| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
I have a tape someone took of the speech I gave at Columbia graduation. Any clues as to how to convert it so I can get it on a DVD? Can I just take it in a photo place? | ||
| Hexangler |
Probably. We used to subcontract those jobs locally when I was a Camera Jerk. NYC ought to have a lot of people who will be willing to do the transfer. You could always use the digital video of the D90 to shoot the TV Screen while playing the video tape! | ||
| Slaughter |
Barker??? (tap, tap, tap... this thing ON???) | ||
| Gregtonn |
Court, This should work for you. They're local (NYC). http://www.doicamera.com/videotransfer.htm G | ||
| Froggy |
Its 2009 and someone recorded to a tape? Did you at least throw a brick at them for that oversight? At least tell me it was a MiniDV tape, and not a VHS. | ||
| Damnut |
What kind of tape/camera is it? Depending on the type will depend on if you can download it straight to your comp. | ||
| Iamike |
I bought a Dazzle converter. The basic one was $40. It just takes the analog output of the camera and stores it in your pc. You can do any editing, graphics, text before burning it to a dvd. The only problem I had was that it does use a lot of memory if you have an old pc. One of these days I am going to convert all my old family tapes to dvd. | ||
| Court |
Perfect . . thanks Greg! I'm most eager to see the 11 minute bio/intro of the gal who spoke before my speech. They got to Harvard Medical School at 3 minutes into the 11 minutes. . . I was sitting on the stage, my jaw visibly dropped wandering just what the heck I wandered into! I'm off to drop Son #2 (who made a surprise visit from LA) and then to the DOI shop to get the tape converted. It was a borrowed video camera at the last minute. I'll be getting a copy from Columbia media in a week or so. Thanks for the help! | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Court, do you have a MiniDV camcorder? If so you are in luck. Most video cameras actually have quite good analog/digital processors. If the tape is VHS, hook the vcr into the camera, then record the speech onto the cameras miniDV tape. Then using firewire, connect the camera to your mac (imac right?). Use iMovie to import the video. You will find using the camcorders processing chip is worlds better than most consumer grade external converters. | ||
| Court |
It is a Mini-DV. I know nothing about it, my wife borrowed it. I'll look and see if I can hook it up to the iMac. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Since it is miniDV you need to get a 4pin to 6pin firewire cable. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id =103&cp_id=10301&cs_id=1030102&p_id=2665&seq=1&for mat=2 Monoprice has it for cheap, but you should be able to pick one up from ratshack if you need it quicker. Here is what a 4pin to 6pin cable looks like  Once you get the cable plug in the camera (smaller end) to the computer (larger end), then launch imovie. If you have never used imovie, I would suggest either making a "Magic Movie" (it automatically imports the movie), or it you have a few minutes to play create a project and do it yourself. iMovie is one of the easiest video software packages made. When you finish importing/editing the video, just export it to iDVD. It will create the DVD menus and then burn the movie to a blank DVD. Apple has some great tutorials on how to do all of this. http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#imovie | ||
| Gregtonn |
Perfect . . thanks Greg! Glad I could help. G | ||
| Court |
Cool . . just got it imported. . . no problemo. Thanks again. | ||
| P_squared |
So when do we get to see the YouTube clips of Court graduating?  | ||
| Barker |
MiniDV + iMac, should be smooth sailing. Let me know if I can help. | ||
| Court |
Stupid question . . . . got it in iMovie . . . .cool . . . drug it to iTunes. . . . what format should I save it in so that it will play on a computer with Windows Vista Home Edition . . . my Mother. . . . yes, my Mother . . wants a copy.  | ||
| Barker |
My best advice is to get your mother to download/install Quicktime Player. The other option is converting the file to .wmv That can get alot more complicated. Does you mother have Quicktime or can she (or someone) install it? | ||
| Court |
I'm sure I can get someone to download it for her . . . that would be an .MOV format? | ||
| Barker |
if it plays in iTunes, it plays in QT. How long is the movie/clip? Are you trying to send it over the web? | ||
| Court |
