Help with 8mm to DVD disk then to Computer ???

[jackrcook]

Hello all.

I am attempting to get my old family 8mm tapes onto playable DVDs.

I am working with Sony Hi8 DV capable camcorders (two different models).

I have a stand alone DVD plus R/RW recorder (Phillips DVDR75).

I have Pinnacle Movie authoring software on a 2.4GHZ PC.

So far, attempts to digitally output the old tapes (using two different
camcorders) to either the computer or the stand alone recorder results in
significant loss of frames, choppy and distorted output after about 40 to 60
minutes of copying. The first 40 to 60 minutes goes along just fine.

Does anyone have a clue as to what is going on. It is not likely that I
have two defective camcorders.

If you have successfully accomplished this task, please reply with any tips
you might be able to pass along.

Thanks.

Jack

[Nolonemo]

Is Pinnacle reporting the lost frames? (I don't use Pinnacle, but Vegas will tell you the number of dropped frames). If you're dropping frames, it sounds to me like what you have is a problem between the camera and the computer or in the computer. (I have never used a Digital 8 cam to capture, only normal 8 with anaolg passthrough with my DV Cam, but I can have total garbage from a bad tape, but no dropped frames, just that the frames have junk in them because of the crappy analog input) Could you be running out of space on your HD or running into a fragged area of the HD? Could your HD be having heat problems after continuously writing for a long strech? What happens if you capture for 30 min., stop and let things sit for a while, and then do another 30 - is the second 30 mon cap OK?

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Paul_W]

I also have a collection of old family 8mm and Hi8 videos that I have been slowly editing and converting to DVD. On some of the oldest tapes (10 years+), I get similar results to yours. My guess is that the tapes have degraded enough to created the dropped frame problem. Try this as a test... Record one of your analog tapes into your computer system, dropped frames and all. Then output the video from your comptuer back to a fresh tape. You may find that you can import the re-recorded tape back into your computer without a hitch, minus the lost frames.

[jackrcook]

Thanks for your reply.

You spoke about bad tape. They are under 10 years old and play fine on a dedicated 8mm player feeding the TV. At least looking at it it looks okay.

Lots of space on the HD and recently defragged.

I will have to try your 30 minute suggestion.