How to play & convert Sony 8 mm Video 8 NTSC Tapes

[Richiegs]

I have several Sony 8 mm Video 8 NTSC tapes which I recorded about my family 15 years ago. However, I don't remember whether I recorded it in LP or SP mode. Now I live in a country which uses PAL system. My questions are the following:

1) Is there any camcorder or inexpensive equipment which can play my Sony 8 mm Video 8 NTSC Tapes in PAL format?
2) Is it possible to inexpensively convert and save my Sony 8 mm Video 8 NTSC Tapes onto a CD, DVD or computer hard drive preferably in PAL format?
3) If it is possible, should I look at Sony products only?

Thank you so much for answering!

[edDV]

I have several Sony 8 mm Video 8 NTSC tapes which I recorded about my family 15 years ago. However, I don't remember whether I recorded it in LP or SP mode. Now I live in a country which uses PAL system. My questions are the following:

1) Is there any camcorder or inexpensive equipment which can play my Sony 8 mm Video 8 NTSC Tapes in PAL format?
2) Is it possible to inexpensively convert and save my Sony 8 mm Video 8 NTSC Tapes onto a CD, DVD or computer hard drive preferably in PAL format?
3) If it is possible, should I look at Sony products only?

Thank you so much for answering!

1) NTSC to PAL is complicated if quality is a consideration. First cap as NTSC to YCbCr.

2) Usually not necessary because most all PAL DVD players and recent PAL TV sets will play NTSC files as PAL60. Computers will play NTSC direct.

3) Why Sony? Those are the bad guys.

[Richiegs]

1) NTSC to PAL is complicated if quality is a consideration. First cap as NTSC to YCbCr.

a) If NTSC to PAL is complicated if quality is a consideration, is it better to save the original content of the tape on a CD or DVD and then play the CD/DVD in a PAL DVD player?
b) Can I save it on a DVD?
c) Is YCbCr referred to the connector on the back of the TV set?


2) Usually not necessary because most all PAL DVD players and recent PAL TV sets will play NTSC files as PAL60. Computers will play NTSC direct.

a) Should I use a camcorder to play Sony 8 mm Video 8 NTSC Tapes on a PAL TV set?
b) Should I also use a camcorder to connect to my PC?
c) What other inexpensive equipments are available?

3) Why Sony? Those are the bad guys.[/QUOTE]
a) I know Sony product is bad. Since I recorded on a Sony camcorder, I thought I also need to use Sony equipment to connect to a PC or play it in a TV set. Which other reliable brand do you suggest?

Thanks

[edDV]

Lets start again.

Video 8 is an analog format. You must use an A/D capture device to get the analog NTSC video converted to a YCbCr file or encoded to DVD. YCbCr is the digital component standard used for a DVD.

If you make an NTSC DVD, it will be playable in most PAL DVD players. There is no reason to "convert to PAL". Doing so will lower quality.

Does your computer have a capture card? You will need some kind of capture device to get the analog video from the camcorder into the computer so you can edit it and make a DVD. Do you have a DVD burner?

You will need

1. A camcorder to play the NTSC tape (not a PAL model)
2. A capture device or card*.
3. Edit software* (optional)
4. DVD authoring software*
5. DVD burning software (e.g. Imgburn)
6. A DVD burner.

* capture device and software need to be NTSC compatible.

If you only have a few tapes, you may want to get them transferred to DVD by a commercial service.

[Richiegs]

You will need

1. A camcorder to play the NTSC tape (not a PAL model)
A: I went to few electronic stores today. Basically they all said NTSC tape was old technology and they didn't have any camcorder which plays tape. I wonder if I can still buy camcorder which plays NTSC tape?

2. A capture device or card*.
A. No, I don't have a video capture device. I am using Windows Vista. Can you recommend a good and inexpensive Video capture device?

3. Edit software* (optional)
A. No, I think I can download from Cnet.

4. DVD authoring software*
A. No, I think I can download from Cnet.

5. DVD burning software (e.g. Imgburn)
A. Yes

6. A DVD burner.
A. Yes

I have about 10 tapes and I want to learn how to convert it into DVD if it is not too expensive. Thanks

[edDV]

You could find a Sony or Canon Video8 cam on US or Canadian eBay. A Hi8 model will also play Video8.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Video8+camcorder&_sacat=0&_odkw=Video8&_osacat=0&_....c0.m270.l1313

The cheapest capture solution is probably the EasyCap. You will need one that does NTSC or PAL. There are various models and manufacturers. Best to ask in a new topic which NTSC/PAL model is recommended and what software works with it.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Easycap&_sacat=0&_odkw=Video8+camcorder&_osacat=0&....c0.m270.l1313

You could alternately send the 10 tapes to a USA/Canada dub house for around $10 ea.

[Richiegs]

Thanks. If it costs $10 per tape, I will most likely send them to a duplication house. Basically the analog NTSC video will be converted into YCbCr file and then save it on a NTSC DVD. I wonder if the latest technology is possible to enhance the quality of the analog NTSC video.

[edDV]

Thanks. If it costs $10 per tape, I will most likely send them to a duplication house. Basically the analog NTSC video will be converted into YCbCr file and then save it on a NTSC DVD. I wonder if the latest technology is possible to enhance the quality of the analog NTSC video.

DVD will be encoded MPeg2. Hopefully the dub house will fix levels. Some dub houses offer to color correct at additional cost.

Google "NTSC Video8 to DVD" to find dub companies. Try to connect through the American Google.

[Richiegs]

"DVD will be encoded MPeg2. Hopefully the dub house will fix levels. Some dub houses offer to color correct at additional cost.

Google "NTSC Video8 to DVD" to find dub companies. Try to connect through the American Google.[/QUOTE]"

I read that if it is MPeg2 format, the video signal will be degraded because of compression. Besides MPeg2, I wonder which other format will produce the highest quality of video signal from a video 8 tape on a DVD. Thank you

[edDV]

"DVD will be encoded MPeg2. Hopefully the dub house will fix levels. Some dub houses offer to color correct at additional cost.

Google "NTSC Video8 to DVD" to find dub companies. Try to connect through the American Google.

"

I read that if it is MPeg2 format, the video signal will be degraded because of compression. Besides MPeg2, I wonder which other format will produce the highest quality of video signal from a video 8 tape on a DVD. Thank you[/QUOTE]

MPeg2 is adequate for Video8. Alternative may be DV format but that will need a re-encode to get to DVD.