Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/03/02

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Subject: [Leica] OT: analog video8 to DVD transfer using a Mac - QUESTIONS to experts
From: durling at cox.net (Mike Durling)
Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:16:21 -0500
References: <49AA499D.6090404@tele2.fr> <49AAA72C.8030307@cox.net> <49ABA64F.5060305@tele2.fr>

Ok, it says "hardware Mpeg-4 encoding, so that's what you get.  No idea 
whether QuickTime Pro would see the interface, but I will check with a 
colleague tomorrow who uses a similar interface.

Mike D

Philippe AMARD wrote:
>
>
> Mike Durling wrote:
>
>> Philippe,
>>
>> While I am not familiar with the particular Pinnacle interface you 
>> are using, I suspect that the problem may be in the software rather 
>> than the hardware.  I am mostly used to Final Cut Pro, but it should 
>> be possible to capture directly into iMovie with that capture card.
>
> Nope, unfortunately.
> The card/interface comes with software that leaves little if not no 
> option to the user.
> And when I open I-movie and try to import straight from the video 
> player, it fails to see the interface ...
>
>> You then have to export in a format that iDVD understands.  Both 
>> programs should come with your Mac.  It may take a bit of digging to 
>> find the correct capture and export settings.  If I recall correctly 
>> it is not exactly intuitive how you change them.
>>
>> DVDs normally use the MPEG-2 format, but I don't think iDVD takes 
>> that directly.  You probably have to record in the DV format then let 
>> iDVD do the conversion.
>>
>> Another possibility is to use QuickTime Pro to do the capture.  The 
>> upgrade to the Pro version costs $30 in the US.
>
> Do you think it could see the interface? sort of plug & play
> So far the whole thing has been more like plug and fail  :-[
>
>>
>> I will try to remember to check tomorrow with a colleague at work who 
>> uses a similar setup.  In the meantime, what software are you using 
>> to capture the video?
>
> The one that came with the card/interface, no choice there.
> This is it : http://tinyurl.com/yroaym
>
> Thanks in retrospect and in anticipation
> Bien cordialement
> Phili^^e
>
>
> <http://tinyurl.com/yroaym>
>
>>
>> <http://tinyurl.com/yroaym>Mike D
>>
>> Philippe AMARD wrote:
>>
>>> Really Off Topic
>>>
>>> I'm seeking information, experience report, and advice on how to 
>>> transfer Video8 tapes onto DVDs with as little quality loss as 
>>> possible while keeping the highest resolution present on the master 
>>> tapes..
>>> I am NOT looking for the best way to compress archives, I'm looking 
>>> for the least loss in quality - space/weight of the file is no issue 
>>> here.
>>>
>>> My equipment:
>>> Sony Video8 player.
>>> Pinnacle analog to Mac interface (RCA -> USB2)
>>> IMac - 3.06 with extended ram and a 500Gb HD. Latest OS.
>>> External HDs.
>>>
>>> Note that : I also have a VHS/DVD player/recorder that can also burn 
>>> DVDs from an external source (the Video8 player can then be plugged 
>>> in by means of RCA)
>>> Yet creating chapters and readjusting sequences proves near impossible.
>>> And the Mac facilities/features are lost.
>>>
>>> My current Mac problem:
>>> I do get converted files,  in MPEG4 format, but the quality is very 
>>> poor, and the images are resized to fit I-Pods ... (I'll end up 
>>> hating the Mac closed world).
>>> I'd like to be able to play the DVDs on any standard DVD  player, 
>>> edit sequences, add titles, etc and retain the original quality.
>>> So far not good.
>>>
>>> Question:
>>> Has anyone here found a near lossless solution on the Mac and what 
>>> is it?
>>> Which interface and programmes have you used that would help me 
>>> reach my after all very simple goal; best preserving my analog kids 
>>> memory through the digital age.
>>>
>>> Thanks in anticipation for your advice drawing on experience.
>>> Maybe better off list as this is all really OT?
>>> Philippe
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
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>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


In reply to: Message from durling at cox.net (Mike Durling) ([Leica] OT: analog video8 to DVD transfer using a Mac - QUESTIONS to experts)
Message from philippe.amard at tele2.fr (Philippe AMARD) ([Leica] OT: analog video8 to DVD transfer using a Mac - QUESTIONS to experts)