How to convert Hi8 to iMac? Have 2 video cameras: Sony CCD-YRV98 video Hi8 and Panasonic SDR-SW20 digital video. Please provide the steps to convert to iMovie '11. Also, is there a way to burn in blu-ray?

Hi

If You got a Digital-8 Camera then it should be able to play the Hi-8 tapes

and it will connect to Your Mac via - FireWire Cable also named - IEEE 1394 - i.Link (SONY) - DV Terminal (by Panasonic)

This is a MUST - USB WILL NOT WORK - at all

If Your Mac don't have a FireWire-400 or FireWire-800 port - You also need a FW to Thunderbolt converter - Apple Store knows what this is.

Then - as You aim for Blu-Ray You most probably want max Quality possibly - eventually mix in photos and other material in HD-Quality - You also MUST use a Video-Editing program that can handle this.

iMovie'08 (v.7.0.x) or iMovie'09 (v.8.0.x) or iMovie'11 (v.9.0.x) - CAN NOT DO THIS as they all degrades the Interlaced SD-Video Quality from the Digital-8 Camera when going from Event's to Project's (can not be restored later in process)

You need to use

• iMovie 1 to HD6 (for Interlaced SD-Video Quality - and iM 5HD and 6HD can handle HD quality)

• or FinalCut any version

Then iDVD can only burn DVD Standard (best DVD can be) = Interlaced SD-Quality

You then need something like Roxio Toast™ incl BD-bundle AND a Blu-Ray burner and BD-Disks to be able to burn Blu-Ray Disks. (one can do short (about 20-30 minutes) BD-code onto standard DVD disks but no more)

Good Luck

Yours Bengt W

And if your Sony Hi8 camcorder doesn't have a Firewire connection (I didn't see it listed in the specs) try to obtain a Hi8 camcorder from eBay that does have Firewire.

Both your camcorders record in SD resolution, so creating a BluRay out of their movies may be a bit overkill.

Not if You add photos and other HD-material. Then it will be a very good way to get best possibly result.

Yours Bengt W

Sony Hi8 camcorder

No it is an Analog Camera - and have NO Digital-Out

I may be made a Wrongful assumption in that the - Panasonic digital camcorder - was a Digital 8 Camera.

If it is - it has a Digital Out (FireWire) and can playback the Hi 8 tapes from the other Camera.

If it is a miniDV Camera - it also have a FW-out (Digital out) - BUT can not play Your Hi 8 tapes.

Then there are not so many ways to do this.

If Your Panasonic digital camcorder - Has Analog in RECORDING ( not all have this, it was an EXTRA Cost ! ) - Then You can playback from the Hi 8 Camera to this and record onto a miniDV tape - to be played and Captured/Imported into Your Mac.

The Panasonic digital camcorder - Might have a feature - Play trough - that makes it possibly to use it as an Analog - Digital bridge - some can do this - But You've not told the exact type/no: etc - So I can not guess.

If this still do not work (The Panasonic digital camcorder do not have an Analog in connection/function)
- Then You need an Analog/Digita Converting box - from Hi 8 to this A/D-box then to Mac via FireWire.

There are several types and prices - I got a fairly expensive box due to that I've lot's of old VHS tapes in even bad quality. And this - Canopus ADVC-300 - has a function - Timebase Correction - that helps a lot in regard to drop outs and Audio slowly going out of sync. I just keeps perfect even over several Hours of VHS-tapes.

Yours Bengt W

Con't... I also have a S Video out on the camcorder.

NO

S-Video is still Analog but with a higher quality - BUT Analog.

Yours Bengt W

Some more info

Your Sony will not have DV out as it is an analogue camcorder.

Your Panasonic will not have DV out as it is not a DV or HDV camcorder.So this will not convert your Hi8

Do you know anybody that has a DV camcorder that you can borrow?

Quite alot of them have the ability to perform analogue to digital pass-through which perform the same function as the Canopus devices that Bengt mentioned. Alot of the Sony DV camcorders do this quite well, and you can check the Sony site to see if it has the pass-through facility... AV to DV out

Not sure what version of iMovie you are using. The more recent versions seem to be a bit flaky with analogue to digital converters, so try to borrow a converter ( Canopus? ) or a Sony camcorder that can perform the pass-through before you spend alot of money, ( even a used Canopus 300 can run into £300 / €300, with the 50 or 110 being somewhat cheaper.

Can you record from TV with the Panasonic Camera.

If so - it has got Analog in - and can record from the Sony Hi 8 Camera to Your SD-Card (in the Panasonic)

This SD-Card can be read via USB or a SD-Card-reader into Your Mac

If it can not - then Your only options are

• A/D-box

• or Digital Video Camera with Analog in

• or find someone with a Digital-8 Camera and use this

Yours Bengt W

So if I find a cheap Sony DV camcorder on ebay, it will do the job just fine?

NO - Mostof them do not have - Analog in - function. You need to cheque carefully for this - as it costs extra and few bought it and it can not be turned on later.

Reg. SD-Card - Just put it into Your Mac and Import material this way.

Yours Bengt W