VHS to Mini DV to FCP6

Here's another project I'm working on.

I'm converting some old VHS tapes to Mini DV and then importing the Mini DV's to FCP6 so that I can make movie files and put then to dvd. I guess I want to make sure I'm doing this the right way.

I'm copying from VHS to Mini DV.
Then capturing from Mini DV into FCP6.
Then I add some titles, lately I've been using the DeInterlace filter because the picture has been looking kind of choppy.
Then I export to a movie file.
Then I use iDVD and make a dvd.

Any suggestions or am I doing it right?
Thanks!!!

It all sounds fine, except for the 'choppiness'. That could be an incorrect timeline setting. Very hard to tell without being able to see the video. I guess if de-interlacing works and the end result looks fine when played on a DVD player on a TV, then it a bit of a moot point.

If you wanted to speed up your workflow, you could possibly attach your VHS to your DV deck and use E to E or EE to pass the video right into FCP. That means you don't have to do the step where you transfer to mini DV. If you weren't adding titles, you could even go right from the VHS player to a DVD recorder, given the right inputs, outputs and cables.

How are you copying to MiniDV? With a deck or video transfer kit (using a camera) or?

--
Eric Harnden
Quintessential Studios
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VHS to Mini DV:

I'm recording to MiniDV with a video camera.
VCR to dv video camera.

Does the camera have the ability to do EE or E to E? If so, you could halve the time it takes by knocking out the dub to mini dv section.

Connect the VHS outputs to the inputs of the camera, then connect the camera to the mac via firewire, set the camera to do EE (this means the signal is being passed right through the camera, not captured in the camera) Then open log and capture and set the capture settings to 'Non-controllable device'.

Press play on the VHS and you should see the signal coming into the capture window. Hit capture now. Hit escape to finish.

Actually I transfer to mini dv so that I dont have to use the vhs tapes too much.
I don't have too much external drive space so if I have to go back to tape, I can just use the mini dv's.

I like the idea of having MiniDV backups of the VHS tapes so that he can recapture with TC.

Kevin Monahan
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Yup, my sentiments exactly; you're doing it the right way, not the fast way.

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