Tape transfer (sticky?)

[matteusclement]

I want to make this a sticky too. especially since this is so simple. Any ideas or additions?


Tape to digital

You will need a few things:
1. A “tape” player. That can be a camcorder or VCR that matches your tape kind
2. A “capture device”. This will turn your analog signal into a digital. It will take RCA on one end and come into your computer via Firewire or USB. Some kinds might be like the grass valley ADVC-55 or something from tigerdirect:
3. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=1428&name=USB Capture Devices
4. Usually these devices will come with software, make sure that it works with MAC.

NOTES:
Firewire vs USB
FW is better. It gives more consistent rates

Codecs
Most devices will convert into an MPEG-2 format which often goes onto DVD’s nice. You can expect about 12gigabytes per hour.

 

[chrismacguy]

Make sure your tape player is of decent quality or the whole exercise can be a waste of time.

 

[-DH]

You're number 2 is a bit incomplete. You'll get a better signal if the analog feed is S-Video (Y/C) instead of using the composite RCA connections. Also, any analog footage can be greatly helped during the digitizing process if a TBC is used in the analog signal path. The ADVC 300 has a built-in TBC, but a full-frame TBC is even better.

You're number 3 links to many devices that capture in formats that are not meant for editing and will need to be converted prior to importing into a non-linear editing application.

And number 4 indicates the need for software. If you're capturing for editing, there's usually no software involved, other than the NLE you'll be using for the capture.

As for Firewire vs USB: USB transfers data in packets (short bursts) while Firewire transfers in a sustained stream. Most NLEs require a sustained stream so Firewire isn't just better, it's often required.

Most devices do NOT capture in MPEG-2. And MPEG-2 can be much, much less than 12gb per hour. Think about it; a normal DVD contains up to 2 hours and it only has the capacity for 4.3gb. That comes out to less than 2.2gb per hour.

12gb per hour is close to the data requirements for DV footage which is only compressed about 5:1 ... MPEG-2 is much more compressed than that. However, many of the devices you linked to in number 3 capture in MPEG-4/H.264, which are final delivery formats - not intended for editing. And USB will work fine for them.

And yes, MPEG-2 is one of the two allowable formats for DVD creation, but the MPEG-2 files are muxed with the audio and specially formatted as VOB files in order to meet the DVD specification. If you just burn any old MPEG-2 file on a DVD disc, it will not play on a DVD player unless it's been properly formatted by using a DVD authoring application (iDVD, DVD Studio Pro, Toast, Adobe Encore, etc).

Bottom line, if you want to capture analog footage with the intention of editing, don't use tools and a workflow design for other purposes.

-DH

 

[matteusclement]

Dh

@DH - you're the man. Thanks for the info.

 

[matteusclement]

who do I talk to about making a sticky? I can do a re type...

 

[mj16]

External Drive Suggestion

Any suggestions for 2TB external drive. I have 110 minidvs to store on a hard drive.

 

[matteusclement]

Western digital blue or blacks. Then buy an external case and build it. Not going to be cheap. Seagate is garbage.