This means you’ll need around 12GB of space for every hour of footage you import. Digital video inhales disk space at a rate of about 200MB per minute. You have two options here: a MiniDV camcorder or an analog-to-DV converter box.Īn Extra Hard Drive The last thing you’ll need is a place to store your digital data. Have the tapes transferred to MiniDV format, and then use a MiniDV camcorder to import the footage into your Mac.ĭigitizing Hardware You also need a device that can convert the analog signal coming from your VCR or old camcorder into digital data. However, you’ll get better results by sending your tapes to a professional transfer service (see below for “Transferring Film and Other Relics”).

If your tapes are in an obsolete format, such as Betamax, and if your old camcorder no longer works, you can try looking for a replacement on eBay. If possible, get a VCR that supports S-Video output this option is more expensive, but it produces a sharper picture than the alternative, composite video. The improvement in video quality will be worth the investment. If your VCR is showing its age - for example, if it suffers from poor playback or frequent tracking problems - consider springing for a new one. Here’s your equipment list:Ī Video Deck The first thing you need is a VCR or a camcorder that can play back your original tapes. Finally my question: Does any one know why iMovie is short changing me on some footage? Thanks.Before you can transfer footage from an old videotape to your Mac, you’ll have to convert the tape’s analog signal into digital data that iMovie can use. img to a new DVD-R using the disk utility and the disk is exactly like the original.

To test the theory I went through each chapter on the DVD and compared to the chapters in the camera capture window and sure enough some footage is missing. This works beautifully except iMovie is dropping from 10 to 20 minutes of the DVD img upon the import.

I go into iMovie and use the camera capture to import. img to iMovie by first double clicking on the file which mounts it as a drive on the desktop. img file using the disk utility on the iMac. I am doing so by recording from my old 8mm Canon Video to a Sharp DVD recording deck using DVD-RW disks. I am transferring old 8mm video of the kids to the iMac so I can edit in iMovie. I have an iMac running OSX 10.6.(whatever the latest Snow Leopard is at).

Transfer imovie to dvd