[ash]

I'm trying to copy some vhs tapes to my iMac to burn to dvds. I hook my vcr to a canon camcorder's analogue input. Then connect my iMac to the camcorder via firewire, set it all up and go. So far so good, but when I play back the movie on my iMac the video and sound are out of sync, badly. What am I doing wrong? I import thro' quicktime and then via toast to dvd. Help



iMac G4 1.25Gh. Latest updates. QT Pro latest. Toast 6

[hawker]

import through quicktime? you tried importing through iMovie?

[ash]

Yes, couldn't get it to work

[leon]

Not sure what is going on with your current method, but maybe your mac isn't fast enough to encode everything, so if you have the money, try an EyeTV 250. Much easier than fiddling with camera's etc. I am currently using an EyeTV Hybrid to copy a bunch of tapes, but I noticed that your mac won't be fast enough to run one of these properly.
You might be able to find a store that will lend you a demo unit (EyeTV 250) to try out before you buy.

[hawker]

Originally Posted by ash

Yes, couldn't get it to work

Don't suppose you have Final Cut Pro or Express?

When you say it won't work do you mean it didn't play or it was still out of sync?

[Granny Smith]

I remember seeing a nice little coverter box for just this job. I cannot for the life of me remember the name but it's something like AVDC and then numbers, like 30, 100.

Here you go (it's actually the ADVC300, so my original post was close, but no cigar): http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC300/index.php

[samwalk]

What versions of software are you using?

There was an issue a while back if you imported reasonably large files. There was a fix by using quicktime pro to split the audio and video and then recombine them. I don't remember the details.

[NORMANDY]

You are after a canopus 110 or 300. I use the 300 all the time, it syncs ads time code you name it, great box, and even enhances poor quality signals.

The 110 model is 300 bucks and handles all NTSC, SECAM signals as well as Pal, and does a very godo job. The only reason to consider the 300 is when you do 1000's of hours of conversion to do and have poor quality analogue materail. The 300 model is about 700-800 bucks

[marc]

What happens if you hook it up as you have, but record to the cannon camcorder (so you remove the mac from the equation)? Is the video still out of sync if you play it back on the camcorder's screen or on a TV?

...just trying to figure out if it's a Mac thing or camcorder thing...

[iSlayer]

you could also use an analogue EyeTv such as the 250 - http://www.streetwise.com.au/product...oducts_id=4824
EyeTV software has a vhs import feature aswell

[ash]

Originally Posted by marc

What happens if you hook it up as you have, but record to the cannon camcorder (so you remove the mac from the equation)? Is the video still out of sync if you play it back on the camcorder's screen or on a TV?

...just trying to figure out if it's a Mac thing or camcorder thing...

Perfect to camcorder. so I'm losing sync somewhere else

[ash]

Originally Posted by hawker

Don't suppose you have Final Cut Pro or Express?

When you say it won't work do you mean it didn't play or it was still out of sync?

No, it wouldn't work at all with iMovie. I think it's not allowed.

[chocho]

i recently copied a vhs tape via my panasonic mini dv using the "analogue to digital pass through" function in imovie, then rendered the footage in idvd!

worked well, except i had to use imovie 3, instead of imovie 5! "analogue to digital pass thhrough" wouldn't capture in imovie 5!

hope that helps

[ash]

Originally Posted by iSlayer

you could also use an analogue EyeTv such as the 250 - http://www.streetwise.com.au/product...oducts_id=4824
EyeTV software has a vhs import feature aswell

Thanks, but I'm trying to do this on the cheap. I have only a few tapes.

[ash]

Originally Posted by samwalk

What versions of software are you using?

There was an issue a while back if you imported reasonably large files. There was a fix by using quicktime pro to split the audio and video and then recombine them. I don't remember the details.

Latest updates including QT Pro. But my iMac G4 1.25Gh may be just to slow. bummer

[g5agogo]

I've had no problem doing this with an old Sony Digital 8 handycam with passthorugh to a B&W Powermac G3 with a G4 accelerator at 500MHz through iMovie. So, the problem shouldn't be with the speed of your mac, or with iMovie. Have never done it using Quicktime, only iMovie, FCE, or FCP.

I think that the earlier poster was correct in that you are losing sync through quicktime - either incorrect parameters or maybe a problem with encoding, incompatible encoding or framerate match, or else system encoding speed.

I presume your camera hooked up to iMovie operating from a prerecorded tape normally works okay?

What model canon are you using? I have acces to a few canons, if I have a similar model, I could test it for you, not until tonight though.

EDIT: Chocho could be right I don't think I've done this through iMovie since Version 3 or 4 at the latest. Have you got an older version of imovie hanging around? Still works fine on FCE HD or FCP though.

[samwalk]

Your machine shouldn't be to slow. I have done similar with my panasonic camera onto a 1.25 powerbook. I have resorted to taping the footage onto the video camera and then importing it as I don't seem to be able to get passthrough working on my camera.

[ash]

Originally Posted by g5agogo

I've had no problem doing this with an old Sony Digital 8 handycam with passthorugh to a B&W Powermac G3 with a G4 accelerator at 500MHz through iMovie. So, the problem shouldn't be with the speed of your mac, or with iMovie. Have never done it using Quicktime, only iMovie, FCE, or FCP.

I think that the earlier poster was correct in that you are losing sync through quicktime - either incorrect parameters or maybe a problem with encoding, incompatible encoding or framerate match, or else system encoding speed.

I presume your camera hooked up to iMovie operating from a prerecorded tape normally works okay?

What model canon are you using? I have acces to a few canons, if I have a similar model, I could test it for you, not until tonight though.

EDIT: Chocho could be right I don't think I've done this through iMovie since Version 3 or 4 at the latest. Have you got an older version of imovie hanging around? Still works fine on FCE HD or FCP though.

canon is MV6i. I can copy tapes from the canon ok, but cannot get the passthrough without losing sync. Maybe it is QT. Thanks for reply

[BLINDER]

I sometimes import stuff on the G5 and lose sync in FCP but when I review and finalise things on another monitor or output to DVD it's all straightened up.
It seems to me to be a playback sync issue within the computer and QT itself.
Try and get to your end result and see if the problem really exists at the outcome side.

[insular]

Originally Posted by jpicard

You are after a canopus 110 or 300. I use the 300 all the time, it syncs ads time code you name it, great box, and even enhances poor quality signals.

The 110 model is 300 bucks and handles all NTSC, SECAM signals as well as Pal, and does a very godo job. The only reason to consider the 300 is when you do 1000's of hours of conversion to do and have poor quality analogue materail. The 300 model is about 700-800 bucks

300 bucks, where?

Is there any difference in quality between the ADVC55 and ADVC110. I just picked up a 110 off Ebay for $410 and am wondering whether I should just get a ADVC55 brand new as I read somewhere else that there is virtually no difference in quality between the two.

Any comments on the Canopus range from people would be much appreciated