Using the Digital Video Decks

Apple iMovie

Importing DV

Importing from miniDV is quite simple. The following steps apply to those using the equipment available MGH and OUGL.

1. Turn on the miniDV deck. Make sure that it is properly connected to the computer with the Firewire cable.
2. In iMovie, switch to Camera mode. As soon as the connection is made the words "Camera Connected" will appear on the monitor. The position on the tape will be shown in the following format: hrs:min:frames. Error messages will be shown if there is no tape in the camera or if the camera is disconnected.
3. Place your tape in miniDV deck (you may want to lock your source tape by sliding the small tab on the back of DV tape to keep it from being overwritten).
4. Push the DV button, then the arrow pointing to the right.
5. Set the channel of the deck to F-1.
6. Cue your source tape to the point where you want to start recording and pause the video. The deck may be controlled from the computer by clicking the buttons on the Playback control. If this doesn't work use the controls on the deck.
7. Once you have found the material you would like to capture, click the Import button. The clips will be automatically imported onto the Shelf. The iMovie software detects the end of a clip and moves to the next vacant space on the Shelf before importing another. Importing can continue as long as there is a vacant space on the Shelf. The Shelf is as large as the available hard drive space. Once the Shelf is full, importing ceases. You must then begin editing to clear space on the Shelf before you may import additional clips.
8. When you have capture all the video that you want, press the Import button again to stop capturing.

To use iMovie and your own DV camera, turn on the camera in VCR mode, and connect it to the computer with the Firewire cable. Then follow steps 2-8 above.

Importing VHS

In OUGL and MGH the easiest way to accomplish this is to buy a miniDV tape and dub your VHS to the miniDV tape, which can be done on our video stations. Follow the steps at the bottom of this page to learn how to dub from a VHS tape to a miniDV tape.

A cheaper, but more time-consuming, way is to use Final Cut Pro (FCP) to import the video form VHS and convert the file to a QuickTime DV file and then import the clips into iMovie. See below for instructions on how to import VHS using FCP.

Apple Final Cut Pro

Importing DV

1. Turn on the miniDV deck. Make sure that it is properly connected to the computer with the Firewire cable.
2. In Final Cut Pro, go File > Log & Capture. You may need to turn ON Device Control in order to get FCP to work with the DV tape correctly. This is set in the Preferences tab on the right side of the Log and Capture dialog.
3. Place your tape in miniDV deck (you may want to lock your source tape by sliding the small tab on the back of DV tape to keep it from being overwritten).
4. Push the DV button.
5. Select the LEFT arrow on the Dub Direction control (pointing to the right). This tells the DV deck to send the DV signal to the DV tape.
6. Set the channel of the deck to F-1.
7. Cue your source tape to the point where you want to start recording and pause the video. The deck may be controlled from the computer by using the playback controls. If this doesn't work use the controls on the deck.
8. Once you have found the material you would like to capture, click the Now button in the Capture area. The clips will be automatically imported into the default capture bin.
9. When you have capture all the video that you want, press <Command>. to stop capturing. This command is shown on screen.
10. You should now save the captured footage somewhere safe where you can find it.

Exporting DV

1. Turn on Device Control in the Log and Capture dialog.
2. Select the DV button on the VCR.
3. Set the channel on the VCR to F-1.
4. Select the LEFT arrow on the Dub circle (pointing to the right).
5. Select File > Print to Video.
6. Follow any on-screen instructions.
7. FCP will then be able to control the DV tape deck and start and stop the recording action without any outside help.

Importing VHS

1. Turn on the miniDV deck. Make sure that it is properly connected to the computer with the Firewire cable.
2. In Final Cut Pro, go File > Log & Capture. You may need to turn OFF Device Control in order to get FCP to work with the VHS tape correctly, since the VHS part of the deck can not be controlled by Final Cut Pro. This is set in the Preferences tab on the right side of the Log and Capture dialog.
3. Place your tape in VHS deck (you may want to lock your source tape by punching out a small tab at the back of VHS to keep it from being overwritten).
4. Push the S-VHS button
5. Select the RIGHT arrow on the Dub Direction control (pointing to the left). This tells the DV deck to send the DV signal through to the VHS tape.
6. Set the channel of the deck to F-1.
7. Cue your source tape to the point where you want to start recording and pause the video. While using the VHS the deck cannot be controlled from the computer. Use the physical controls on the deck.
8. Once you have found the material you would like to capture, press Play on the deck and click the Now button in the Capture area with in Final Cut Pro. The clips will be automatically imported into the default capture bin.
9. When you have capture all the video that you want, press . to stop capturing. This command is shown on screen.
10. You should now save the captured footage somewhere safe where you can find it.

