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September 12, 2001  |  Paul Thurrott  |  Getting Connected
How to Record Digital Video Back to Tape

You can use Apple's iMovie 2 (standard on all current Macintosh—Mac computers) or Microsoft's Windows Movie Maker (WMM—available with Windows XP and Windows Me) to digitally input video into your computer, edit the video in various ways, and create a final movie to share with others through email or the Web. But these PC-based movies have limited usefulness if your friends and family don't have computers or Internet access. I've discussed a way to get these movies onto DVD player-compatible Video CD (VCD) discs. But because so many people own VCRs, it's more useful to record your movies back to videotape. Here's how to convert your digital movies to tape.

On the Mac, the process is particularly simple because the capability is built right into iMovie 2. Incidentally, if you're a PC user who plans to do a lot of digital-video work, you might consider buying a Mac solely for this purpose. Even the most inexpensive iMac ($999) in its base configuration offers enough horsepower to edit digital movies, and because Apple's iMovie software is so much better than any Windows-based consumer-oriented digital-video editing package, buying a Mac is definitely something to consider. iMovie 2 lets you edit video, of course, but you can also choose from several professional transitions, titles, and effects; add audio soundtracks and voice-overs; and perform tasks that are impossible in WMM and difficult or impossible in most third-party tools. iMovie 2 is an unbelievable solution.

Another reason to consider the Mac is that it uses Apple's excellent QuickTime format, which I think is vastly superior to Microsoft's AVI and Windows Media Video 8 (WMV 8) formats. When I've worked with the same video sources on both Windows and the Mac, the resulting movie always looks better in QuickTime. So if you care about this kind of thing and don't mind spending a little bit of money to have a wonderful dedicated video-editing box (which you can also use as a capable second PC), I recommend looking into the Mac.

What about recording to video? After you've edited your final movie to your heart's content, you can use iMovie 2 to copy it to a blank tape on your digital camcorder, where you can display it directly on your TV or dub it onto a standard VHS tape that will play in any standard VCR. To do this, load the appropriate iMovie project and choose File, then Export Movie. The Export Movie dialog box lets you export to QuickTime, which will create a PC-based QuickTime movie; to camera, which will copy the movie to tape; or to iDVD, which will convert the movie into a format you can use with Apple's excellent iDVD software, which creates standard DVD movies (I'll look at this impressive package in a future article). For our purposes, use the To Camera option. Make sure that the camera is set to Video Tape Recorder (VTR) or Play (VCR) mode (rather than camera mode) before you copy the movie.

The Export Movie dialog box also lets you set configuration options. You can make the export wait for a number of seconds—it defaults to 5 seconds—so that the camera can get ready; I recommend leaving this setting as is. You can also add a number of seconds of black, blank video before and after the movie. These options are preset to 1 second, but I'd bump the setting up a bit so that any later VHS dubbing has buffer room on either end.

Next, press Export, and iMovie does the rest. Like WMM, iMovie can control a digital camcorder through software, so iMovie will automatically handle the process of recording and stopping the camera. And because you're copying a digital source back to digital tape, the output will be the highest-possible quality.

On the PC, this process is a little more complicated. WMM doesn't let you record back to tape, which in my opinion is a serious omission, so you'll have to purchase a third-party application. I'll provide an overview of these applications in the next issue of Connected Home EXPRESS, but if you have any Windows digital-video applications to recommend in the meantime, I'm all ears.



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Reader Comments    
 


On the PC, this process is a little more complicated. WMM doesn't let you record back to tape, which in my opinion is a serious omission, so you'll have to purchase a third-party application. I'll provide an overview of these applications in the next issue of Connected Home EXPRESS,

Did this ever happen? Can you tell me where to find the information?

Thanks.

Martha Blacklock -December 18, 2001



My company has just purchased a Sony TRV-740 digital video camera. Being a novice I don't know how to edit a shot vieo and add in a voice over. The video is being shot for our training department and will be used as work instructions. I have been trying to edit the shot video just by using the cameras' edit features and linking it to a TV. My goal is to edit the video (basically taking out sections I don't want) and adding my voice describing the process steps. I have a PC with Windows XP and the camera did come with a CD called Pixela ImageMixer Ver. 1.0 for Sony. Should I be editing on the PC and downloading the edited version onto a VCR tape, which is the initial media I want to use? In the future I may be using DVD or CD media.

Thank you for any assistnace you can provide.

