Help with transfering analogue video to a apple computer

loveabargin

Hi all

Can anyone tell me if I can record from a analogue video source to an apple computer. At present I am using a pinnacle's card with a break out box on a windows pc. Also do you have to use an ipod on a apple or can you use any other make of mp3.

Thanks

loveabargin

Is there anyone who knows what hardware to use??????

BigBouncyBall

i'm sure you can record analogue video on a mac. Do you mean to capture it from a television/VCR into the mac?

You can buy something called an EyeTV by Elgato that allows you to record freeview onto your mac - then you can edit/trim in Final Cut/iMovie/or Quicktime even.

As for MP3 players. You can use any MP3 player you like. Though i think iTunes will only sync with an iPod. You can of course drag and drop mp3 files onto the mp3 player - it will pop up as "unknown drive" on the desktop probably.

HTH

BigBouncyBall

PS - (i'm sure you already do if you're doing this on a PC) but make sure you have a huge HDD, or preferably a RAID setup. Video files get very big very quickly.

loveabargin

Hi Bigbouncyball

Thanks for your reply. I do not want to capture from Tv I'm transfering old 8mm tapes on to pc which is working fine but was looking to buy a mac and just wanted to know if there was any hardware that could do this with a mac. So I will look into the EyeTV by Elgato that you have suggested but would really just like a capture card and thanks for the info on mp3's.

BigBouncyBall

8mm tape is a tricky one. I'm sure Final Cut Pro will take it in but thats an £800 bit of software. If FCP does it, it's little brother Final Cut Express should too, thats about £120 for that software. As for capture cards, i'm guessing you don't have a Hi-8 deck or similar with an iLink, so you're looking at an expensive component capture card like a BlackMagic Intensity or AJA Kona. However i might be leading you down a garden path here, as i think they're more for Pro end uncompressed Hi-Def which is a completely different kettle of fish.

Not having done any editing work with 8mm tape i can't really help further and don't want to give you any erroneous advice. I suggest you sign up to a Final Cut Pro user group forum and ask away there, there are people out there who will bore you to death with every technicality of every format ever. Google the names Phillip Hodgetts, Graham Nattress and Ken Stone. They write articles on every aspect of working with Video on a Mac.

loveabargin

Pinnacle do a usb analogue piece of hardware called dazzel, this might be the cheapest way to get over what I need it for. I will google the names you have posted and see if they have any suggestions. Thanks for your help

unrich

Something like this? http://www.cancomuk.com/products/search.htm?match=and&name=analogue+to+digital

I think formac also make similar things.

BigBouncyBall

that looks like a nifty bit of kit

loveabargin

Thanks unrich for your post I'll get my hubby to have a look and do the deciding.