Hi all
Hope I'm posting to the right forum here, apologies. This is a bit of a confused question. I've done a few searches (here and elsewhere) but haven't found too much info and have further confused myself with what I have found.
I have some video 8 tapes that I need to capture for a client. What hardware, or possibilities do I have availible to me to do this? I currently have a Sony DV cam, and a VHS VCR.
Thank you all, and regards,
Andrew
old video capture requirements?
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andrewgerm
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Ron P.
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What model of Sony DV cam? It may have Pass-through capability. If so you use it to convert the analog VHS to digital (DV). This is the method that I use.
Are the "video 8 tapes" digital video or Hi-8 (analog)?
If your camcorder does have pass-through, and Firewire, and your PC has a Firewire port or card, then the camcorder should play the tapes. I say should, if your camcorder is digital 8. If it is an Hi-8, and the tapes are digital then it will not play them.
You might want to read through From Camcorder to DVD tutorial.
A Recommended Workflow has been developed to help guide you through the mine-field of video editing, as it pertains to Ulead's VideoStudio Programs. They can be viewed here:
Recommened WorkFlow for VideoStudio
Are the "video 8 tapes" digital video or Hi-8 (analog)?
If your camcorder does have pass-through, and Firewire, and your PC has a Firewire port or card, then the camcorder should play the tapes. I say should, if your camcorder is digital 8. If it is an Hi-8, and the tapes are digital then it will not play them.
You might want to read through From Camcorder to DVD tutorial.
A Recommended Workflow has been developed to help guide you through the mine-field of video editing, as it pertains to Ulead's VideoStudio Programs. They can be viewed here:
Recommened WorkFlow for VideoStudio
Ron Petersen, Web Board Administrator
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andrewgerm
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Hi, and thanks for the reply.
Thanks for the mention, and yes, I have read the tutorials. Very helpful when I was first starting out doing just DV to DVD, and VHS to DVD. However, as business is starting to pick up (yay) I'm getting more 'interesting' requests. I am however still operating alone, and therefore have a somewhat small budget (still hoping to get a nice render-rig soemtime).
I think, due to my not knowing the older formats that well, I havn't given the right, or enough details. The tapes actually state 'video 8' on them. They are physically larger than my mini-DV tapes (I guess DV and mini-DV are different, excuse the ignorance).
My cam is a Sony DCR-HC26. It does not have pass through for AV, however I have an analogue capture card in the PC, as well as having the VCR connected via a PyroAV Link device to the FireWire.
I would guess, going by the fact that the client has probably had the tapes between 10 and 12 years, and that they are home videos, that they are analogue. Am I able to load these somehow via a converter into my VCR? I sort of remember there being these adaptors that you put the tapes in which would allow you to play them on a standard VCR?
Thanks for the mention, and yes, I have read the tutorials. Very helpful when I was first starting out doing just DV to DVD, and VHS to DVD. However, as business is starting to pick up (yay) I'm getting more 'interesting' requests. I am however still operating alone, and therefore have a somewhat small budget (still hoping to get a nice render-rig soemtime).
I think, due to my not knowing the older formats that well, I havn't given the right, or enough details. The tapes actually state 'video 8' on them. They are physically larger than my mini-DV tapes (I guess DV and mini-DV are different, excuse the ignorance).
My cam is a Sony DCR-HC26. It does not have pass through for AV, however I have an analogue capture card in the PC, as well as having the VCR connected via a PyroAV Link device to the FireWire.
I would guess, going by the fact that the client has probably had the tapes between 10 and 12 years, and that they are home videos, that they are analogue. Am I able to load these somehow via a converter into my VCR? I sort of remember there being these adaptors that you put the tapes in which would allow you to play them on a standard VCR?
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Ron P.
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- processor: 3.40 gigahertz Intel Core i7-4770
- ram: 16GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 645
- sound_card: NVIDIA High Definition Audio
- Hard_Drive_Capacity: 4TB
- Monitor/Display Make & Model: 1-HP 27" IPS, 1-Sanyo 21" TV/Monitor
- Corel programs: VS5,8.9,10-X5,PSP9-X8,CDGS-9,X4,Painter
- Location: Kansas, USA
The Hi-8 and Digital-8mm tapes are the basically the same. As I stated you can play a Hi-8 tape in a Digital-8 camcorder, however not vice-versa. The downside of having either 8mm or Mini-DV is that you need a comparable camcorder. You can't play Video-8 (Hi-8 or Digital) on a Mini-DV and vice-versa, of course you already know that due to the sizes.
So for your client, you will need either a Hi-8 or Digital 8 camcorder to get the video clips off of it. If you need to pick one up, I would look for a Digital-8 that has pass-through. I use Sony's DCR-TRV120, which I picked up off Ebay about 3 yrs ago for $200 (US). This is the only way that I know, unless you have a HUGE budget.
Might ask your client if he/she still has the camcorder used to shoot that video footage. If so just explain that you don't have one at your disposal, and you could use his/hers to download the video from the tape. Unless your service is real expensive, then tell them that's why you don't charge a lot to do this. If you had the means to deal with all possible formats then you would have to charge a great deal more. (It's called baffle them with B.S. )
So for your client, you will need either a Hi-8 or Digital 8 camcorder to get the video clips off of it. If you need to pick one up, I would look for a Digital-8 that has pass-through. I use Sony's DCR-TRV120, which I picked up off Ebay about 3 yrs ago for $200 (US). This is the only way that I know, unless you have a HUGE budget.
Might ask your client if he/she still has the camcorder used to shoot that video footage. If so just explain that you don't have one at your disposal, and you could use his/hers to download the video from the tape. Unless your service is real expensive, then tell them that's why you don't charge a lot to do this. If you had the means to deal with all possible formats then you would have to charge a great deal more. (It's called baffle them with B.S. )
Ron Petersen, Web Board Administrator
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andrewgerm
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Thank you again; looks like that's the solution to go with.
I've been shopping around some of the second hand stores, basically just browsing to see what's going. so I'll keep a look out for one of those (or try eBay as a later choice; shipping most get the goods stolen).
I'm sure they'll oblige if they still have the cam. A lot of my clients are people I meet on set, or friends, or friends-of-friends, so I try keep things at a reasonable rate. No huge buget at all.
Regards,
Andrew
I've been shopping around some of the second hand stores, basically just browsing to see what's going. so I'll keep a look out for one of those (or try eBay as a later choice; shipping most get the goods stolen).
I'm sure they'll oblige if they still have the cam. A lot of my clients are people I meet on set, or friends, or friends-of-friends, so I try keep things at a reasonable rate. No huge buget at all.
Regards,
Andrew