Sincerely,

Don Ferry

Don Ferry -June 25, 2002



Hi; I just stumbled onto your site while trying to find a solution to what I thought (before spending a fair amount of $$) would be an easy problem: how to output a digitally-edited movie back to tape. I have a Pentium-IV PC with Windows XP, and just purchased an Adaptec Duo-Connect firewire+USB2 card which came bundled with MGI VideoWave 4. Transferring a sequence from my Sony Digital-8 camcorder via the IEEE1394 cable was easy, editing and cleaning up the sequence was even easier. But then I could find no way to export the edited sequence back to tape! What a bummer: the whole idea was to transfer all my home movies (yes, including 16mm, 8mm and Super-8, through VHS, Video-8, and Hi-8, all the way to Digital-8), edit and perhaps title (simply) and export back to fresh Digital or S-VHS tape in order to share with family and archive it (until the next format comes along). How the heck does one do this with a PC? The word "export" can't be found on Video-Wave 4, at least not the version that was bundled with the Adaptec card, nor is it anywhere in Windows Movie Maker. I'm not going out to buy a Mac. Any suggestions short of spending hundreds of dollars on another video editing package (an option I decided against when purchasing the Adaptec card) ? I'd greatly appreciate your comments. If they are to be published on Connected Home Express, could you let me know when and how to find them? Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Gerry Ahronheim

Gerry Ahronheim -October 22, 2002



I would like to copy from my DVD movie to VHS, is there a way on my TV, it's coming out blue/scrambled?

euphoria -December 6, 2002



ould like to copy from my DVD movie to VHS, is there a way on my TV, it's coming out blue/scrambled

bill -December 1, 2003



I need help, too! After editing my movie on Pixela Imagemixer, I realized I could not export it back to my camera! Does anyone know how to export without spending hundreds of dollars? This movie is due Feb. 4th, 2004. Thanks!

LN -January 31, 2004



I have a sony DCR-RTV19 digital camcorder, it came with an ImageMixer program for the computer. I would loke to know how to transfer or copy a video from the camcorder to a regular VCR, thank you

FRANCO MARTINEZ -April 2, 2004



After reading your acticle i still dont understand how to record a Windows Movie Maker to a VHS... please help.

Allison -April 27, 2004



I have a Sharp 7800 Digital Viewcam w/Smart Media. My nephew took pictures and I don't know what I should have to transfer or copy video from camcorder to regular VCR tape. I am pressed for time because of a home makeover contest today at 5p. I don't know the step by step procedures needed to get results necessary to give my copy of tape. Help please.

Lethea Floyd -May 13, 2004



I want to copy a home video from one VCR to another. How do I do I hook them up, which one gets the original tape? HELP! Thanks

Barb Bennett -May 31, 2004



I've decide to upgrade the home PC and choose to buy one of the new Macintosh Systems. They come complete for movies with a suite called iLife. You dont need to read the manual. There isn't one!

The Sony D8 camera can save from the Mac any movie. I can also make DVDs real easy. I wish I'd got a Macintosh years ago!

GrandpaChris -June 21, 2004



hi, my name is adam and i have made my fair share of movies but my problem is getting them from my 8mm vide camera tape onto a normal vhs tape ,help anyone ??

adam jacques -August 8, 2004



I realy need help!I have one VCD. How can I convert one VCD player to 4 set TV to let more people see my recorded picture.

laila -August 14, 2004



if you own a dvd burner you an burn your movie to dvd then run your dvd player through your vcr on the aux chanel pop in a tape play the dvd and press record

kristin -August 17, 2004



Hey i was just wondering , wat is the standerd link cable/ transfer betweeen a Digital camcorder and the pc, is it a standerd USB. CHeers

www.punkradio.co.uk

Chadwick mearry weather -September 19, 2004



To record digital video back to tape in Windows Movie Maker, go to FILE, and then click SAVE MOVIE FILE, and then click EXPORT TO DV CAMERA. A wizard will pop up, and tell you what to do from then on.

Hope this helps! André Laval Montréal, Québec

André Laval -November 20, 2004



Hello,

Johnathan Hill -December 6, 2004



Hello,

Johnathan Hill -December 6, 2004



For all of you who are having problems doing this in Windows, get a Mac. It's so much easier.

Dave -December 12, 2004



I will not accept your tolerance!

Matt -December 18, 2004



Goodness! I'm searching the net to find the answer, lucky enough to find help in your site.

I have a PANASONIC NV-GS11 Mini DV, my pc is a windows xp professional with pentium III 1 Ghz processor,and USB slot. The software that comes with the Mini DV device when taking still pictures is working,(DV Studio 3 is for taking still pictures only.. ) and a connection with the software is working, but when i try to use the windows movie maker 2.0 it cannot find my Mini DV device. It does not also listed any capturing device except my audio device from sound card.

