard A-D/D-A converter box if the digital signal you need is Firewire (iLink) and the analog signal is composite or S-video.

So I'm set...thanks for the help!
-Jeff

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Answer 5

Jul 9, 2006 11:47 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Yes, the PD150 will accept a standard composite signal.

bogiesan

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Answer 6

Jul 9, 2006 3:54 PM in response to David Bogie Chq-1

Thanks! But can I hook my TV straight to my Sony cam & bypass the vcr?
-Jeff

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Answer 7

MartinR

Level 7

24,438 points

Jul 9, 2006 8:09 PM in response to Jeff Goldstein

Jeff,
Just connect your VCR video & audio outputs to the a/v inputs on your Sony cam. Then connect your Sony cam via FW to your Mac. You may need to tweak some setttings in your cam to allow analog/digital passthrough but you do not have to record a DV tape or connect your TV to do the passthrough.

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