Big Heem
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: capture VCR tapes

I recently bought an adapter cable that is USB on one end and composite jacks on the other to connect to an old VCR.  I wouldl like to capture video from the VCR to FCE, but it does not recognize anything when I click on the capture tab.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks.

Mike

mac book pro, Mac OS X (10.0.x)

Posted on Apr 22, 2014 7:31 PM

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Big Heem

Q: capture VCR tapes

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  • by Meg The Dog,

    Meg The Dog Meg The Dog Apr 22, 2014 8:03 PM in response to Big Heem
    Level 6 (11,168 points)
    Video
    Apr 22, 2014 8:03 PM in response to Big Heem

    I'm not sure you can get this to work. FCE will ingest from an analog to digital convertor, but the output from the convertor must be Firewire (DV) not USB.

     

    With FCE/FCP most of this work is done with a convertor like this:

     

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/349146-REG/Grass_Valley_602029_ADVC_110_Bi directional_Media_Converter.html

     

    The other work around is to find a DV camera that will pass through and convert video from the analog inputs on the camera to the camera's DV output.

     

    MtD

  • by David Harbsmeier,

    David Harbsmeier David Harbsmeier Apr 22, 2014 8:07 PM in response to Big Heem
    Level 7 (30,024 points)
    Apr 22, 2014 8:07 PM in response to Big Heem

    Neither FCE or FCP will capture via USB.  You'll need a Firewire capable device (aka DV device) such as a DV camcorder, DV convter or DV VTR that has the ability to convert the analog signal from the VHS VCR to digital and output over a Firewire cable connected to your Mac.

     

    Or you could use the USB device you have and capture using other software, then convert the footage to QuickTime DV prior to importing it into your FCE project.  However, you will lose more quality this way.

     

    -DH

     

    opps ... Meg beat me to it.