Find solution
Convert a cassette to a DVD?

How can I convert a video from Sony Mini Cassette to NTSC, PAL and DVD?

  • I find myself in possession of a Sony Mini Digital Video Cassette tape that was taken while I was in Scotland a couple of weeks ago. I need to get it converted over to NTSC, PAL, and DVD, but am having trouble.... (I know you didn't see it coming, but there's more inside!) My office is in Boston, but I work in Scotland. The video I have was taken on a digital video camera in Scotland and taped onto a Sony mini-DV cassette. We watched the tape in Scotland by hooking up the camera to a TV, and it was fine. I popped out the tape, tossed it in my pocket, crammed myself into an economy class seat on a transatlantic flight, and seven hours and five time zones later, I was back in Boston with the tape. (We won't talk about where BA sent my luggage.......) I took the cassette into my Media Services department at work, who handle conversions like this. They either do it internally, or outsource the work, depending on how complicated the request is, and how busy they are. They took a crack at it, but didn't have much luck. Sent it to two of their vendors, who also weren't able to do anything with it. I'm being told that it is a "long-play PAL format" and that for whatever reason, they aren't able to convert it to the three copies that I need (NTSC, PAL, and DVD). I need this tape. Best I can tell, I have a couple of options.... 1. I can buy a video camera to play it on in the US. This is a valid option, but a last resort in an effort to cut down on expenses. 2. I can try and get it converted next time I'm in Scotland (two weeks from now). This is also a valid option, but I would love to have it copied much earlier than mid-June. 3. Some lovely folks on AskMeFi can recommend a Boston-based company who can handle this..... Anyone? Anyone? (Bueller? Bueller?) Many thanks........

  • Answer:

    If you have a PC which can import this footage you can convert it in software. I know that you can do this with Final Cut on a Mac.

NotMyselfRightNow at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

Yeah you need a PC to change the format for you. Also, DVDs are either NTSC or PAL, not thier own format.

falconred

NotMyselfRightNow - Well, my schedule is a little tight right now, so I don't think I can drive into Boston for the next couple of days - but I've got all the necessary gear : a Sony Mini DV with USB/S Video and Firewire outputs, various VCR recorders, plus computers to feed data in to potentially transform the footage to other formats. I don't, however, have a DVD burner. You're welcome to email me for my phone # if you want to come out this way. I'm approx. 1 hour from Boston, due west.

troutfishing

If you turn it into an mpeg or avi with trout, I live in Boston proper and have a dvd burner and software.

Mayor Curley

The SONY LP format might *possibly* be a proprietary codec that is only playable back from the same type of camera (e.g. in your case SONY PAL miniDV). Some LPs play the tape slower; others actually compress the video image. I learned this from experience when a camera store sold me two Canon mini-DVs for observational work, and after I accumulated hours and hours of footage discovered that iMovie would not recognise the camera output, because it was Canon's specific LP codec. If this is the case with you'd probably have to buy more kit to convert the signal back into DV before you fed it into a computer. Or wait to go back to Scotland and export it to VHS.

carter

Probably expensive, but you could give http://www.nationalboston.com/ a call and see if they have what you need. I think they're still near Kenmore. Also try http://www.vidboston.com.

FreezBoy

Oh, also - I succesfully transfered the first footage I took with the camera (my parents' 50th anniversary celebration) right onto regular old full size antiquated VHS - on the first try, like butter. I just used the AV out port....it worked perfectly. I haven't tried the Firewire or USB ports, but I have no doubt they'll be no more trouble. I like that little camera. I don't have Final Cut Pro, but I do have iMovie. That will probably do whatever you need. Here's another idea - overnight it to me (with tracking) and I'll transfer it to VHS and then overnight that to Curley... Who then can burn it to DVD! Just a thought.

troutfishing

AAAAH. Sorry about that. Yes, software can do it. It's painfully slow. Did you know that Boston is a hotbed for post production? Avid and Media 100 are both located in the area. Meanwhile, back at the farm - you'll find that some duplication places do PAL, NTSC, DVD , whatever. Looked for http://www.cityofboston.gov/film/ in google. Always a good resource. Then I found http://www.mandy.com/4/duplusma.cfm And finally, I found this: http://www.apmstudio.com/default.asp?refid=APM119587 BTW, the tape is DVCAM (since it was shot on a prosumer sony camera, most likely) while it's trying to play back mini-dv. The speed you had it set at isn't supported by the pro decks . No professional shoots at that speed (because the frequency of dropouts is higher). One of the above solutions will lead the way. Feel free to contact me directly if you have further vid questions.

filmgeek

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.