Video8 to DVD

[claral]

I have just stumbled across this thread which almost answers my question!

I need to get my old video8 tapes on to my laptop so i can edit them and burn to DVD.

Option1

Buy a sony Hi8 / 8mm tape player EV-C500e as mentioned in this thread, i have seen one for 50 GBP second hand. My question for this option relates to the output, is it digital so i can plug it in to my laptop, or do i still need a digital converter adaptor?

Option2

Use the origional camera, i think its still works! I would need to get a analog adapter, there are some cheap USB ones on ebay, are these any good? Are there any issues with the sound and vision getting out of sync?

Also is Microsoft Movie Editor any good? This is a one off exercise for me, so i want to do it cheap - if i have to buy the tape player then i will sell it again after. I understand Ulead 8 is free for 30 days, is this any good? All i want to do i think is edit out the dodgy bits, lens cap left on, Camera left recording etc!

Any other options i haven't thought of? Many thanks

[mats.hogberg]

Hi, and welcome to VideoHelp!
Please take your time and read the rules.
Among those, you'll find:

Do not hijack topics.
Please try to stick to the author's first post in each topic, if you want to discuss something else, create a new topic.

So - Even if your issue is related to the original poster's, Start your own thread. This is specially relevant for year old threads which would add grave robbing to hijacking!
The original old thread in this case can be found here:
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=294964

Windows Movie Maker is good, but extremely prone to crashes - save ridicilously often.
Today, I pieced together 3 stills, one 30 sec DV video + one wav music track. Took me well over 15 crashes and restarts to do this, and save out one DV and one wmv. Should have taken 5 minutes, took well over 2 hours due to all crashes and restarts.

/Mats

[thecoalman]

Buy a sony Hi8 / 8mm tape player EV-C500e as mentioned in this thread, i have seen one for 50 GBP second hand. My question for this option relates to the output, is it digital so i can plug it in to my laptop, or do i still need a digital converter adaptor?

Hi-8 is analog, you need a converter. If the original tapes are hi-8 some Digital-8 camcorders will play and convert them.

Use the origional camera, i think its still works! I would need to get a analog adapter, there are some cheap USB ones on ebay, are these any good? Are there any issues with the sound and vision getting out of sync?

"Depends", research any product before buying. Check the user comments under the Capture Cards link to the left. I'd also do a search.

Also is Microsoft Movie Editor any good? ..... I understand Ulead 8 is free for 30 days, is this any good?

Movie Maker has limited uses, you can only export DV-AVI or WMV, you still need something to encode and author a disc. Ulead is a good start for the novice and will do everthing you need.

[ian Litchfield]

You could also try Pinnacle Studio 11, extremely powerful and yet very easy to use. Another option is to try a transfer company. I used a local one to me and they were great. http://www.timeless-moments.co.uk

Cheers

[VIDHELP123]

Is 8mm the same as Hi8 ? I have four little 8mm tapes which I want to convert to DVD. My camcorder is broken and I have seen a cheap Hi8 camera in Trade-It.

The second question if you don't mind. Seeing as you guys are in the business, has any one heard of or used this company http://www.video-to-dvd.co.uk as I am getting them to do it. I am worried as a tenner a tape seems very cheap. Not that I don't like a bargain but I don't want rubbish. I would do it myself but I can't find an 8mm camcorder unless I go for the Hi8 one (mine is broken). If you can answer this then this is the page where I got my information http://www.video-to-dvd.co.uk/transfer/8mm_tape_to_dvd_or_avi.html

Thanks in advance.

[edDV]

Why go to this trouble? You can have four Video8 tapes dubed to DVD for about 20-40 pounds. Why buy all this equipment and software?

First place on the list.
http://www.transfervideo.co.uk/

[VIDHELP123]

I did look at them to do the transfer but they didn't look too professional

[lordsmurf]

I did look at them to do the transfer but they didn't look too professional

I'd have to agree.

That looks like an 1990s Geocities site, somebody's first HTML work.

[tengteng4]

I have got a sony Digital 8 dcr-trv730 that streams Hi 8 analogue as well as hi-8 digital to computers via S-video and firewire. It worked fine until I broke the head, now I have to buy a used one to playback tapes for computer input. May be if you get one used and sell me used used after that ! I have Apply Macpro that works wonder for video editing.