Video 8 capture/import iMovie

Question

Level 1

12 points

Video 8 capture/import iMovie

I have a 2015 MacBook Pro OS 10.12.3, and I have a Sony TRV520 Camcorder with Firewire connection. I can import Digital8 video clips into iMovie using Firewire adapter no problem. When I play old Video 8 tapes (that were taken with an older camcorder), I can see them in iMovie (the analog is converted to digital by the TRV520 and transmits over Firewire), but it cannot import them--they play in the iMovie import screen, but I cannot capture the video. I assume it has something to do with the analog to digital format...

I used to do this with an old Windows XP PC desktop and a firewire video capture card, and I was able to capture both formats and save as MP4 files or MOV files. Is there any way to do this in a Mac without purchasing a device to convert analog to digital? Just trying to archive old tapes. Not really planning to do much else for now.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014), iOS 10

Posted on Mar 16, 2017 6:12 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 16, 2017 9:57 AM in response to thdouglas

iMovie version 10 requires Timecode for import.

Timecode is present when you import your digital tapes but is not when you import

analogue tapes via your Digital 8 machine.

You should be able to import via QuickTime Player which you should have on your Mac.

How to use QuickTime Player - Apple Support

Use the Record function in this link by connecting your camcorder via FireWire

as you did before.

You might want to experiment with the quality settings that are mentioned

with a small sample to see what suits your needs with regard to quality versus file size.

You will get one long clip rather than the scene break clips that you obtained

with the Digital 8 tapes.The scene breaks do not exist on the analogue tape.

You will then need to import these files into iMovie.

This method has worked for others in the same situation so it should for you.

Reply