From 8mm tape to Final Cut...no camcorder

[cecile]

I am hoping to convert & edit all old family 8mm tapes into files that can be edited with Final Cut. The main problem is that the original camcorder is broken and my dad has failed to find another one despite looking.

I have a bunch of specific questions that I'm looking for someone to help me with.

1. Are there any other ways of converting 8mm tapes into digital format that can be edited, apart from via camcorder?
2. If not, any ideas where I could start looking for a camcorder that would do the job. I just searched ebay but had no luck (I'm based in UK) Could be because I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking for i.e. correct key words (I tried 8mm camcorder)... any tips?
3. If I manage to find it, what cables do I need for the capture? I can't imagine that these old camcorders would come with wirefire that connects straight to my mac...
4. I've also been looking into a paid conversion service but the file type on their dvd is .vob which isn't going to work on in Final Cut. Also I'm worried that the quality will deteriorate f they're concerted into dvds first.

If anyone has been through the same kind of problem and has found a solution please let me know!

[filmboss80]

Go back to eBay and search under the terms Video8, Video 8, 8mm video, and Hi-8 (a format that can also play 8mm video). You can also do a Google search under those terms to find resellers of used video equipment. You cannot transfer those tapes without something to play them on. Camcorders are not the only option (which is why the word "camcorder" should not be in your searches); there are standalone 8mm and Hi-8 players, too.

You will also need a video analog-to-digital interface. I will let others make recommendations in that area. UNLESS, you also include searches for Digital 8 --which will also play 8mm video and digitize the video signal in the process.

[DB83]

I will echo my friend's comments about ebay.

Just took a quick look and found plenty of choice for 'hi-8'

I am not very familiar with Final Cut but assume that it has capture facilities. A good analogue/digital conversion device would be one of the range of Canopus ADVC products and I do know that these are compatable with MACs. These will give you DV video from your footage and allow you to edit at will.

You are right that if you went for a paid conversion you would normally end up with VOBs and there would be some loss when editing the ripped MPEG2 footage.

I suspect that there are conversion facilities out there that would give you DV video. As this is not the norm it would probably be more expensive than obtaining second hand equipment to do it yourself and what is more you would only get some 20 minutes of footage on one dvd disk

[Brainiac]

When I did the Ebay search, I also limited the search to the United Kingdom, just so that PAL would be easier to find.

[zoobie]

you can also cut corners by finding a cam that doesn't record but plays back well...obviously broken but will suit your needs

[edDV]

...
I suspect that there are conversion facilities out there that would give you DV video. As this is not the norm it would probably be more expensive than obtaining second hand equipment to do it yourself and what is more you would only get some 20 minutes of footage on one dvd disk

8mm to DV is the best option but only quality houses do this properly capturing directly to DV. It has been reported that less reputable dub houses first capture to MPeg2 (for DVD) then convert the MPeg2 to DV tape which is a no no. Ask their chief engineer first.

[cecile]

Thanks all for your replies, you've been very helpful, this is a great forum!

I've decided that paid conversion would be a bad solution to this also because there are probably 30 tapes to do and it would not only be very expensive & potentially poor quality but also would end up with lots of useless footage... batch capture is a great feature in Final Cut which lets you be selective of the footage you actually want to digitise - good for saving hard drive space too.

So, I searched e-bay with your tips and you are right there are a lot of options. Too many! Would any of these do the job?

Canon UC100

Hitachi

Sony


Can you also clarify the analogue/digital conversion part a little bit. I had a look at the recommended device (Canopus ADVC) on ebay and it's really expensive. Is there a cheaper alternative? Or is the solution to go for "digital-8" camera such as this one?
If the digital-8 camera both plays the 8mm tape and digitises it as well it seems like a much better and cheaper option.

[cecile]

...I read more about capturing from 8mm tapes with digital-8 cameras and the more I read the more it sounds like the perfect solution! I guess my question is now that how do I know that the digital-8 camcorder I'm bidding on ebay will play my old analogue 8mm tapes? Or do they all do that?

Thanks again for any replies in advance.

[gadgetguy]

Go to Sony's website and look for the manual for the Camcorder you're bidding on. If it's the one in your prior post, it will support D8, Hi8, or Standard8, according to the "Playing Back A Tape" section of the manual.

[Brainiac]

The Digital8 camera that you reference on Ebay does NOT support Hi8 playback, according to the manual. Not all Digital8 cameras support Hi8 and 8mm playback.

[cecile]

Thanks, and sorry for a dumb question: what is the difference between D8, Hi8 and Standard8? In the link I posted, they specify that "The manual states that you cannot play back Hi-8 standard 8 unfortunately"???

[aedipuss]

d8 is recorded digitally(ones and zeros), hi8 and 8 are analogue(waveform). think of d8 like a dvd and hi8/8 is a vhs tape.

[gadgetguy]

My mistake, I missed the footnote excluding the TRV140. Hi8 and Standard8 are analog formats similar to VHS. D8 is digital like MiniDV. I have a TRV-230 and it will play back all three formats. See if you can find one of those on-line, (you can't have mine).

Edit: Never mind. The TRV-230 is an NTSC only, you're probably looking for PAL.

[cecile]

Could this be the one that will solve my problem for good...?

[aedipuss]

no the trv-130 does not play back hi8/8. find a trv-480 like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DCR-TRV480-Digital8-Handycam-Camcorder/dp/B0007M3PJY

[gadgetguy]

Isn't the TRV-480 also NTSC only?

[aedipuss]

no they had a pal version i'm pretty sure.

http://www.viewscore.com/product_page.php?categoryID=61&productID=1223&full_details=1

[cecile]

Thanks guys. I've found a few models for sale on ebay now that should do the job: tvr-250E/255E/460E to start with. I want to pay as little as possible, as it would be for this and only this purpose, so not planning to shoot anything with the camera. It would be good to hear if someone has used a specific model successfully for this purpose (i.e. digitising 8mm tapes)

Thanks again

[happytony]

any1 have video cam can suite 8mm tape/cassette. Thanks
pls contact me happytong@yahoo.com