analog video 8 to DVD

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analog video 8 to DVD

I just transferred all my 8mm videos to DVD using a Toshiba DVD recorder. Previous failed attempts with a PC and Dazzle box brought me to buy a mac becasue all my friends said "you wont have these problems with a mac... IMovie is easy". So now I find that IMovie wont understand the DVDs I made, either formatted or non formatted. What do I need to do to get these movies into a format so that my 17 yr old daughter (who knows how to edit on IMovie) can begin to make a small film for a family enet that is quickly approaching? Is there a program to convert the DVD information or do I have to get something like a firewire cable (for an old Sony Analog S8 Video) and tediously watch the tape spin into the computer?
Your help is very much appreciated.
Steve

Imac Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Aug 30, 2006 9:16 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 30, 2006 9:38 AM in response to biofeedsk

Hello, Steve,
Welcome to the discussions, and to Macs!

You will get better quality iMovies if you convert your analog movies directly into iMovie. If your camera supports Firewire connection, I would do it that way even if it is a bit tedious. The time it takes to import is the length of the videoclip. If your camcorder does not have a Firewire AV Out connection, you will need to get a converter to do this.

DVDs have compressed your movies. To extract them from the DVDs can be done, but it involves more compression, then when the iMovie is completed if you put it onto DVDs again, you have more compression, and may lose more quality.

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Answer 2

Aug 30, 2006 9:42 AM in response to Beverly Maneatis

You could also try this: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=619882&tstart=0

to see if it will get you what you want more quickly and easily.

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Answer 3

Sep 8, 2006 12:44 PM in response to biofeedsk

Not sure this is right topic. I have old analog super 8 film in cartridges and on reels. Want to convert to DVD. I know there are pro vendors out there that do it but I want to try on my own. Have a G4 cube OS 9.1 and am planning to get a new Intel iMac or Intel Pro. Open for suggestions for both old and new computer. (software and which mac to use)

stephen

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Answer 4

Sep 8, 2006 11:25 PM in response to biofeedsk

The program that I use and have never had a problem once I mastered the program is Handbrake, software to 'rip' DVD's.

found here
http://handbrake.m0k.org/

Steve

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Answer 5

Sep 9, 2006 1:10 AM in response to newer user

...super 8 film in cartridges and on reels. Want to convert to DVD...

hmm, that is less a computer, more a "mechanical" problem 😉

you could use your projector and the silverscreen in a dark room, place your camcorder close aside the projector and "record" the projection..
problems:
"hot spot" - the middle of the projection is much brighter then the broders
flicker - your super8s use 20, 18, 15, 12 (?) fps, video is in the US 30fps...
sharpness/brightness - your camcorder has to be able to switch off any automatics, otherwise, the pic will "pulse"...

for a few takes, I would give that a try... to transfer family's history, I would spend a dime... they use xx k$ hardware, which accomplishes that task much better (make a test, before transfering all 127 wheels of film...)

buuut:
try to find a company which transfers from super8 to miniDV (=tape)!!
in case, you want to edit the footage, you avoid loss during the lossy process of converting dvd=>iMovie...
you have much more options to create a nice (=edit just the best scenes), good sounding (add commentary & music), excellent looking (menus) dvd on your Mac....

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