VHS-C import to mac?

[Small giraffe]

Hi all,

I'm a complete newbie when it comes to video etc, so I have some little questions.

I have some VHS-C tapes that I would like to import and turn into clips and mail to friends or even convert the whole tapes and put them onto DVD.

I don't have the camera which I filmed the tapes on anymore, so if I buy one on ebay can I hook it up to my powerbook and transfer the material easily?

Can I use Imovie to do it - as I don't want to be buying new software. Also what cables would I need?

(See a complete newbie!) Thanks very much for your help!

 

[crg23]

You would need an analog to digital converter for the video. The cheapest you can pay for one is around 250 USD.

 

[Small giraffe]

Woooah thats expensive!! Is there no other way to do it?

Is there any place that can do it for me - would that work out cheaper?

 

[crg23]

Well if you have a digital camera also you could stream it to that camera, record it to digital, and then captuer it via firewire. Or you could also just buy a cheaper analog to digital for around 80 bucks lowest. But the quality will suck.

 

[Harryc]

I asked basically the same question recently....

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21317

 

[Abdiel]

Places usually charge you an arm and a leg for digital conversion of video. You might come out better buying a conversion box, using it yourself and then selling it afterwards if you don't need it to get some of your money back.

 

[rman]

The easiest way is using DV mini camera if you have one. Then you can connect up your VCR to the camera and the camera to the computer. Set your camera to pass thru mode. Then play the tape and record it using iMovie. But you would need A mini DV camera. Maybe you can borrow, one from a friend.

 

[crg23]

Yup, Rmans right on track.

 

[Fallooza]

The easiest way is using DV mini camera if you have one. Then you can connect up your VCR to the camera and the camera to the computer. Set your camera to pass thru mode. Then play the tape and record it using iMovie. But you would need A mini DV camera. Maybe you can borrow, one from a friend.

so instead of using a tape in the VCR you could record TV to your puter. then u could put it on a DVD without any apps like toast?

 

[rman]

You will need some application in order to burn the video to DVD.

 

[Small giraffe]

Hi all,

Going back to this previous thread I have found a place that will transfer my video's to DVD. Can I easily edit parts of the films from the DVD's to mpegs etc easily with the standard mac software, imovie? So that I can email clips and stuff to friends.

(I've never used imovie before so not sure what it does/can do, I only want to use it to edit some holiday home movies to send to my mates).

Thanks all.

 

[sarahsboy18]

If they burned you standard DVD... Such as one that can be played in a Home DVD Player.... You will need a program like DVDxDV to rip the DVD into a format that iMovie can work with. If they burned you a data disk with MPEGs on it you should be good to go.

Once you get it into iMovie it should be pretty easy from there to do what you want.