… import video from a VHS tape?

Answer

Use the Media Studio's Digitial Video Macintosh computers 1 or 2 and the Canopus Converter to digitize video.

Introduction

The first step to making your old VHS tapes viewable and editable on a computer is to digitize the video. Use iMovie and one of the HSL Media Studio's digital video Macintosh Computers.

Step-By-Step

  1. Plug one end of the color-coded RCA connectors into the front of the Canopus converter labeled Audio/Video In. Plug the other end of the cables go into the back of the VCR in the VCR out receptacles. Be sure to remove any other cables that are plugged in the back of the Canopus converter.
  2. Plug the small end of the silver firewire cable into the front of the Canopus Converter. Plug the large end into the front of the Macintosh.
  3. On the Canopus converter, press the input selector until the blue light next to "Analog In" is illuminated.



  4. Turn on the VCR. Set the channel to L-1 using the channel selector buttons on the front of the VCR.
  5. Open iMovie by clicking iMovie icon in the dock at the bottom of the screen. In the iMovie menu, select File, then select New Project.
  6. iMovie will open and display a blue screen indicating "Camera Connected." In the lower-left hand corner of the screen you will see a toggle switch with a camera and scissors. Click on the the camera icon to set iMovie to import from your camera.



  7. Cue your videotape in the VCR to the point just before the footage you want to capture. To view the video on the computer, press the play button in iMovie. Press play on the VCR to start your video, then click the Import button in iMovie to begin importing/capturing your footage.
  8. When you've reached the end of the footage you wish to import, click the Import button, and press stop on the VCR.
  9. From the File menu, select Save. You may now begin editing your imported video.

Resources

  • Use iMovie Help menu to troubleshoot importing video issues.

Help

For additional information about importing video from a VHS tape, contact the Learning Resources Center at 924-5521 or sna9e@virginia.edu.