Using a MiniDV Cam to Capture Analog Hi8 footage

[gpwake]

Has anyone been doing this??? I am thinking about buying a MiniDV cam and just noticed that you can play Hi8 tapes in some of them, and also pass video thru them directly to you PC via-Firewire.

Can anyone recommend a good MiniDV cam that I may be able to use with my old Hi8 tapes?

Thanks,
gpwake

[MachineMan]

MiniDV is a smaller tape, so Hi8 won't work in them. You will need to get Digital8 cam to play or passthrough Hi8. The Sony TRV350 might be able to do it.

[gpwake]

MiniDV is a smaller tape, so Hi8 won't work in them. You will need to get Digital8 cam to play or passthrough Hi8. The Sony TRV350 might be able to do it.

Thanks for the info!

[srenaud]

The Sony TRV350 will play both 8mm and Hi8 tapes.

I've had mine for about 2 months and am very pleased with it.

Shawn

[gpwake]

The Sony TRV350 will play both 8mm and Hi8 tapes.

I've had mine for about 2 months and am very pleased with it.

Shawn

How is the video quality when transfering Hi8 tapes to your PC?
Do the Hi8 tapes transfer just as easily as the Digital8 tapes?

[srenaud]

The transfer is the same as if they were Digital8.

The quality is better than capturing analog, but not as good as if they were recorded as Digital8.

Shawn

[gpwake]

The transfer is the same as if they were Digital8.

The quality is better than capturing analog, but not as good as if they were recorded as Digital8.

Shawn

Have you transfered Hi8 analog video from the camera
and then burned DVD's?

If so did you notice any audio video sync problems when converting the analog tapes to digital?

Sorry for the 20 questions here, just trying to find a solution that is headache free! LOL

[srenaud]

Just an update.

My father in law had a tape that he could not play at all in his Sharp Viewcam, 8mm, camcorder.

I was able to play it and capture it in the TRV350. There was one spot where the picture went white, then came back after a few seconds.

This was a tape that was recorded only a few days earlier, not an old recording.

Needless to say he was impressed. I burned the whole tape onto a dvd for him. Now he is looking to fix / replace his camera.

Shawn

[gpwake]

I would guess the answer to my question is yes...LOL

I would also assume that you are not having any kind of audio video sync issues when converting analog to digital and transfering to the pc???

[srenaud]

No sync issues at all.

Don't apologize for the questions. I've learned a ton from this site myself and am glad to help.

If you're in the states, I bought the TRV350 from Circuit City for $499 with a $50 rebate. Picked up in store so no shipping. The price was only $20 more than if I bought it online without the rebate and I could have returned it if I decided I didn't like it.

If you have 8mm or Hi8 tapes already, it is definitely the way to go.
If not, than I would probably have chosen a MiniDV camera.

Shawn

[gpwake]

Good Deal...

Does it come with any DVD authoring software?
If not what do u use to edit/author the Digital8 Video?

[beefyJT]

I, too, just bought the 350 since I had a stash of my HI-8 tapes to digitize. I've only just started playing around with the DVD stuff, but my first burn (Lite-on 411S with firmware update) was with Windows MovieMaker 2 and the myDVD4 that came with the burner. Only a 30 minute capture but it worked great. I know other software is supposed to be better, but there is a great capture guide that details how to integrate WMM with myDVD.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/moviemaker/learnmore/dvdburn.asp

[srenaud]

WinDV for capture.

Evaluating editors currently. Premiere Pro seems to be good, but overkill for my use. Same with Vegas Video. Looking at EditStudio as it is bundled with DVD-Lab for authoring. TMPGENC DVDAuthor is good for a quick, simple dvd with menu.

Shawn

[gpwake]

I am pretty much sold on DVD lab at this point.
I use because it works really slick when it comes to importing VOB files.
Since i have a set top DVD Recorder it is an excellent solution for me. Don't have to waste time converting the VOB files.