Video8 & Hi8 Analog Tape Conversion & Recommendations...

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Level 1

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Video8 & Hi8 Analog Tape Conversion & Recommendations...

Hello,

I recently finished converting my family's 189 Betamax & VHS tapes using Elegato's USB Video Capture and software, iMovie 09 to import, edit & export and Roxio Toast Titanium 10 to organize and burn to blu-ray discs.

I figured, before I start my new project, I would reach out to the Apple forums for recommendations or advice. This new project is to convert my family's 30 tapes of Video8 & Hi8 Analog. I've taken an inventory of each tape and listed quantities below:

2 Tapes - Maxell EX-M 8, P6-90
4 Tapes - Maxell EX-M 8, P6-120
2 Tapes - Sony P6-90MP Video8
3 Tapes - Sony Hi8 Metal P120 (Video Hi8)
18 Tapes - TDK Hi8 MP 120
1 Tape - Panasonic Hi8 MP 120

I realize these tapes are analog video formats and when I transfer to my Mac Pro it will require digitization. Also, I will need to purchase a used or refurbished camcorder that can play these 8mm video formats. I have the following questions:

1. Which out of the following do you recommend or have best experiences with maintaining the video & audio quality of 8mm video formats:

a. Utilize a 3rd party internal or external capture card or

b. Utilize a pass-through adapter, which outputs a digitized video signal in DV format. I've heard that MiniDV and Digital8 camcorders have this feature built in and will simultaneously digitize the analog footage, sending the converted signal through the camcorder's firewire interface to my Mac Pro.

2. If you utilize a capture card, pass-through adapter or Digital8 camcorder, please let me know which manufacturer & model you recommend.

3. I've heard that iMovie 09 uses single-field processing which means every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out and thus reduces the sharpness of the footage. Does this mean, when I import with "File => Import => Movies" or "File => Import from Camera...", iMovie 09 will throw these horizontal lines? Should I go with iMovie 06 which does not throw out any lines?

Any feedback or experiences with Video8 or Hi8 conversion would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance,
Dave

Mac Pro Workstation, Mac OS X (10.6.3), 2.93 Ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, iPhone

Posted on Mar 31, 2010 11:58 PM

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Answer 1

MartinR

Level 7

24,432 points

Apr 1, 2010 7:32 AM in response to Sweeper11

I'd suggest a Canopus ADVC-110 converter. I convert analog video frequently with one of these units and the quality is great. A step up would be a Canopus ADVC-300 which provides controls to help clean up degraded video. For only 30 tapes, I don't think I'd bother with an internal capture card unless you have other reasons to go that direction.

If you're going to convert to DV, then iMovie08 and iMovie09 are NOT the apps to use. Use iMovie06 or Final Cut Express. Your profile indicates you are using Snow Leopard, so FCE4 is probably your only choice. I don't think iMovie06 will work on SnowLeopard.

You may be able to use a Digital8 camcorder and if you can still find one it will probably give you better results than using an external converter because you would avoid having to use an analog connection from a Hi8 camcorder to a converter or a miniDV camcorder. (Most of the old Hi8 camcorders only had a composite video output. By playing a Hi8 tape in a Digital8 camcorder you eliminate that analog conversion in the workflow.)

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Answer 2

Sweeper11 Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 1, 2010 2:51 PM in response to MartinR

Martin, thank you for your quick response and recommendations. I should of purchased the Canopus ADVC-300 converter for my Betamax and VHS tapes instead of the Elegato USB capture. Sometimes I noticed that the audio and video were off abit or not in complete synch. The ADVC-300 supports locked audio assuring perfect audio and video synchronization.

I will definitely look into iMovie 06 and Final Cut Express.

So, for my clarification, if I find a Digital8 camcorder with a Firewire interface and connect it to my Mac Pro for the capture or import using iMovie 06 or Final Cut Express application, I should be fine?

This is the refurbished Sony Digital8 camcorder (backward compatible with Video8 & Hi8) I'm looking to purchase for the analog conversions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370348027667&ssPageName=STRK: MEWAX:IT

Thanks again for your help and support,
Dave

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Answer 3

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Apr 1, 2010 3:15 PM in response to Sweeper11

Just to reinforce what martin said earlier -

If you use the Digital 8 cam, the Canopus ADVC 300 is not really required. The camera will do the analog to DV conversion for you.

If you want to take advantage of the Time Base Corrector (which does an ok job but will not fix really badly out of wack images) be sure to use a SVHS cable to connect the analog video out from the camera to the Canopus. Hi8 is capable of recording 400 lines of resolution (compared to 240 for VHS/Video 8) and you want to use the highest quality connection to get all that bandwidth to the DV converter. (Video8 is essentially the same junk as VHS - you could transfer it over a rubber band and it would look no worse ... lol)

Good luck,

x

fwiw I have a good Hi8 cam that I still occasionally use as the third cam for general background video in multicam recording situations. It has 3 good CCD chips and with a good conversion, it looks better than some DV. Unfortunately it doesn't scale up as well to the HD formats.

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Answer 4

MartinR

Level 7

24,432 points

Apr 1, 2010 5:07 PM in response to Sweeper11

+" ... I should of purchased the Canopus ADVC-300 converter for my Betamax and VHS tapes instead of the Elegato USB capture ..."+

Yeah, well, the Pennsylvania Dutch have an old saying that is ever so true ... "I get too soon old and too late smart...".

If it were only not true in my own life!

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Answer 5

Sweeper11 Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 1, 2010 5:51 PM in response to MartinR

@ Martin & Studio X: Lolol, thank you both for your input, feedback and recommendations.

From now on, I'm going to be hitting up the forums before I start my video projects. Nowadays, there are so tapes, video formats, converters, camcorders, interoperability and compatibility issues and then on top of that, selecting the right video editing software, geez...

I just purchased a refurbished Sony Digital8 camcorder and can't wait to start capturing the tapes. I'm glad you guys are here and appreciate your help and support. =)

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Answer 6

MartinR

Level 7

24,432 points

Apr 1, 2010 6:30 PM in response to Sweeper11

Good luck with your projects. I too am in the midst of 'preserving' family videos (in my case from VHS). So far all the tapes are good and the captures are fine, except for 1 tape that appears to be warped, as the captures from it come out all red. Still working on that one. Fortunately, the Mothers' Day I am targeting for delivery is still a year away ... !

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Answer 7

Jun 2, 2010 5:33 PM in response to Sweeper11

Oddly I have been able to capture video using a Sony Hi8 Camcorder playing Hi8 Analog and plain 8mm analog tape using an old IMovie. Final Cut seems to preview it just fine but spends its time searching for nonexisting time code when asked to import. I have not had luck using the pass-through method lately, I am not sure what the trouble is. Probably I am forgetting how I succeeded in the past. It is becoming clear that if I ever am going to use this footage I better get it digital soon.
So I capture using Imovie and then import the movies and edit in Final Cut.
Yet another reason to keep my old computers around.

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