Best Method for Capturing Hi8 Camcorder Tapes

[toscano]

I am trying to determine the best way to capture my old Hi8 analog cassettes. I don't plan on doing any restoration or editing, so capturing directly to MPEG-2 and not AVI is fine for me unless it is going to sacrifice quality. I've read everything on www.digitalfaq.com and many of the posts on this forum and from what I can gather I have at least four options:

1) Connect my Sony Camcorder to my Panasonic DVD recorder via RCA A-V cables and record onto DVD at highest quality (LP, I think). Use DVD Decrypter and rip the video in IFO mode. Edit on a PC. Open ripped VOB and edit in Womble MPEG-VCR. Edit and save as .MPEG file.

3) Capture Hi8 as AVI via Firewire using Main Concept MPEG encoder. Use TMPGEnc or Womble MPEG-VCR to edit/convert to MPEG.

3) Capture Hi8 as MPEG-2 via Firewire using Main Concept MPEG encoder (as suggested by LordSmurf on his site).

4) I also have an ATI All-In-Wonder X600Pro card. I suppose I could also connect my Camcorder to it via the RCA A-V cables and capture using the TV application and the settings suggested by Lord Smurf on his site.

I would prefer the option that allows the fewest possible steps (i.e. I'd like to avoid capturing to AVI, since I don't need to do any editing or restoration) and allows for the highest quality capture. Any expert suggestions would be much appreciated!

[edDV]

I am trying to determine the best way to capture my old Hi8 analog cassettes. I don't plan on doing any restoration or editing, so capturing directly to MPEG-2 and not AVI is fine for me unless it is going to sacrifice quality. I've read everything on www.digitalfaq.com and many of the posts on this forum and from what I can gather I have at least four options:

1) Connect my Sony Camcorder to my Panasonic DVD recorder via RCA A-V cables and record onto DVD at highest quality (LP, I think). Use DVD Decrypter and rip the video in IFO mode. Edit on a PC. Open ripped VOB and edit in Womble MPEG-VCR. Edit and save as .MPEG file.

3) Capture Hi8 as AVI via Firewire using Main Concept MPEG encoder. Use TMPGEnc or Womble MPEG-VCR to edit/convert to MPEG.

3) Capture Hi8 as MPEG-2 via Firewire using Main Concept MPEG encoder (as suggested by LordSmurf on his site).

4) I also have an ATI All-In-Wonder X600Pro card. I suppose I could also connect my Camcorder to it via the RCA A-V cables and capture using the TV application and the settings suggested by Lord Smurf on his site.

I would prefer the option that allows the fewest possible steps (i.e. I'd like to avoid capturing to AVI, since I don't need to do any editing or restoration) and allows for the highest quality capture. Any expert suggestions would be much appreciated!

If editing isn't a concern, you will get close to maximum quality by directly recording your Hi8 camcorder (using S-Video connection) to a quality DVD recorder in one hour per DVD mode. One of the recorders that capture at a faster than DVD rate to a HDD and then encodes-burns in a second pass will probably get best results.

Any encoding to MPeg2 will "reduce quality" so save the original tapes in a cool dry place for future generations.

[harley2ride]

If you are looking for a pretty good deal on doing this, ebay has the ADS PYRO API311 Firewire card, with Ulead Media Studio Pro Directors Cut, and dvd workshop (you can upgrade for free on Ulead's web site to the upgraded mpeg encoder), and have a good solution for capturing, editing, and burning. It is older software, but still very good. Using the ADS card and the Ulead software, you can capture directly to MPEG2. Listed at only $24.00 for the package, but then there is $14.00 shipping. Cheapest price I could find for the software alone, was over $80.00.

[wwjd]

A few questions for clarity;

1. No editing or restoration but you do want to cut/trim, is that correct?
2. The final goal is Hi8 to DVD or is it Hi8 to mpeg2 which will reside on a HDD?
3. Which is more important quality or number of steps? Would you be willing to use more steps for a small increase in quality for example.

For no editing, no restoration, NO CUTTING, the DVD recorder route provides the fewest steps and quite possibly the best quality. Hi8 to DVD recorder and your done.

If you want to CUT/Trim then the DVD recorded is the most steps but may provide the best quality.

Seems like you may need to give each option a try to see which suites your needs.

[edDV]

A few questions for clarity;

1. No editing or restoration but you do want to cut/trim, is that correct?
2. The final goal is Hi8 to DVD or is it Hi8 to mpeg2 which will reside on a HDD?
3. Which is more important quality or number of steps? Would you be willing to use more steps for a small increase in quality for example.

For no editing, no restoration, NO CUTTING, the DVD recorder route provides the fewest steps and quite possibly the best quality. Hi8 to DVD recorder and your done.

If you want to CUT/Trim then the DVD recorded is the most steps but may provide the best quality.

Seems like you may need to give each option a try to see which suites your needs.

A DVD recorder with HDD gives simple cut-trim capability. And it can be easily sold when you are done.

I agree that each process should be experienced, especially before buying computer hardware. Keep in mind that the computer based process requires numerous passes to get to a result.

If the tape quantity is small, a quality duplication service bureau may provide a cheaper and better solution.

[rumplestiltskin]

Borrow a Digital-8 camcorder, drop your tapes into it, connect the camcorder to your PC with a FireWire cable, and use any one of a hundred packages to capture, author, and burn. Forget the analog-to-digital detritus; the camcorder will make it a lot easier.

[toscano]

You guys are awesome! I really appreciate your insightful comments.

1. No editing or restoration but you do want to cut/trim, is that correct?

Correct. The only "editing" I'll be doing is cutting/trimming.

2. The final goal is Hi8 to DVD or is it Hi8 to mpeg2 which will reside on a HDD?

Hi8 to DVD is the final goal.

3. Which is more important quality or number of steps? Would you be willing to use more steps for a small increase in quality for example.

I would be willing to use more steps for a small increase in quality.

FYI: MY entire Hi8 collection consists of 11 cassettes = 11 hours. (Prior that I used my father's non-Hi8 camcorder. For the last year, I've been using Mini-DV cassettes on a new Panasonic camcorder.) Even if I had a professional or company convert them, I'd still want to do my own cutting/trimming. It sounds as though Hi8 Camcorder -> Panasonic DVD recorder is getting the most votes, although some of you think Hi8 Camcorder to PC via Firewire would be better. Any further comments would be appreciated!

[solarfox]

If you want to do any kind of trimming or cutting, I'd recommend the capture-to-PC-via-Firewire route, by far. Editing in a DVD recorder is a pain, and your ability to create menus is pretty primitive.

[edDV]

My top two

1. DVD recorder with HDD for simple trims and fastest process.

2. Computer transfer/edit/filter/author

2a Consumer packaged Adobe Premiere Elements or Sony Vegas MovieStudio

2b Geekware:

2b1: WinDV (from Hi8 playback on Digital8 or "analog-pass-thru" via MiniDV camcorder to DV-AVI file).
2b2: Edit-filter-process in Virtualdub+Panasonic DV codec and/or AVISynth for filtering.
2b3: Encode to MPeg2 with TMPEGg, CCE or Mainconcept MPeg2 encoders
2b4: Author in DVD Author, DVD Lab Pro or other