What do I Use - iMovie? iDVD? Something else?

[mondo joe]

I'm new to the Mac world, and I'm planning to pick up a Powerbook in a couple of weeks.

One of the things I plan to do is to transfer to DVD a lot of old video I own - mostly family stuff given to me by relatives in other states.

Given the opportunity I might opt to rearrange some of the footage. I know I need to transfer the video to digital with some sort of bridge.

But once it's there which program do I use to actually set up the DVDs? iMovie? iDVD?

Or is there some other software I should look into?

[mrbassman03]

1. Well...

You will import the video into iMovie where it will automatically be split up into "clips"... you then can rearrange those clips, add music, add transitions, take out what you don't want... Then you can have iMovie send the project to iDVD where you actually "make" the DVD. You can make really cool menus with the included templates btw. You then put in a blank DVD and hit burn. iDVD does the rest... The only problem I can see is getting the video to the computer, but they have many bridges to do just that. Hope it all goes well! Ask if you have any questions!

[rocktivity]

2. I must have started this thread in my sleep!

I'm planning to upgrade my Mac to a G4 with OSX in a couple of weeks. I've already got the USB card, a compatible printer/scanner, and the super drive.

What I plan to do is transfer to DVD all my home videos (mostly music videos my favorite TV shows) and to transfer to CD the music on my fifty-odd audio cassettes. So I, too, am interested in software and suggestions!

:headbang:
rocknation

[mondo joe]

3. Cool! Have you figured out your bridge yet??

Have you figured out how you'll bridge video to digital?

I have this DAZZLE HOLLYWOOD (or somesuch) bit of hardware that I bought with my dell a few years ago but never used. I'm hoping that will be an option.

It's a weird spot to be in - relative to most people I know I'm the most computer savvy - but on this point I'm hopeless.

[Downtown Hound]

4. I have Dazzle

It's a little temperamental but it works. Imovie will work fine to import your videos into. Don't expect the quality to be absolutely first rate though. Whatever degradation your videos have experienced will show up on the DVD, and it's possible that there will be further degradation in the transfer process. But once it's on DVD, there will be no further deterioration.

[rocktivity]

5. Can you go from VHS to the computer via a VCR

or does it have to be from a camcorder? That's really what I'm most interested in knowing.

:headbang:
rocknation

[ralps]

6. As long as you have a DV Bridge you can import VHS tapes from your

VCR into iMovie
:hi: