Analog video capture (VHS to Macbook Pro)

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Level 1

4 points

Analog video capture (VHS to Macbook Pro)

Hello all. Newbie question here.

I recently purchased my first macbook pro, want to get into video editing. The project I wanted to start with to learn a bit is my old VHS collection, importing/capturing the video onto the hard drive and editing it to eventually make DVD's for viewing and archiving so I can dump the tapes.

My question is about the capture and software I should use.

I see the ion VHS to PC capture box on amazon but I tend to think those things are sorta cheap and I see the company Blackmagic makes something a bit pricier but I know little about it.

Can you guys recommend where I should start with a good device to capture analog video into the computer and perhaps even digital video in the future from my Canon video camera (that has HDMI out)?

Then, for software, what would be the difference getting something good like Final Cut Pro for this purpose as opposed to just learning a bit of imovie to do this task?

thanks

(If Im in the wrong place for this I apologize)

Posted on Jul 21, 2014 9:55 AM

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Answer 1

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Jul 21, 2014 4:31 PM in response to Sequoia225

VHS capture...to a MacBook Pro...composite. Hmmm...your choices are VERY slim. None of the AJA nor Decklink products will work...none have analog in. OK, one Decklink one does...but it's the very high end UltraStudio 4K. That's $1000 right there. Matrox has the MXO2 Mini...There's a thunderbolt version. That's about $500.

On the non-pro end, you have the Elgato Video Capture device...

https://www.elgato.com/en/video/video-capture

That's $100. If you plan on using the footage in FCP, it'll have to be converted to DV/NTSC before you bring it in.

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Answer 2

Sequoia225 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 21, 2014 4:42 PM in response to Shane Ross

are these of any use to me for this?

Grass Valley/Canopus ADVC110

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00030ATTO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p147_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=AT VPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1F4TX8JV11HM6RG3B7KY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=16 88200382&pf_rd_i=507846

or any of these?

http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/intensity

or am I looking at the wrong things?

And wouldnt this process of playing it into the macbook through one of these devices turn it into DV or is that a separate process?

Or rather, how would you go about doing this if you were going to turn VHS tapes into simply edited DVDs using a new Macbook Pro

PS - Shane, Ive tried to email you but I get no reply. I used to work with you in LA. I worked with Tamara (trying not to get too personal on a public site 😉

Not sure how I can contact you off of here. 🙂

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Answer 3

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Jul 21, 2014 4:46 PM in response to Sequoia225

Oh? They still make that Canopus box? Yeah, that's a GREAT device. Converts the signal to a DV signal, and FCP, FCX both see that easily. yeah...that's the best bet. Although it won't work for HDMI. The Matrox MXO2 Mini will.

The only Intensity product that has analog video is the Shuttle, and that's USB3 only...and only PCs use that video connection. Won't work on a Mac...Thunderbolt connections will, but those two Intensity products don't have analog.

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Answer 4

Sequoia225 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 21, 2014 5:00 PM in response to Shane Ross

So even though the new Macbook Pros have USB3 (Im pretty sure mine does) it wont work?

Well it looks like theres an intensity shuttle for Thunderbolt and the Intensity Extreme looks like it has a Breakout cable that splits to analog component video in (which I believe my VHS has an out) and ana audio in - just not composite.

I just wanted to make sure these are the types of things I should be looking for and if FC will just pick it up directly in the MBP from there.

Im really new to video stuff.

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Answer 5

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Jul 21, 2014 5:06 PM in response to Sequoia225

Yeah, even though the Mac has USB3, the USB devices only have drivers for PC. And I didn't notice that break out cable...good call! Yeah, that device should be perfect. And VHS does Composite...that's one connection for video. It's rare to have a VHS deck that has component...three separate connectors for video (Red, Blue, Green). But if it does, then this device can deal with that too.

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