Hi8 converted to mini dv

[tchambers]

I have a ATI RADEON 8500 card. Does anyone know if I am able to capture hi8 video from the camcoder, through the card, to the hard drive? My guess is that if so, the card cannot convert to mini dv, so would I have to convert through software, and if so, what software?? I have video studio 9 and vegas 6.0. Would they suffice???


Thanks in advance for the help....

[edDV]

Do you have access to a MiniDV camcorder?
You can just dub straight from the Hi8 camcorder to MiniDV camcorder. This will result in better quality and a realtime DV encode. Then transfer the digital video to Vegas for editing.

There will be one problem, Hi8 has 7.5 IRE setup and this will capture black too high on DV. You will need to correct black level later in Vegas using the levels filter and waveform monitor.

[tchambers]

Thank you for that information, and I will certainly try it your way. Just for my information, is there a way to download the hi8 directly from the camcorder to the harddrive and then convert, rather than going through the mini dv camcorder?. I have had advice that is sure that it is possible and I can't see how....

[redwudz]

AFAIK, the ATI RADEON 8500 is not a capture card, so no inputs, no capture.

If, on the other hand, you have a ATI RADEON 8500 'All in Wonder' video card, it can capture with the included software or some other programs.

Even if you went though a mind DV camcorder, you would need a Firewire input on your computer or a capture card for composite input.

[edDV]

Thank you for that information, and I will certainly try it your way. Just for my information, is there a way to download the hi8 directly from the camcorder to the harddrive and then convert, rather than going through the mini dv camcorder?. I have had advice that is sure that it is possible and I can't see how....

You can go the capture card route (not with that garphics card you have) but you said you want DV, and with Vegas that fits. I assume since you have Vegas, you have a IEEE-1394 interface. If not get one.

The camcorder dub gets you what you want, a dub to DV. To do it the other way wou would need to

1. buy a capture card
2. capture the analog video.
3. Encode for many hours to DV format.

And the results will probably have less quality.

[tchambers]

Eddv,
I get your message and will definately go through my Sony dv to the hard drive. I do have the all in wonder, but was just curious as to wether it would allow me a direct input from the hi8...This weekend, the hi8 camcorder will be patched to the mini dv for the first run and trial. Thank you for the information....

[edDV]

The AIW won't capture to DV format.

I'm assuming from your statements you want to maintain quality and edit in DV format with Vegas.

You could use a program like virtualdub to capture uncompressed YUY2 from the AIW and edit it uncompressed in Vegas. This will take a huge HDD for 2Hr Hi8 tapes.

Or capture uncompressed and import into a Vegas DV project format. This will take many hours to convert uncompressed to DV with Vegas' software encoder.

It's just much more straight forward to capture through a MiniDV camcorder hardware DV encoder. One step and you are editing.

Maybe I don't understand what you are trying to do.

[tchambers]

No you understand completely. I just wanted to know if the card was capable. I am draging out my old Sony TRV17 at this moment and getting ready to patch through my Sony DV to the hard drive. Thanks alot of the information.....