Equipment and software:

Sony digital VCR, Mac computer, iMovie software

Probably the best way to learn i-Movie is simply to click on Help in the menu bar. The instructions are in a quick tip format.

2. Plug the Firewire cable into the computer and the digital VCR. Check the slots visually to make sure you connect the plug correctly.

3. Turn on the digital VCR and insert a recorded tape.

4. Turn on the computer and start up the iMovie software by clicking on the icon on the dock. When iMovie opens, click New Movie (or File/New Project) and give a project name.

5. There are three windows on the screen - the video window with controls underneath; the timeline at the bottom of the screen; and the clip "shelf" to the right which changes to transitions/titles/effects/audio.

5. Use the "remote buttons" below the video window to locate the clips on the tape you want to transfer. (The buttons will control the VCR.) Press the import button to start the transfer.

6. The clips appear on the shelf beside the video window. The software automatically separates clips - the maximum length for one clip is 9:28 minutes or 1.9 gigs.

1. Basically all you need to do is click/drag the clips from the shelf to the time line in the order you want; delete unwanted material from the clips; add fades and transitions between clips; add narration, and add titles.

2. In i-Movie help, you can link to the website and download tutorials for each step.

3. It's best to keep it simple. Fades and dissolves work best as transitions. (For example, select Transitions and then drag the Dissolve transition in between two clips in the time line.

4. If you plan to make a lot of changes to a clip, it's probably a good idea to select it on the shelf and make a copy (rename it). You can use the Edit/Copy/Paste commands just like word processing.

5. Titles should be as large as possible. If you want to add a subtitle in the middle of a clip, first you have to slide the playhead (the triangle on the line below the video window) to the point where you want the subtitle to begin, then in the menu bar click Edit/Split Video Clip at Playhead. Then drag the title over to the clip in the timeline.

6. As you put your video together, make sure you click File/Save Project often.

1. Play the video on the computer to make sure you are satisfied.

2. Make sure the computer and VCR are connected by the Firewire cable.

3. Turn on the VCR and insert a new tape with the record tab enabled.

4. Click File/Export Movie. Select Export To Camera. It's a good idea to add Black before and after the movie. Click Export - the VCR will automatically record the movie.

5. Play the tape to make sure the recording is okay. This is your master tape - if you plan to make lots of copies, it's a good idea to record one master for dubbing VHS tapes and another for an archive.