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Note: The steps in this article are specific to iMovie, but they give you a good idea of what the process involves. Read the documentation for the specific software that you are using.
Like most Apple software, iMovie is entirely functional and to the point. And at no time is this more evident than when you want to export your movie to tape. iMovie cannot export directly to an analog capture card, but it can export video at full quality to your digital camcorder. To export your finished movie to tape, follow these steps:
1. Connect your digital camcorder to the FireWire port on your computer, and turn the camera on to VTR or Player mode.
Make sure that you have a new, blank videotape cued up and ready in the camcorder.
2. In iMovie, choose File --> Export.
The iMovie Export dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Set your export options here.
3. Choose To Camera from the Export drop-down list.
4. Adjust the Wait field if necessary.
The Wait field controls how long iMovie waits for the camera to get ready before it begins to export. You should leave the Wait field set at 5 seconds unless you're exporting to a video converter (such as the Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge) that's connected to your FireWire port. In that case, you may want to increase the wait to about 10 seconds to ensure that you have enough time to press the Record button on your VCR.
 | Whatever you do, don't reduce the Wait field to less than 5 seconds. Virtually all camcorders need some time to bring their tape-drive mechanisms up to the proper speed, and the Wait field gives the camcorder time to get ready. |
5. Adjust the two Add fields to determine the amount of black video that will be recorded at the beginning and end of the tape.
You should put at least 30 seconds of black video at the beginning and end of the movie.
6. Click the Export button.
iMovie automatically exports your movie to the tape in your camcorder. If you're exporting directly to a digital camcorder, iMovie automatically controls the camera for you; you don't have to press the Record button on the camcorder. But if you are exporting through a video converter, you must press the Record button on your analog VCR.
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