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Transfering old videos (VHS/8mm/Hi8) to digital

I have a 2014 Imac with 24gb. I can transfer a tapeOK (a one hour tape takes one hour to transfer of course) but then the file takes an inordinately long time to encode and become a useable file on the mac. This can take over 24 hours. I know my mac is old and I am happy to but a new Mac. Should I go for the new imac or the mac studio? I know that the studio is more powerful but am I wasting money? Would the new iMac do the same job? I am less concerned with editing as most tapes are for archive and will not need much editing. Please let me have your thoughts or ask me more questions to educate me! Many thanks!

iMac 27″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Jul 31, 2023 8:21 AM

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Posted on Aug 1, 2023 7:43 AM

Hello SFR2000,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities. 


We understand that you would like a suggestion on which Mac you should buy. We’re happy to point you in the right direction. Please compare the Mac models here to determine which Mac is for you: Mac - Compare Models - Apple There’s also an option to chat with a Specialist should you have further questions.


These steps may help. Let us know if you have further questions.


Take care.

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9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 1, 2023 7:43 AM in response to SFR2000

Hello SFR2000,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities. 


We understand that you would like a suggestion on which Mac you should buy. We’re happy to point you in the right direction. Please compare the Mac models here to determine which Mac is for you: Mac - Compare Models - Apple There’s also an option to chat with a Specialist should you have further questions.


These steps may help. Let us know if you have further questions.


Take care.

Aug 1, 2023 2:57 PM in response to SFR2000

Yes, what everyone posted here are valid points.. I’d suggest you take a look at an eGPU, you seem to have enough RAM on board to get you by… Sonnet Puck might do the job for you, and you’d need a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 1/2 adapter cable as well… on board your 2014 iMac is either 2 or 4 Gigs of VRAM(maybe 1.5 Gigs VRAM) depending on when it was made( early/mid/late 2014) what model+ how you configured it when you bought it… here’s some more info for you and what Apple recommends:Use an external graphics processor with your Mac - Apple Support (CA)



John B


Aug 1, 2023 3:46 PM in response to Johnb-one

Johnb-one wrote:

Yes, what everyone posted here are valid points.. I’d suggest you take a look at an eGPU, you seem to have enough RAM on board to get you by… Sonnet Puck might do the job for you, and you’d need a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 1/2 adapter cable as well… on board your 2014 iMac is either 2 or 4 Gigs of VRAM(maybe 1.5 Gigs VRAM) depending on when it was made( early/mid/late 2014) what model+ how you configured it when you bought it… here’s some more info for you and what Apple recommends:Use an external graphics processor with your Mac - Apple Support (CA)


I wouldn't think that an eGPU would help with encoding times unless the application doing the encoding leaned on the GPU, rather than on the CPU.


I would want to be VERY certain that the encoding application that I had in mind was leaning on the GPU before even thinking about spending a dime on an eGPU just to do encoding.

Aug 1, 2023 12:17 PM in response to SFR2000

Assuming you are using firewire, you might not want a newer mac. Support for DV cameras is evaporating fast. I suggest the most recent Mac with a TB1 port, Apple makes a Firewire to TB1 adapter.


On my new iMac, I have to go from FW400-800, FW-TB1, TB1-TB2, and even then there are few programs to download from the camera, iMovie might be the only one.

Aug 1, 2023 12:43 PM in response to SFR2000

I would first start with looking at the system requirements for the software you are currently using. Are you using an external video converter like the elgato? Do you have enough free space on your hard drive? You need to know what your requirements are first. From the tape to the hard drive, what are all the devices and software you are using for that process right now?

Aug 1, 2023 3:43 PM in response to Keith Barkley

If his camcorders are VHS, 8mm, and Hi8 ones, they won't have FireWire ports.


Digital8 camcorders had FireWire ports, and some Digital8 camcorders could play back 8mm or Hi8 tapes and convert the analog video (on the tapes) to DV video (on the Firewire port) in real time.


(Digital8 was a hybrid format that stored MiniDV-type digital video on high-quality Hi8-style tapes.)

Transfering old videos (VHS/8mm/Hi8) to digital

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