My part of it . . . . which I have managed to segregate . . . is 21 minutes. I'm just going to put it on a DVD and toss it in the mail. Still fiddling with how to get in on a website . . . but . . . I fear . . . I am a luddite. | ||
| Froggy |
Does your iwhatever software allow you to convert and burn to DVD? I am thinking that would be the best route, no fussing around with making sure the computer can play quicktime files. | ||
| Court |
I burned it to a DVD but it was in some m4v or strange format . . . I'm sure there is a way to get in some more universal format . . . I am playing with trying to get it to youtube or mobile me. It may, in the end, be easier to fly her here . . . let her watch it and send her home. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Court you have to export it to iDVD Just watch this video http://video.about.com/desktopvideo/Apple-iMovie-t o-iDVD-export.htm | ||
| Court |
COOL ! . . . . . I am going to have to find a camera I can mount on the bike now! | ||
| Fahren |
I bought a Philips DVD recorder/player basic gear, pretty cheap at Best Buy/whatever- you just go from camera output (depends on camera: red/white/yellow component video RCA feeds, S-Video, etc) to the input jacks on the recorder. I'm transferring Hi-8 footage to DVD now. Good if you have a lot of transfer to do, but for one-offs... not very cost-effective. | ||
| Court |
Worked perfectly . . . using iDVD I was able to post it on the internet . . . Mom is pleased as punch and Son #1 in Portland was even impressed and had to play it for his friends at work. Thank you guys for your help and my 78 year old Mother thanks you. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Court, My 82 year old mother is glad her son could help your mother's son. G  | ||
| Court |
They are amazing . . . Mom's never change! | ||
| Gregtonn |
More irony. Mom lives less than 2 miles from Canfield Road. I've often thought of snatching a sign to send to you, but mom would kick my butt if she ever found out. She's five feet nothing but could scare the crap out of high schoolers as a teachers's aid. You probably remember when it was normal for kids to get whacked for doing something wrong. On the other hand... G (Message edited by Gregtonn on May 30, 2009) (Message edited by Gregtonn on May 30, 2009) | ||
| Sparky |
Gregtonn, your mom lives near Canfield Rd. by Mt. Palomar? Awesome  I've often thought of doing the same with that sign but the closest I got was taking a snapshot of it, LOL. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Actually she lives near Canfield Rd near Dunkerton. Hint (Before I left home I lived through three tornados). She has seen a few more. G | ||
| Court |
Too funny . . .I remember the first time I saw the CANFIELD road sign on Mt. Palomar. I have fond memories of kids getting whacked. . . in fact was telling a story the other day. . . . . my 8th grade "Industrial Arts" woodworking shop . . . had the huge shop where we each out had workbenches and then an adjacent classroom. One day Bill Moorhead, the class clown and a scary big kid for his age, was goofing off and said something to Mr. Carpenter (which even then I thought was a great name for a woodworking teacher). Carpenter was himself an imposing guy and ordered Moorhead from the classroom where we were all seated to the vacant wood-shop. Moorhead headed in and Carpenter reached behind his desk and produced about a 3' long oak paddle with holes drilled in it. What happened next pretty much insured order and total compliance with directions for the rest of the year . . . the sound was blood curdling. Through the rest of the semester Bill Moorhead was a model student. Things change but the lesson stuck with me. I saw the same principle applied to Private Small, one of the mouthiest products of the gangs in South LA, when he failed to understand who was running the show in the United States Marine Corp boot camp . . . While I respect all the pleas of the ACLU and wouldn't want anyone playing Whack-a-Mole with one of my kids I am MORE concerned with raising kids that don't require it. Mom's and teachers like your Mom excelled at this during my youth. It was funny . . . over the past three years at Columbia . . . they used to tease me, the old man, about voraciously taking notes as we say in engineering, accounting, law, IT/CAD modeling and scheduling classes. Then the class ranking came out prior to graduation and young Rick said to me "I see why you took the notes now". We live in interesting times. So much has changed but values, principles and common sense endure. Tell your Mom I said it's okay for you to pinch the sign! No . . no . . . I'm kidding . .. I don't want you grounded! |
