A rather unusual need for advice! - IndieTalk

Josh · 06-18-2010, 02:29 PM

Hello Everyone,

I'm currently working on a project using a Panasonic NV M50, which is an S-VHS camcorder. Things are generally running smoothly but I'm here looking for some advice on how i would get the footage from the S-VHS cassette onto my MAC, to then be edited in Final Cut.

I've heard of a variety of different ways but i want to be sure that it is possible before splashing out money on any potential equipment.

Thanks,

Josh

www.vimeo.com/joshsawley

2001 Productions · 06-18-2010, 02:58 PM

I can think of 2 low-budget, low-tech ways off the top of my head:

1. If you have access to a stand-alone DVD recorder, burn a DVD then import it via your computer's DVD drive.

2. If you have access to a MiniDV camcorder, record the footage from your S-VHS camera onto DV tape, then output from the DV to your Mac.

Josh · 06-18-2010, 03:01 PM

I'm totally fine with going low-tech. I'm going to buy a VHS/DVD combo this week i think. Would i be able to literally put the VHS tape in that i have been shooting on and then have it copied over to the blank DVD? and also when inserting the DVD into my MAC, would it recognize and then let me edit it through Final Cut?

2001 Productions · 06-18-2010, 03:09 PM

If you're shooting S-VHS but only buying a standard VHS deck, you'll lose image quality when you copy to DVD (assuming the deck even has pseudo-S playback capability). I'd go directly out from your camera into the DVD recorder, if it has input jacks (use the Y/C connection, if available).

When you put the DVD into your drive you should be able to import the footage as a video file that FC will recognize. It will be MPEG-2, I believe, which isn't the greatest for editing so you may want to convert it in FC to a different format.

2001 Productions · 06-18-2010, 03:12 PM

Actually, it just occurred to me that, if you can get your hands on a MiniDV camera you proabably wouldn't even need to record to tape, just use the camera as a codec -- come in via video in and out via firewire. You'll get a little better quality from DV than MPEG (I think).

Josh · 06-18-2010, 03:15 PM

I'm not sure if the tapes i'm using at the moment for tests are VHS or S-VHS but they are the full size ones, not VHS-C. I haven't really experimented with VHS before so apologies if I'm taking a while to understand.

Could you possibly link me to an example of the VHS deck you mentioned? and do you know if this method would 100% work because i looked at the cheap option of the "roxio vhs to dvd" but all ive heard is bad news so i will avoid that.

Josh · 06-18-2010, 03:18 PM

"Actually, it just occurred to me that, if you can get your hands on a MiniDV camera you proabably wouldn't even need to record to tape, just use the camera as a codec -- come in via video in and out via firewire. You'll get a little better quality from DV than MPEG (I think)."

Do you mean it would go

VHS DECK > DV CAM > IMAC

2001 Productions · 06-18-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh

Do you mean it would go

VHS DECK > DV CAM > IMAC

Well, yes, though again if you're shooting S-VHS (it should say on the tape itself) you'll want to go

S-VHS camera > MiniDV camcorder > IMac

Josh · 06-18-2010, 03:37 PM

I checked at the VHS tapes i have are just VHS.

This is the camera i have
http://www.av-land.co.uk/panasonic/nvm50/

So with this in mind, i would be running

VHS PLAYER (with cassette with my footage on) > MiniDV cam (no tape?) > iMAC

2001 Productions · 06-18-2010, 04:54 PM

Should work.

bmoede · 06-18-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh

Hello Everyone,

I'm currently working on a project using a Panasonic NV M50, which is an S-VHS camcorder. Things are generally running smoothly but I'm here looking for some advice on how i would get the footage from the S-VHS cassette onto my MAC, to then be edited in Final Cut.

I've heard of a variety of different ways but i want to be sure that it is possible before splashing out money on any potential equipment.

Thanks,

Josh

www.vimeo.com/joshsawley

Something like the Canopus ADVC300 would be a good choice. I work with a lot of old footage, 8mm and vhs, the TBS in the Canopus box will do a good job of cleaning up older footage.

Cracker Funk · 06-19-2010, 12:37 AM

What you'll wanna do is to first turn off you Ace of Base album, change out of your flannel shirt, walk past your Super Nintendo, resist the temptation to watch this week's newest episode of "Saved by the Bell", start up that flux-capacitor and come back to the future.

There is no reason for you to shoot on S-VHS, other than to say you did it. The equipment needed to hook it up to your mac will cost darn-near as much as an inexpensive new camcorder, which will far excede the image quality of that dinosaur you're holding onto.

You're not going to get any kind of antique look using S-VHS, if that's what you're trying to do. All you'll get is a low resolution, without much color clarity. That can be done in post.

Josh · 06-19-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

What you'll wanna do is to first turn off you Ace of Base album, change out of your flannel shirt, walk past your Super Nintendo, resist the temptation to watch this week's newest episode of "Saved by the Bell", start up that flux-capacitor and come back to the future.

There is no reason for you to shoot on S-VHS, other than to say you did it. The equipment needed to hook it up to your mac will cost darn-near as much as an inexpensive new camcorder, which will far excede the image quality of that dinosaur you're holding onto.

You're not going to get any kind of antique look using S-VHS, if that's what you're trying to do. All you'll get is a low resolution, without much color clarity. That can be done in post.

Okay you've changed my mind, I'll go out and buy a RED. Thanks buddy.

CinemaRind · 06-25-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh

Okay you've changed my mind, I'll go out and buy a RED. Thanks buddy.

mmmmmmmmmmmm...snarky. But the pure fact of it is that your medium will be looked down on no matter what by a majority of people, and for good reason. There is no way you'll get even a decent image through vhs tapes, simply no resolution. Whatever your reason (budget, "experimental") there is no logical reason in this day and age to have to resort to vhs. Doing so will just curse your projects with the appearance of laziness.

L.I.F.E. · 06-25-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh

Okay you've changed my mind, I'll go out and buy a RED. Thanks buddy.

I don't think he meant you need to go buy the best, but I'm fairly sure if you went and picked up a flip cam, for >$300 it would have better quality then what you are using now. I say that without at all trying to sound like a jerk. It would just make things for you much easier.