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Analog to Digital Video Conversion
Created: June 16, 2002
A number of people have inquired about ways to convert their extensive library of consumer level analog video footage into DV format for use in Final Cut Pro or iMovie. The following summary is a product of my research on this issue together with input from our video list subscribers. [Many thanks to Mark Calice, Brooks Collins, Frank Swanson, Steve Voison, Robert Brilliant, and Scott Schraeder.]
If you have experience in this area, please feel free to provide additional feeback. I'll verify incorporate and credit your comments in a forthcoming update.
Here are the main issues.
Consumer Formats
1.The major consumer level analog video formats are VHS,
VHS-C (VHS Compact), S-VHS (Super VHS), 8 millimeter (mm)
and Hi-8 (a higher quality 8 mm format).
Broadcast and other hi-end video professionals often use an analog format know as Beta SP. These cameras and related equipment are quite expensive. Conversion of this analog footage is not addressed in this overview.
Analog Quality
All things being equal, the quality of an analog to digital
video conversion is most dependant on the quality of the
original analog video, especially the video format. 8 mm
produces better quality than VHS or VHS-C; S-VHS and Hi-8
are better still. Mini-DV is better than all of them, which
is one of the reasons why almost all consumers are moving in
the digital camcorder direction.
Of course, the skill of the camera operator is important too; for example, it's harder to correct for bad lighting after the fact.
Recorders, cameras, and decks that use these consumer analog video formats can transmit their video information via two different connections, composite or S-video.
S-Video connections transmit a higher-quality signal, leading to a higher-quality result from digitizing. This connector is generally found on S-VHS and Hi-8 devices.
Time-Base Correction
A time-base corrector can deal with errors in
recreating an analog video signal. These errrors are
especially common among consumer-grade equipment, where
clocks may not be steady and mechanics can cause slight
variations in tape speed. Unfortunately time-base correctors
are expensive and may invovle the use of complicated
waveform monitors and vectorscopes. Some VCRs, such as the
JVC line with "DigiPure" technology, offer a watered-down
version of hi-end time-base correction. One subscriber
reports a qualitative difference when using it. [Let me
know if you have any experience in this arrea.]
Camcorder as A-D Converter
A DV camcorder can act as an analog to digital
conversion mechanism.
Method 1: Record to tape.
Connect the analog camera to the digital camera (via
composite or S-video connections and associated audio
connectors). Record to the digital camcorder, which will
digitize the video and save it onto tape. Then connect the
digital camcorder via Firewire cable to your Mac and use
iMovie or Final Cut Pro for capturing from DV as usual.
Method 2: "Pass-through"
Current SONY DV and Digital 8 cameras have an
analog-to-digital conversion pass-through capability. This
eliminates the step of recording to tape.
Connect the analog source to the DV camcorder, and the camcorder to your Mac via Firewire. Open up iMove or Final Cut Pro and capture; the video will be digitized via the camcorder and passed through into your Mac. [Note: In Final Cut Pro, a change will have to made in the capture settings from "DV" to "non-controllable device."]
Special Case Option: Sony Digital8
Sony Digital8 camcorders record in DV format onto Digital 8
tapes. These hybrid-like cameras also play older 8
millimeter or Hi 8 analog tapes. To digitize one of these
older tapes, just place it in the camocrder, connect to your
Mac via Firewire, and capture via iMovie or Final Cut
Pro.
Exterrnal
Converters
An external converter can digitize your analog
footage.These devices have analog inputs to receive the
video and audio from your analog source (e.g., camcorder,
VCR) and a Firewire output to connect to your Mac.The main
players in the consumer space (MSRPs $300-$400) include:
Dazzle Holywood DV-Bridge
Sony Media Converter (recently discontinued)
Formac Studio
Canopus ADVC-100
PowerR Director's Cut
DataVideo Dac-100 DV
Hook up these devices between your analog source and your Mac in a similar manner as with a DV camcorder acting as the digitizer in pass-through mode. No tape is required or written to, digitized media goes straight on thru to your hard drive.
Dazzle has received favorable reviews and is considered a good value. The device, however, is considered a little unstable in its upright position and the location of connectors, while convenient to the user, can result in a bit of spaghetti on the desktop. The Canopus ADVC-100, although not as well known, has received higher ratings from those in the know.
PCI Converters
Analog video can also be digitized through the use of a
PCI card.
The Matrox RT Mac card, which enables real-time effects through its hardware in Final Cut Pro versions 2 and 3, provides inputs for digitizing video and "passing it through" onto your hard drive.
That's it for now; let me about your A-to-D conversion experiences.
Best
-Fred Balin
3790 El Camino Real, #2005
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650-565-8120
info@macresolutions.com
©2002,
Fred Balin, MacResolutions
All rights reserved.
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