5 Replies Latest reply on Apr 22, 2009 11:18 AM by lanstrad

Best way to capture from VHS source

lanstrad Apr 18, 2009 8:04 AM

I wish to transfer old VHS shots I had taken (no copy protection there) so I can import (or capture?) into Premiere for editing.

What would be be the best (lossless) way to do it ?

I am thinking of:

- transferring to a camera first (I read that my Canon HV30 could do it), then I would capture into Premiere.

- The manual of the HV30 also suggest to act as "analog/digital" converter (from what I read, outputting simultaneously to a digital (in my case, DVD-R) - which in my experience would be problematic to retransfer to Premiere (once a DVD is encoded...)

- Third, I could possibly go from VHS to DVD-R - but still, same issue to have Premiere capture the DVD (never tried it...)

Is there another (better/easier) way ? Wihout having to buy expensive hardware or software ?

Thanks,

Rob

1. Re: Best way to capture from VHS source

John T Smith Apr 18, 2009 8:19 AM (in response to lanstrad)

I guess that depends on what you call expensive... but just remember that every time you convert from one format to another, you MAY lose video quality, so doing only one conversion is best... both of these external converters require a Firewire card in the computer

Either of these external products produces DV AVI type 2 - which is best for editing in Premiere

ADS Pyro AV Link API-557-EFS (or higher than 557 ?)
http://www.videoguys.com/pyroAVlink.html
Or http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.com/products/ADVC300/index.php about $500
ttp://www.amazon.com/Canopus-ADVC300-Advanced-Digital-Converter/dp/B0006UMGHE
A message from the old forum...

"Matt with Grass Valley Canopus in their tech support department stated that the 110 will suffice for most hobbyist.

If a person has a lot of tapes that were played often the tape stretches and the magnetic coding diminishes. If your goal is to encode tapes in good shape buy the 110, if you will be encoding old tapes of poor quality buy the 300"
NOTE that I have not used either (I still use a Pinnacle Dv500 card) so these notes are only from reading past discussions on the old forum
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2. Re: Best way to capture from VHS source

Jim_Simon Apr 18, 2009 8:20 AM (in response to lanstrad)

Transfer to MiniDV first, then edit as usual.
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3. Re: Best way to capture from VHS source

Ann Bens Apr 18, 2009 9:11 AM (in response to lanstrad)
Your HV30 is the answer.
Hook the vcr to the camera using the av-cable supplied (the one with the yellow white and red plugs) with an extender.
Hook your camera up to the pc with firewire and you are now ready to capture the footage of the vcr into Premiere in dv-avi.

extender.jpg 8.2 K
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4. Re: Best way to capture from VHS source

the_wine_snob Apr 18, 2009 6:20 PM (in response to Ann Bens)

I agree with both Ann & Jim. The only expense that you will have will be the time to do the transfer to miniDV tape and the tapes (I'd strongly suggest not reusing these, but saving them in case you need to go back to them). The only benefits from the Canopus would be the correction offered by the 300, and only doing the process one time, vs a transfer to miniDV, and then a Capture to PrPro.

Please do yourself a favor and do not introduce anything DVD, except as a final output. Now, if you ALSO want an intermediate DVD for archival purposes, pick up a Panasonic (or similar) VHS-DVD machine. This is for archival purposes only.

Good luck,

Hunt
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5. Re: Best way to capture from VHS source

lanstrad Apr 22, 2009 11:18 AM (in response to lanstrad)

Thanks everyone for your valuable answers and guidance.

Rob
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