5.1: Importing tapes from devices

LifeFlix v4.2.5 has an import workflow to archive the footage from your tape devices. A successful connection must be established between LifeFlix v4.2.5 and your device to begin the import process. 

Please read our articles  DV Device setup or Hi8 and Video8 device setup to learn about the setup process. 

Please follow the steps below to begin importing your tapes:

1. Connect your tape device to your Mac computer before launching LifeFlix. 
2. Launch LifeFlix while your tape device is connected. Check for the green dot next to the import icon to ensure LifeFlix has detected your tape device. 
3. Click the import icon and the import interface will launch
4. Your tape device name should appear as the source. Edit any of the text information to create custom labels for the footage you’ll be importing. All the information created will be associated with an album and the footage recorded from the current import session will all be stored in that album. 
5. Enable any settings you would like to use for capture. Read our article on the Import Interface to learn more about these settings. 
6. Manually rewind or fast forward the tape from your device to set it to the capture point you wish to begin recording from. 
7. Click “Record” then begin playing the footage from your tape device. 

     8. Your footage can be viewed from the preview monitor as well as the current timecode. 

     9. Click “Stop” to end your capture. A small window will appear that gives you the options to “Keep” or           “Discard”. Keeping the footage will store it in an album and close the import interface. Discarding               the footage will discard your capture and close the import interface. 

Important! If you are importing from a Canon tape device you will have to begin playing the footage from your device before launching the import panel, then quickly click the “Record” button to mitigate losing out on capturing your footage that has already begun to play. Not doing this before import will cause the footage to have no audio.
 

Important! Every tape recording is different, along with the pairing of a tape device, this will create unique combinations which cause a variety of time code break behavior. This may lead to footage being dropped or your capture ending early. Please read our FAQ article Why does my footage stop capturing randomly when importing? to learn about different troubleshooting techniques to correct this.