Hack 37. Convert Analog Video to Digital Video

A media converter will help transfer your old Hi8, VHS, and Beta footage to digital video.

During last couple decades, families have accumulated numerous hours of video. Whether from their children's birthdays and school events, or from making independent movies, all of this analog footage can now see new light, thanks to the advances in digital video. Now is the time to reedit those movies you cut together using two VCRs and your two index fingers.

If you have professional decks, like a Sony UVW-1800 (Beta) and a Sony DSR-80 (DV), you can connect the two decks using component video and the RS-422 connection to create analog to digital copies.

3.13.1. Knowing Your Needs

It is important to know whether you will be capturing your converted footage to digital videotape or to computer hard disk. For editing purposes, you should record to videotape, because editing systems rely on timecode [Hack #4]. Videotape is also a more reliable medium when it comes to long-term video storage.

Converting analog video directly to a hard disk will not provide a timecode reference.

If you plan on using your converted footage within a project, make sure you use the right codec [Hack #77]. For example, if you will be editing a DV project, then you should convert your footage using the DV codec.

3.13.1.1. Keeping your timecode

There are many conversion hardware options, ranging in price from $100 to more than $3,000, so you should do some research and figure out what your real needs are. Unless you have a library of timecoded analog footage, such as BetaSP, you will not have to spend a lot of money on analog-to-digital conversion hardware.

Most converters provide two-way conversion, which means they will convert both analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog. This will enable you to dub your analog tapes to digital video, transfer your digital videos to VHS, and even convert a digital signal to display directly on a television screen.

Some video cameras can convert an analog input to a digital output; check the manual for your camera to see if it has such a feature. Converting an analog input to a digital output using a camera is sometimes referred to as signal pass through or bounce.

If you plan on converting from an analog source that has timecode, such as BetaSP or 3/4", make sure your converter can transfer the timecode correctly. Some converters, such as the ProMax ProMedia Converter (http://www.promax.com/Products/Detail/27187; $1,495), will translate the analog timecode signal to digital, while others, such as the Canopus ADVC-500 (http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ADVC500/pm_ADVC500.asp; $1,649) will not carry any timecode signal.

If you are planning transferring some old VHS or Hi-8 footage, you can save well over $1,000 by purchasing a basic converter like the Canopus ADVC-55 (http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ADVC110/pm_advc55.asp; $229).

3.13.1.2. Dealing with the lingo

When shopping for a technology product, it is nearly impossible to not get caught in lingoland. Here's some of the lingo you might encounter while shopping for a converter:

Composite Video

A connection in which luminance and chrominance are combined; most often carried over an RCA connector

S-Video

A connection in which luminance and chrominance are separate

Component Video

A connection in which luminance and chrominance are separate; often used to refer to a more detailed signal than S-Video

SDI

A serial digital connection for passing a video signal; used professionally

Locked Audio

Assures both audio and video are in synchronization with each other

AES/EBU

A digital audio standard used in the U.S. and Europe; used professionally

Unless you have a real need for Component Video, SDI or AES/EBU, you should feel comfortable using S-Video or Composite (RCA) to transfer your footage. If you've never heard of these terms before, you can probably keep avoiding them. In other words, if you are planning on converting some old VHS tapes, don't buy a machine with an SDI connection. You won't use it; don't pay for it.

3.13.2. Recording to Videotape

If you are planning on transferring to digital videotape, find out what options your camera or deck offers to record video. Most digital videotape is 60 minutes in length. However, some machines allow you to record at either standard (SP:60 minute) or extended (LP:90 minute) play on the same type of tape.

Recording a digital tape in LP mode will reduce the quality of your audio. Some editing systems will not allow you to mix SP and LP footage, while others will require you to render your audio if the formats are different than expected. To avoid problems, always check what mode you are using to record and stay consistent from one tape to another.

Sony has a method of recording digital video called DVCAM. This format will record on a standard MiniDV tape, but at a speed that is about 33% faster than standard. Because of the speed difference, you will only be able to record about 40 minutes on a 60-minute tape. If you own a Sony camera or deck, check to see what method you are using to record your footage to know how much time you really have available.

Also take note of how long the footage you will be converting is. This will allow you to determine whether or not your camera or deck can be used in the conversion process. Obviously if you have a 120-minute VHS filled with footage,it will not be able to fit onto a 60-minute MiniDV, even if you record using the LP mode. In such an instance, you will need to split your 120-minute VHS across two 60-minute MiniDV tapes.

3.13.3. Recording to Hard Disk

If you will be capturing your converted footage directly to a hard disk, you'll need at least a few large disk drives. On average, digital video will require 13GB of storage per hour of footage. Fortunately, drive capacity is becoming cheaper by the day (at least it seems that way!) and portable terabyte (1,000GB) drives are not uncommon.

In order to record footage to hard disk, you will need some software to save the video to a file. Your editing system will more than likely be able to digitize your footage, or your converter may include such software. When digitizing a tape that does not have timecode, such as VHS, your system might warn you there is no timecode reference. This is to be expected.

After you've converted your footage, you can use it within a project, archive it to DVD [Hack #79], put it up on the Web [Hack #82], or simply keep it on your computer to watch whenever you want.