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Converting Analog Movies to DVDs

Posted on: Monday, 19 December 2005, 12:00 CST

Q: I would like to purchase software/hardware to make it possible for me to transfer my 8mm analog video movies to DVD. At the computer stores, everyone steers me toward Pinnacle Studio Version 10 software and Pinnacle Dazzle software packages, but when I check out reviews online I can't find anyone who has anything good to say about them. It sounds like frustration guaranteed. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any other better options for analog video. I have a new Dell Dimension 3000 computer running Windows XP with a new DVD burner ready to do its thing. Please help!

_ Cathi Vergin, Minneapolis, Minn.

A: I was rather surprised by your e-mail as I have used the Pinnacle Studio software and have been happy with it. I have not used the analog capture hardware, however, so that may be where the complaints are being generated. To help other readers who may be less familiar with what you are trying to accomplish, I will start by explaining the process of converting and editing analog video tapes to digital formats.

Digital tape camcorders such as those using the MiniDV and Digital 8 formats store all video and sound information in a digital form known as DV, standing simply for "Digital Video". The camcorders have a digital port that is used to transfer the video to a computer, where it can be edited, converted into e-mail or web videos, or used to create full-featured DVDs complete with menus and photo slideshows.

If you do not have a digital camcorder, you are not locked out from all of this fun. An analog capture device provides inputs for your analog camcorder (as well as VCR or other videotape device) and will convert the analog video to digital so it can be used in the software. My top recommendations for consumer-grade analog capture are the Canopus ADVC 55, $229, and ADVC 110, $259. You can see them at www.canopus.com. The Canopus products capture video very reliably and the quality is excellent.

You may want to try the Canopus capture with the Pinnacle Studio software for a solution that will is inexpensive and will work well. If you want a moire full-featured software, I recommend the Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 Premiere Elements 2.0 bundle, $150. It provides excellent photo editing as well as video editing tools and can create full-featured DVDs with menus.

If you are an Apple Macintosh user, the Canopus capture device will work well with the iMovie software included with all Macintosh computers.

A final note _ many MiniDV camcorers will work as an analog capture device as well. Check your instructions for VCR recording functions or "analog pass-through."

(Don Lindich is a national columnist and author of "Digital Photography Made Easy." To submit a question, visit www.donlindich.com.)

© 2005 Scripps Howard News Service.

All Rights Reserved.

Source: Scripps Howard

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