Capturing VHS in Final Cut Pro

J

Jason Wilson

Active member
I haven't ever dealt with VHS before but for an upcoming project I have 19 VHS tapes I need to get into final cut pro so that I can edit

what do I need to go from my VHS player to final cut pro ? Is there some type of box I can purchase ?

the end result doesn't need to be phenomenal as far as the transfer.... I am doing this to help out some family friends.... and have been putting it off forever
 
If you don't have a capture card that has composite analog inputs, then one affordable option is the Canopus ADVC110. It connects to your computer through FireWire and has analog inputs (and outputs so you can use it for monitoring from FCP).

In FCP, set the capture control to "Non-Controllable Device", start the VHS player and start the capture.
 
This might sound too involved, but for anything I've ever done where I've had a source like VHS, I've taken the time to make DVCAM (or miniDV) dubs. I'm assuming that these are not time coded VHS tapes?

The benefit of DV dubs is that you get a reliable source tape that you can go back to. And it stripes time code that will match your project, so recapturing footage later from the batch lists or from the sequence is no problem. And you still only have one generation of transfer this way, since once you're digital, it's all 1s and 0s.
 
If you normally use a camcorder to capture you footage, if it has a digital thru you can use it to capture VHS. Just set the camera to DV out. In FCP, change your capture to non controllable device, press play on the vcr, it should appear in the window. Click capture now when you want to start capturing.
 
what Stussey said: get any old SD miniDV (or Digital8) type digital camcorder that does "pass thru". you connect the camcorder to FCP via firewire, and the VHS player to the camcorder by a-v cables. there will probably be a menu setting on the camcorder for something like "DV out". you don't even need a tape. the camera will digitze the analog video and send it out via firewire.
 
Cools said:
If you don't have a capture card that has composite analog inputs, then one affordable option is the Canopus ADVC110. It connects to your computer through FireWire and has analog inputs (and outputs so you can use it for monitoring from FCP).

In FCP, set the capture control to "Non-Controllable Device", start the VHS player and start the capture.
Click to expand...

This is the way to go...works great, I've had one for years & it comes in handy.:happy:
 
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