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Capturing Video to your Computer
This tutorial includes instruction on how to capture video from either a digital or analog source, using either Final Cut Pro 2.0 or Adobe Premiere 6.0.Final Cut Pro 2.0
Adobe Premiere 6.0
Final Cut Pro 2.0
Final Cut Pro 2.0 is a powerful digital video editor that is available only in the Mac OS format. In this section, you will be taken step-by-step through the instructions for basic video capturing using this software.Step 1.
Start Final Cut Pro 2.0 by double-clicking on the icon on your computer's desktop. Final Cut Pro 2.0 automatically starts a project ofr you, listed as Untitled Project, shown in the lower left corner of the screen, which looks like this:
A project is simply a framework for your video clips. A more detailed description of this is a bit beyond this workshop, but it's a place to hold references to all the clips that belong to the same session.
Step 2.
Select File > Log and Capture...and the Log and Capture window appears:
You have a video screen in the upper left that has controls for playing, fast forwarding, and rewinding your source.
IMPORTANT! If you are capturing from an analog source, you cannot use these controls. Go to the Capture settings tab in the upper right window. Under the Device Control pull-down menu, select Non-Controllable Device.
Step 3.
If you are using a digital source, play and fast forward using the controls until you get to the part of the tape that you want to capture. If you are using an analog source, do the same thing, using the controls on your VCR.
It is strongly recommended that you cue up your tape at least 7 seconds before the part that you want to capture.
Step 4.
When you're ready, press play on the Device Control, or on the
VCR. Give it 7 seconds, and then press Capture Now in the lower right
corner of the Log and Capture window.
It is very important to give yourself 7 seconds of lead-in, so
that the computer and source have time to synch up. If you don't you
may end up with bad video, audio that is not synched to the video, etc.
The capture window comes up and plays your video (if you don't
hear audio, that's ok, don't worry, that's normal) while it captures.
Step 5.
When you have captured all you want, press ESC to end the capture.
If you're capturing from a digital source, the VCR or camcorder
should shut down on its own. But, if you're capturing from an analog
source, you'll have to shut down the VCR by yourself.
Step 6.
Now select Save Clip As...and save the clip to someplace on the hard drive that you can easily find. You might want to create folder for yourself on the desktop for things you create.
Now, you're ready to compress
.
Adobe Premiere 6.0
Adobe Premiere 6.0 is a digital video editing suite that is available
for both Windows and Mac OS machines. In this section, you will be taken
step-by-step through the instructions for basic video capturing using
this software.
Step 1.
Start up Adobe Premiere 6.0 by double-clicking on the icon on the desktop. The following screen will appear:
This screen allows you to choose what type of settings to use.
Step 2.
For most purposes, DV-NTSC Standard 48kHz will be what you need,
and that is normally the default setting. DV-NTSC is the compression
algorithm used for standard US types of video tapes, and 48kHz is the sampling
rate used by most VCRs and camcorders. You might want to check the documentation
for your VCR or camcorder to check what the audio output rate is. Select
DV-NTSC Standard 48kHz and press OK. The following screen appears:
Step 3.
Next, select File > Capture > Movie Capture. The following screen will appear:
You have a video screen in the upper left that has controls for
playing, fast forwarding, and rewinding your source.
IMPORTANT! If you are capturing from an analog source, you cannot
use these controls. Select Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks
and Device Control. The following screen will appear:
Under the Device Control pull-down menu, select None.
Step 4.
If you are using a digital source, play and fast forward using the controls until you get to the part of the tape that you want to capture. If you are using an analog source, do the same thing, using the controls on your VCR.
It is strongly recommended that you cue up your tape at least 7 seconds before the part that you want to capture.
Step 5.
When you're ready, press play on the Device Control, or on the
VCR. Give it 7 seconds, and then press the Record button 
in the lower right corner of the Log and Capture window.
It is very important to give yourself 7 seconds of lead-in, so
that the computer and source have time to synch up. If you don't you
may end up with bad video, audio that is not synched to the video, etc.
The capture window comes up and plays your video (if you don't
hear audio, that's ok, don't worry, that's normal) while it captures.
Step 5.
When you have captured all you want, press ESC to end the capture. Adobe Premiere will prompt you for a name for this file. Give the file a name and click OK.
If you're capturing from a digital source, the VCR or camcorder
should shut down on its own. But, if you're capturing from an analog
source, you'll have to shut down the VCR by yourself.
Step 6.
The next step will be to compress the video, which is the subject
of the next section, Compressing Video
.