Converting old VHS-C and Hi-8 tapes to AVI files--HELP!

[molon labe]

I'm trying to convert 7 VHS-C and 19 Hi-8 tapes to AVI files as a Christmas gift for my wife (so she can watch them more easily and edit the footage). I want to convert w/ minimal quality loss but I'm running in to some equipment constraints and am not sure how best to proceed. Here's what I have (and some critical things I don't have):

Do NOT have a working VHS-C camera
Do have a VHS-C cassette adaptor that allows me to play the tapes in a VCR
Zenith XBV442 combo DVD/VHS player unit. The VCR only outputs via RCA cables
Panasonic combo VHS/DVD burner unit.
Sony Handycam CCD-TRV52 Hi-8 camcorder which only outputs via RCA cables
Panasonic PV-GS90 mini-DV camcorder which will only record inbound feeds via firewire cable
Vixia HF100 SDHC camcorder which (as far as I can tell) will not record any inbound feeds
Dell Latitude D630 with firewire and UBS 2.0 ports; Windows MovieMaker for capture and basic editing

I think my best option for the VHS-C is to put them in the adapter, put the adapter in the VHS/DVD burner unit, burn a DVD-R disk and then convert the DVD-R data into AVI stream on the computer (I don't know how to do this last step). Is this my best option for these? If so, how do I do the DVD rip to AVI?

For the Hi-8 tapes, I think my best option is to buy on eBay a Digital8 camcorder with firewire outputs and the ability to play Hi-8 tapes. My understanding is that the Digital8 will do the analog-to-digital conversion and feed a digital stream via firewire to my Dell for capture as an AVI file. Is this correct? Is this my best option?

Many thanks for your thoughts!!!!

[gshelley61]

An analog to digital video converter would make quick work of what you are trying to do. Datavideo DAC-100, Canopus ADVC110 are quality units that correctly convert NTSC analog video to firewire DV stream on the fly.

There are cheaper USB and firewire video capture alternatives (ADS, Dazzle, etc.) that might work for you, too.

[molon labe]

Thanks, gshelley. I see the Canopus ADVC 110 goes for $240 on Amazon. Would I be sacrificing video transfer quality is I went with something cheaper like the Diamond VC500 ($35 on Amazon)--in other words, is the price difference due to other bells and whistles or is it due to a real difference in conversion quality? Would be happy with a bare-bones solution that just does high quality conversion for low price. Thoughts? Thanks!

[zoobie]

you may be able to find a used device or card on eBay or somesuch, use it, then resell it back on eBay...I've been using the Datavideo DAC-100 which seems to work well but I have no comparison

high-quality and low price don't go together in this arena

[molon labe]

Thanks, zoobie. Are you running Vista? Would want to make sure the DAC-100 (or 200) is compatible with 32-bit Vista Ultimate. Anyone else have insight on this?

[zoobie]

the device is a stand alone...not dependent on the OS...and converts to DV only which most of use here to edit in Standard Definition...then go from there

I must admit I've gotten some amazing results from my 13 year old hi8 tapes to DVD this way capping via a quality S-video cable using WinDV then transcoding to mpeg with Procoder or somesuch

[edDV]

I think all Hi8 camcorders had S-Video outputs. You should use that output not composite (RCA).

VHS-C came in normal VHS and SVHS versions. For VHS, your current player is adequate.

A/D of Hi8 can be done several ways.

1. Conversion from original camcorder S-Video to a Canopus type device will result in high quality DV format ready for editing.

2. A Digital8 camcorder with Hi8 playback capability will do similar but at somewhat lower quality (minor issues).

3. Hi8 camcorder S-Video + audio to a PCI tuner card which will convert to uncompressed YCbCr for editing.

4. USB devices usually compress to MPeg in various quality but are more appropriate for utility TV captures rather than camcorder archiving. Good USB capture devices will be upwards of $100.

If you go the Canopus route, you can always resell back to eBay. The prices have been stable for the 100/110.

[gshelley61]

Another possibility is to acquire an inexpensive used MiniDV camcorder that has the analog to DV pass-through feature and use it as you would a Canopus type device. Only problem with that is the consumer MiniDV camcorders generally do not have a black level (setup) adjustment to account for converting US/Canada spec NTSC 7.5 IRE black level to digital. The results may look a little washed out compared to the original.

[molon labe]

Thanks, everyone. I'm convinced that a Canopus 55 (don't need bi-directional capability of the 110) is the optimal solution to my VHS-C need but edDV raises a question on the Hi-8 stuff---my Hi-8 cam does NOT have an S-vid out. So, am I better off feeding a Canopus via composite or buying another (uggh) Hi-8 w/ S-vid output or a Digital8 w/ firewire output directly to the PC. Would prefer to just go composite to the Canopus if the quality difference would be difficult to discern for the non-expert but don't want to do that if we're talking serious degradation. Thoughts? Thanks again.

[gshelley61]

The Hi8 videos would probably look noticeably better if you played them back in a higher quality camcorder with S-Video output. The Sony CCD-TRV66 and CCD-TRV87 are a couple of the preferred older consumer models out there. They are both Hi8 XR (extended resolution) HiFi Stereo models with TBC (time base correction), DNR (video noise reduction), full size RCA audio output jacks and S-Video output. They were built at the peak of Sony's Hi8 camcorder technology. Sony started to cut corners in the years after these two were made.

[zoobie]

it's probably not a hi8 cam...that would be like putting gas in a car but not being able to drive it