Anyone have any tips on converting digital video back to analog?
 

I am transferring all of my family's old home movies onto my Mac Mini using my Sharp Mini DV Camcorder as the analog-to-digital converter, but, because of the age and condition of the VHS cassettes, I am having to replace them by recording the videos from my computer onto new blank VHS cassettes. The problem is, I am not sure how to convert the digital video back to analog. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice they could give me? If so, I would really appreciate it.

My operating system is Mac OS X "Panther" and I use both QuickTime Pro and iMovie 5.

Most camcorders can convert between analog and DV (firewire) in both directions - look at your manual.

You could also buy a box like this which will do analog to digital conversion in both directions:

http://www.adstech.com/products/API-...sp?pid=API-555

VHS is dead. Upgrade them onto DVDs.

While that may be true Bob, Joe asked for help with a specific problem and I think it's reasonable for him to expect a constructive answer....

Well how about this?

VHS is dead. Upgrade them onto DVD. For the cost of the mentioned AV converter, you can buy a consumer DVD recorder (or a firewire DVD burner) and a couple of extra DVD players for your family. You can probably even buy a DVD recorder with built-in VHS player, and not even have to go to the MAC as an interim step unless you are also editing.

I avoid VHS at all costs myself, so no argument there. But the converter I mentioned costs less than $200. Can you buy a DVD recorder with firewire and a couple DVD players for that cost? Maybe... But really, I don't think he has to buy anything because his camcorder should be able to do DV/analog conversion all by itself.

I was in Best Buy last weekend, and they had DVD set top recorders for $99. Players were $29. and up.

ebay has external Firewire DVD 16x burners for $65.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DUAL-16X-DVDRW-D...QQcmdZViewItem

Why are you arguing with me anyway? What's the problem?? If he found my comments un-useful he was/is certainly free to ignore it. No different than 90% of the comments made on these forums.

If you aren't ready for making DVD's yet, then at the very least, output/EXPORT the finished/cleanedup/edited product from iMovie/FCP back onto miniDV tapes.

This way, you at least preserve the videos onto a more stable medium.
And when you are ready to make dvd's you can reimport the footage and make your DVD's from it.

As for making VHS copies...

You can also then play those DV tapes from your camera to your VCR and make as many VHS copies as you need.

But you will suffer another generation loss.

Go DVD!