What should I do? Is it possible to use USB port for transferring recorded video (tape/digital) to pc? Why my windows movie maker cannot find my Mini DV device (the Mini DV device exist in the hardware manager,and recognized by my windows xp professional) but the software that comes with my Mini DV device is working.

Thanks and GOd Bless!!! Merry CHristmas!!!

Mykel Centeno -December 24, 2004



You can write back with Windows Movie Maker 2. See http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/expert/bridgman_03august04.mspx

Greg -April 2, 2005



can i record from VCD or CD with my PC

Joseph Oibiokpa -April 3, 2005



I use a Sony Vaio. Is it easier to record a dvd onto a PC and back to a tape or a tape through a VCR to a PC/edit it/send it back to a tape?

Also, is there a way to edit out time/date stamps on a tape?

Thank you!

Nana Conley -April 12, 2005



i am trying to save my old VCR tapes. i want to put them on my computer & then save them on dvd. how can i do this? i heard that if i have a vcr player with s-video ... that would work. i have both a pc and a mac. any suggestions?

reid -June 7, 2005



I have jvc 400 X digital zoom. Also I have panasonic VSR. I want to make a record from camera to VHS casette. Can you help me how can i record my casette? Thanks for helping

metin -July 31, 2005



I have a DVR-TRC350 Sony camcorder. How can a transfer the video to a VHS tape w/ the time/date stamp. I can transfer it but with out the time/date stamp. Can you help me?? Thanks.

MIke -August 4, 2005



When you finish editing a videotape using iMovie, you might want to save it back on a video tape. To do so, follow these instructions:

1. Connect the computer to the VCR through an analog-to-digital converter, like the Canopus converter, using video-in on the converter. Use the firewire connection out of the computer to the converter, and then use the red yellow and white RCA cables to connect to the video-in ports on the VCR.

2. Open iMovie, go to File, go to Share.

3. Choose “videocamera.” Follow the directions on the screen.

4. Press “record,” or “play and record” to record a new video tape on the VCR.

Bill -August 7, 2005



Hi, I´m a student, I´m from Mexico. I a homework but I really not how do it. the question is:

Look at three TV soap operas and determine whether these would be useful cultural or language content. How would you edit a videotape of such material.

Could you help me? thank you very much

laura julia -July 21, 2006



i need software image mixer ver1.5 for my sony camera

imani -September 1, 2006



I have found that converting my old analogue handycam tapes to digital recordings is just a matter of linking the old and the new Sony handycams. However, as with a lot of people who face with the same problem, how do we transfer the recordings to a computer and eventually burning them to VCD or DVD, without having to own a Mackintosh? It does appear that manufacturers of handycams or video cameras such as Sony, JVC, Sharp etc. have simply not committed themselves to present the buyers of their products with a built-in solution for this problem.With the resources available to every one of these huge companies, it's a shame most buyers of their products have to turn to the internet for assistance.

Jeyapaul S -November 2, 2006



here I found the site that is really helpfull

http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/08/how-to-tuesday-make-digital-movies-the-easy-way

You need IEEE 1394 cable to record movies from digital camera into ur pc, mann i need to buy one :// c ya all later.

Pawel -November 30, 2006



i am trying to record a vhs tape onto another vhs tape. i thought i knew how to hook them up, but it is not working. please help!!!

Robin -January 26, 2007



Hi I am trying to copy from a rca auto shot camera which is on a small 30vhsc tape to a vcr tape. I can not get it to transfer. Can you help me?, Please!

Robin -February 4, 2007



I need it very badly!

Ripon -May 3, 2007



I need to export my edited video project of 85 mins. in two halves on to Sony hmp tape 90 mins. in my Sony camera DCR-TRV355E because the tape will only take about 60 minutes because of the digital input.I have exported 46' 38". When I set the playhead at, say 46' 34", and click Share the playhead flicks back to the beginning and starts there. How do I get it to start exporting at 46' 34" please ?

mike -May 4, 2007



Your Comments (required):

Name (required): -November 24, 2007



hi i want to record a video onto a camcorder then i want to take it off and edit it , then my problem is i want to know how to take the dited video and run it back onto the same kind of tape i taped the video originally from , so basically i want to run the edited version of video back onto the camcorder tape so it is on the tape from cam corder edited.

aaliya -February 8, 2009



Hi, Question? I have two dvd/vcr recorders (samsung) with a tv moniter.. I am trying to record my digital tapes at the same time one in dvd the other in vcr. using one recorder dvd and the other for vcr..I can not get both to copy at the same time..how can I set this up...thank you, John Ethridge

john ethridge -April 9, 2009



im looking for a disc .to set up my panasonic nv-gs11 .on to my pc so i can make films from my camcorder .help me please

robert -June 11, 2009


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