Snookered while archiving old MiniDV tapes

Hi all - I have a bunch of old MiniDV I'd like to archive and I was pleasantly surprised to see that when I plug in my Sony HDR-FX7 is was recognised by FCPX.

The trouble is that they are starting to deteriorate and there are dropouts (these are simple old home movies). FCPX, detecting these dropouts creates a new clip overtimes there's a dropout. So that's hundreds of clips per tape.

There seems to be be no option to over-ride this.

Next I decided to create a camera archive but this didn't solve the issue. Within the archive are hundreds of clips.

My other solutions are to use premiere - which has the override feature (to not create a new clip on timecode break) but does not offer a time limit on tape capture so I can't just walk away and have the capture stop after, say 65 minutes - a strange omission.

I also have the Blackmagic Video Recorder USB dongle and software. This captures H.264 video and has a time limit - but only works from an analog source (RCA connectors). At the moment that looks to be an option...

Except I do have a copy of FCP7 which as i recall has a Capture Now feature with a time limit.

So...weird as it sounds that is what i am considering - re-installing FCP7...unless anyone has another suggestions? The best would be FCPX with an option to NOT create a new clip with each timecode break. Or Premiere with a time limit on free running capture. Between the both of them I am snookered.

Thoughts?

have you tried using iMovie as importer?

Quicktime 7 Pro will be able to record this, keeping the DV codec.
Or you can record using Quicktime Player X. It will save it as H264.

Yes, I have tried iMove - i actually tried iMove first but it's import features and limitations are identical to FCPX.

Timecode breaks were always a problem.
Remember having to "Black Stripe" new tape before recording?
So glad to finally get cameras that recorded on cards. Still have boxes of mini tape archives.
Make sure to clean the player head, might help.
Suppose you could also take all the clips, place into Timeline and create a compound clip/project, then archive.

Best of Luck, Greg

The QuickTime solutions mentioned will deal reasonably well with dropouts, however long breaks in the tape due to the recordings having been stopped and then started several seconds after the last recording will result in QuickTime considering that to be "end of tape" and will stop the import. In this case, you'd have to begin a new movie recording to capture the next part of the tape resulting in another clip. Check online for the old Canopus ADVC converters. The model 300 works well, connects vis FireWire and provides a line TBC and some proc controls to further stabilize the imported signal. You'll import a continuous clip as long as the tape is running. The software won't run on new Intel macs but isn't really necessary because the device can be setup with dip switches. Another option we sometimes use is importing thru Sorensen Squeeze Pro from some direct connected cameras. It will generate H.264 MP4 files and then provide options to encode the resulting import to anything else, and it ignores the dropouts and long breaks on tape. The hardware converters, however would be the cheapest solution.

If you have the time and equipment just record the old tapes onto new tapes. The new tapes will import with no problem.

Head cleaner has been ordered - quite a long wait for it to come from the states though

anickt wrote: If you have the time and equipment just record the old tapes onto new tapes. The new tapes will import with no problem.

This is the go-to solution for all of our bad miniDV tapes: dub them.
Of course, requires a second Sony recorder.