transferring video from hi8 camcorder

I have looked at the video converters (if that's what you mean by hardware). Many seem clunky or degrade the image quality. Best option I have found seems to be to try and capture into FCP going via a mini DV cmcorder. I have already tried (successfully) transferring hi 8 tapes to Mini DV tapes but it is time consuming. Have not yet tied simply using the Mini DV as a "digitiser" without a tape.

You seem to suggest that I don't waste my time trying to find an analogue video/stereo cable with a firewire or USB at the other end, as this won't work?

A Digital-8 camera can replay 8mm/Hi-8 footage and carries a FireWire output.

If you can track one down??

This type of camera is a bridge between the analogue and digital cams.

A mini DV camera will work as an A/D Converter as long as it has analogue inputs.

This method is known as "pass through".

BTW: Most Hi-8 footage does not carry timecode, that's why FCP X will not capture.

QuickTime X will work of QT Pro if you have that option.

Al

Since Hi8 is an analog format, you have a hardware problem, not a software problem. Perhaps some later-model Hi-8 camcorders had a Firewire (I think Sony called it iLink) output...I assume yours doesn't.

When I had a similar situation, the easiest (e.g., cheapest) thing to do was to use a DV camcorder as a translator, importing into video editing software. My Canon DV had a menu setting that turned its AV outputs into AV inputs. Take the video and audio outputs from the Hi8 and plug them into the DV, then the FW out of the DV connects to your Mac. If I recall, there was a little bit of hassle getting the Import function to work without a DV tape in the Canon, but somehow it worked.

Otherwise, there are various boxes/cards that can convert analog AV to a digital format that you could buy, or send the tapes to a transfer house that has a high-end converter.

I just hooked up my old Sony DCR-TRV120 NTSC hi-8 digital camcorder to my iMac using Sony's FireWire (i.LINK) cable. Loaded video to an old version of iMovie, shared it to QT7 and transfered file to FCPX.

Even if your Sony is analog, I would think you should be able to do the same.

David

Dtinen is essentially correct. Your Hi-8 camcorder is analog and you will need an analog-to-didgital converter to get your video into the computer. As Dtinen indicates, having a tape-based digital camcorder is one way to do the conversion. However, tape-based digital camcorders are hard to find these days. The good news is that there are a few relatively inexpensive converters available. Here are two:

http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/products/Video-Capture/product1.en.html

This device will connect the analog outputs on your Hi-8 camcorder and create an mpeg file in your computer using a USB input. I have no interest in Elgado and this device can be purchased in a number of outlets.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814144214&nm_mc=KNC-Google Adwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Video+Devices+%26+TV+Tuners-_-N82E16814 144214&gclid=CJ78rIjnr7UCFQYGnQodC2UAyg

This device will connect the analog outputs on your Hi-8 camcorder and create a DV stream which can be captured by iMovie using the firewire port on your computer. I have no interest in Newegg and the Canopus can be purchased in a number of online outlets,

Over the years I have successfully converted many hours of analog video using a variety of devices like these, including the digital camcorder approach. I would encourage you to keep your expectations at a reasonable level. Depending on the condition and age of the analog content, the conversion may produce less than optimum quality. Also, there is no timecode on analog video so your capture will be continuous from start to finish. I had the best results capturing the entire tape and using the editing software to create discrete clips for further storage and editing.

Good luck.

I have a Sony hi8 camcorder but it does not have an ilink cable. Do you think any analogue to firewire cable would work?

You would need hardware to digitize the media. Using the QuickTime player would work better for this than FCP.

You might try a camera as a digitizer using FireWire. USB will not work. Try QuickTime. FCP will not work.