Exporting VHS

1. Select the DV (not the S-VHS) button on the VCR.
2. Set the channel on the VCR to F-1.
3. Select the LEFT arrow on the Dub circle (pointing to the right).
4. Set the channel on the VCR to F-1.
5. Select the S-VHS tape button on the VCR.
6. Once the VCR is ready to go, select File > Print to Video.
7. Follow any on-screen instructions.
8. You will most likely be required to press the Record button on the VCR yourself.

Adobe Premiere

Importing DV

1. Turn on the miniDV deck. Make sure that it is properly connected to the computer with the Firewire cable.
2. In Premiere, go File > Capture. You may need to turn ON Device Control in order to get Premiere to work with the DV tape correctly. This is set in the Settings tab on the right side of the Capture window.
3. Place your tape in miniDV deck (you may want to lock your source tape by sliding the small tab on the back of DV tape to keep it from being overwritten).
4. Push the DV button.
5. Select the LEFT arrow on the Dub Direction control (pointing to the right). This tells the DV deck to send the DV signal to the DV tape.
6. Set the channel of the deck to F-1.
7. Cue your source tape to the point where you want to start recording and pause the video. The deck may be controlled from the computer by using the playback controls. If this doesn't work use the controls on the deck.
8. Once you have found the material you would like to capture, click the Record button (G). The clips will be automatically imported into the default capture bin.
9. When you have capture all the video that you want, press <Esc> to stop capturing.
10. You should now save the captured footage somewhere safe where you can find it.

Exporting DV

1. Select the DV button on the VCR.
2. Set the channel on the VCR to F-1.
3. Select the LEFT arrow on the Dub circle (pointing to the right).
4. Select File > Export Timeline > Export to Tape.
5. Select the option "activate recording deck only."
6. Click OK.
7. Follow any on-screen instructions.
8. Premiere will then be able to control the DV tape deck and start and stop the recording action without any outside help.

Importing VHS

1. Turn on the miniDV deck. Make sure that it is properly connected to the computer with the Firewire cable.
2. In Premiere, go File > Capture (F5). You may need to turn OFF Device Control in order to get Premiere to work with the VHS tape correctly, since the VHS part of the deck can not be controlled by Premiere. This is setting in the Settings tab on the right side of the Capture window.
3. Place your tape in VHS deck (you may want to lock your source tape by punching out a small tab at the back of VHS to keep it from being overwritten).
4. Push the S-VHS button
5. Select the RIGHT arrow on the Dub Direction control (pointing to the left). This tells the DV deck to send the DV signal through to the VHS tape.
6. Set the channel of the deck to F-1.
7. Cue your source tape to the point where you want to start recording and pause the video. While using the VHS the deck cannot be controlled from the computer. Use the physical controls on the deck.
8. Once you have found the material you would like to capture, press Play on the deck and click the Record button (G) in the Capture window. The clips will be automatically imported into the default capture bin.
9. When you have capture all the video that you want, press to stop capturing.
10. You should now save the captured footage somewhere safe where you can find it.

Exporting VHS

1. Select the DV (not the S-VHS) button on the VCR.
2. Set the channel on the VCR to F-1.
3. Select the LEFT arrow on the Dub circle (pointing to the right).
4. Set the channel on the VCR to F-1.
5. Select the S-VHS tape button on the VCR.
6. Once the VCR is ready to go, select File > Export Timeline > Export to Tape.
7. Follow any on-screen instructions.
8. You will most likely be required to press the Record button on the VCR yourself.

Dubbing VHS to miniDV

1. Put both tapes in VCR (You may want to lock your source tape by punching out a small tap at the back of VHS to keep it from being overwritten).
2. Push S-VHS, then the arrow pointing to the left.
3. Cue your source tape to the point where you want to start recording and pause the video.
4. Push the DV button; the TV screen should display "VHS->DV."
5. Press Record button.
6. Press the S-VHS button followed by the Play button.
7. When you have capture all the video that you want, press the DV button followed by the Stop button.