A way to convert an analog hi8 camcorder video to dvd?

[AshleyQuick]

I have a Sony tvr-68 and I desperately want to convert to dvd. What methods/hardware do I need?

Thank you.

Ashley

[FulciLives]

You have two options.

Buy a new Digital8 camcorder since just about all models can play back 8mm and Hi8 tapes and convert to DV video. You hook the cam up to your computer and play back the tape and record the DV video signal to your computer using FIREWIRE (aka IEEE 1394 aka i.link).

The next BEST option is to buy the Canopus ADVC-100

This is an external box that hooks up to the computer via FIREWIRE (aka IEEE 1394 aka i.link). It has analog video (composite and S-Video) inputs and stereo audio inputs. You hook the output of your Hi8 cam to it (or any analog source such as a VCR etc.) and the Canopus ADVC-100 will convert to DV video and send it to the computer.

Either way you end up with a DV AVI file on your computer.

That is what you want both in terms of quality and ease of editing.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[handyguy]

Get a Panasonic e55 dvd recorder, does it all automatically for you.

[turk690]

Note that NOT ALL Digital8 camcorders play back analogue 8/Hi8 tapes. In at least the last two latest lines Sony makes (DCRTRVx5x and DCRTRVx6x) ONLY the highest end models do this. For example, while the DCRTRV350 DOES play back analogue 8/Hi8 tapes (and simultaneously outputs DV data through FireWire while at it), the DCRTRV250 and DCRTRV147/150 DO NOT.

[AshleyQuick]

Get a Panasonic e55 dvd recorder, does it all automatically for you.

Can you elaborate? Will my hi8 trv-68 plug directly into this?

[ZippyP.]

Get a Panasonic e55 dvd recorder, does it all automatically for you.

Can you elaborate? Will my hi8 trv-68 plug directly into this?

Yes, he's referring to a set top DVD recorder which operates like a VCR. Plug your camcorder in with the audio and video cables and then record away. It's probably the fastest and easiest method, and the results are usually pretty good. Quality will vary depending on the brand, and some are higher rated than others. If you want to edit the footage then you can take the DVD that you produce and copy it to your PC. After editing you can reburn to DVD, if your PC has a DVD burner.

[FulciLives]

Please note that if you record your camcorder footage to a stand alone DVD recorder you will be recording direct to MPEG-2 format.

Although you CAN edit this after importing the DVD to your computer it is VERY important to note that MPEG-2 can be tricky to edit.

Many people like to do EXTENSIVE edting of camcorder footage including re-arranging shots and adding transitions etc.

MPEG-2 is not very well suited for this.

So I don't suggest going straight to MPEG-2 unless you do not need EXTENSIVE editing.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman