Software for batch importing VHS footage with HDMI to USB dongle

[strik]

Hi fam..

I need to batch import about 20 VHS tapes of home movies into my Mac (Fairly current high-end Intel iMac running latest OS). I bought 2 cheap dongles from Amazon... a HDMI to USB dongle and a HDMI to composite video/audio adapter. To my surprise, the hardware works. In programs like Photo Booth, I can see and hear the video footage (With the help of Loopback running in the background for Audio). I can record the video to my built in drive right from Photo Booth.

However, Photo Booth is not optimal for importing a ton of VHS tapes. I have a large external HD that I'd like to direct the software I'm using to save to that specific drive.

Anyone know of any other software... free or commercial, where I can:
1. Select the video input source
2. Select what drive I want the software to be saved to.
3. If possible, make it a bit more automated. IE: Have it where I say, "I'm importing this tape: Family Vacation to Disney" and click record, and when the tape is done, I click stop, and then its ready for the next VHS tape. When I put in the next VHS tape, I click record, and then I say, "I'm importing this tape: Child's graduation"... If you know what I mean?

Are there any other built-in Mac apps where I can select the video source and hard drive destination, or other apps?

I tried iMovie and FCP, but for some reason, those apps don't let me select the USB video source, but apps like Photo Booth, FaceTime let me select the USB video as a source.

Thanks in advance for any help. I'll be super grateful to anyone helping me find a solution! Son-in-law's wedding coming up and I'm trying to digitize a bunch of old VHS videos as a gift but also make a fun wedding video.

 

[getoffmylawn]

Try QuickTime Player... it's not just a player.

 

[strik]

Try QuickTime Player... it's not just a player.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had played with QT a fair bit. It sort of works... The only quality control is "High" and "Maximum", which are still much higher resolution than VHS in wide format. No option to save to external drive when digitizing, or auto stop after 1 hour or 2 hours. If I can't find any other solution, I'll probably use that.

I see Elgato and Roxio have hardware / software solutions. I also just might buy one of those... but I wish I could demo or see the software in action a little more.

 

[scottrngr]

I have a Roxio attachment, that works for iMovie. Importing tapes does take forever. I seem to take ease dragging files from an SD card for granted!

 

[strik]

I'm going to give this a try:
Roxio Easy VHS to DVD for Mac..

Found a coupon code to make it fairly cheap and free shipping to Canada. It's mostly the software I'm after. My wife is going to be doing a lot of the importing and she wants it super simple, so hoping this works out. Will update everyone.

 

[scottrngr]

I'm going to give this a try:
Roxio Easy VHS to DVD for Mac..

Found a coupon code to make it fairly cheap and free shipping to Canada. It's mostly the software I'm after. My wife is going to be doing a lot of the importing and she wants it super simple, so hoping this works out. Will update everyone.

When I used the Roxio software, I had to set it on "medium" quality. If I set it higher, the audio would begin to drift, and be really out of sync the longer the video went.

 

[strik]

When I used the Roxio software, I had to set it on "medium" quality. If I set it higher, the audio would begin to drift, and be really out of sync the longer the video went.

I’ll try that. Not too concerned with the quality. It’s really old VHS footage.

 

[dandeco]

I'm going to give this a try:
Roxio Easy VHS to DVD for Mac..

Found a coupon code to make it fairly cheap and free shipping to Canada. It's mostly the software I'm after. My wife is going to be doing a lot of the importing and she wants it super simple, so hoping this works out. Will update everyone.

Was the software updated into a 64-bit version at some point? I know when Mac OS 10.5 Catalina first came out, the only USB video capture device's included software that was compatible with Catalina was the Elgato Video Capture. Perhaps the others have caught up?