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Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Specific to Premiere Elements version 15

Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby john a » Fri Jan 13, 2017 7:09 pm

Hi there Group

I've been chasing my electronic tail for a couple of months now using different
methods and devices to convert my Hi-8 Tapes cleanly to PRE 15.
Can someone PLEASE suggest a converter THAT JUST PLAIN WORKS ?

Thanks
John Alexander
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby Steve Grisetti » Fri Jan 13, 2017 10:06 pm

My recommendation? A backward compatible Sony Digital 8 camcorder. They play old 8mm and Hi 8 movies just as if they were Digital 8 -- which is essentially the same digital data of miniDV. The video can then be captured by a program like WinDV (free) over a FireWire connection.

Needless to say, they don't make 8mm, Hi8 or Digital 8 camcorders anymore, but Digital 8 camcorders can be had fairly cheaply on eBay. Just make sure it's a Sony and that it's listed as backward compatible.
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby sidd finch » Sat Jan 14, 2017 10:02 am

The Sony camera is the way to go. Also be sure to use the correct settings in the camera to pass the data through the firewire connection.

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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby Steve Grisetti » Sat Jan 14, 2017 11:35 am

Here's an example of one for about $120.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-DCR-TRV240 ... SwEzxYdqnq

I know you may be tempted to go for a cheaper route. Some analog-to-DVD converter for instance. But if you want the smoothest workflow and the best quality, trust Sidd and me. A backwards compatible Sony digital 8 is the way to go!
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby john a » Thu Jan 19, 2017 5:54 pm

Hi Guys

Good advice

After you sorted out my Burner Software problem, my Sony CCD VX3 camera backed it in.
The Canon camera or my buddy's Panasonic just didn't seem to cut it.
So, I found another old Sony VX3 on, guess where, it should arrive in a week or so.
I'll let you know how this Saga ends.

John Alexander
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby Steve Grisetti » Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:00 pm

But isn't the Sony VX3 a Hi-8 camcorder? If so, that doesn't really solve the issue of how to digitize the video and copy it to your computer for editing, right?

Only a Digital 8 camcorder with backwards compatibility will help you do that.
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby john a » Sun Jan 22, 2017 3:45 pm

Hi Guys

The saga so far:
- Bought a Roxio converter for my Sony VX3 Hi8
- It didn’t recognize the DVD burner in my computer
- Bought a ASUS external DVD burner
- It’s software didn’t recognize PE 15
- FOUND YOU GUYS
- Down loaded ImgBurn
- EVERYTHING WORKED FINE
- THEN the VX3 Packs It In, No Play BACK
- Bought a Canon camera
- Terrible PE 15 preview screen image
- I got fixated on the converter as the problem
- You guys recommend different camera
- So I found another VX3, arrives in a week or so
I'm sure this will work but I am intrigued by your suggestion to get
a Backwards Compatible camera.
I understand Downward Compatibility ie: AutoCad
How do I tell this with a Camera ?
My Grand Mother would say I was the kind of guy
who wears Suspenders AND a Belt.
Want to be ready if and when the New, Old VX3 fails.

Thanks again
John Alexander
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby Steve Grisetti » Sun Jan 22, 2017 8:15 pm

8mm and Hi8 camcorders are NOT digital. They are analog -- virtually the same as VHS and Super VHS. So, if you want to get the video into your computer, you need some sort of digitizer.

There are universal digitizers -- like the Grass Valley AVDC -- which will turn any input into a digital file.

But, with 8mm and Hi8, the easiest option is to use a Digital 8 camcorder. Digital 8 camcorders where the 8mm equivalent of miniDV, the first digital home camcorder format. Like miniDV, the video was always digital (a computer file) on the camcorder, so all you had to do was attach the camcorder to your computer with a FireWire cable and the digital video information would just port right from the camcorder to your computer.

The advantage of Digital 8 was that many of Sony's earliest Digital 8 camcorders could also play 8mm and Hi8 videos -- so you could stream even 8 mm and Hi8 video directly from the camcorder to your computer, just as if it were a Digital 8 video.

If you buy another Hi8 camcorder, you're still going to need to buy a device like the Grass Valley AVDC to turn the Hi8 analog video into a digital video file.

But if you buy a backward compatible Sony Digital 8 camcorder, you can just drop your 8mm, Hi8 or Digital 8 videos into the camcorder and capture directly from the camcorder to your computer.

Does that makes sense?

There are two challenges with this solution, however:
1) The Digital 8 video format fizzled out about 10 years ago. And some of the later Digital 8 camcorders couldn't even play Hi8 videos. Fortunately, there are still old models available on eBay for relatively little cost (about $200).
2) The IEEE-1394 FireWire port is also kind of obsolete. Most newer computers don't include a FireWire port. Fortunately, you can buy a FireWire card on Amazon for less than $20, drop it into your computer and be good to go.

If all of this sounds a bit convoluted, it's just kind of the nature of working with a video format like Hi8, that's nearly 15 years old. That's a long time, technology-wise. There is still support out there -- but you often have to dig up some hard to find hardware to make it work.
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby john a » Wed Jan 25, 2017 8:52 pm

Hi

Yes, you make perfect sense.

I remember someone mentioning a new format, Digital to Tape.
I didn't give it to much thought, had the VX3 and just kept on shooting.

It never occurred to me that a Digital 8 would play an Analog tape.
I've done some research on Ebay and have found several Digital 8's
with traditional AV and S Video outputs.

Also found a couple of Analog to Digital converters.

My computer is an All in One Lenovo so, no card upgrade.
I did some research into the FIREWIRE connection thing,
looked for External units and then got a bit lost.

The New, Old VX3 arrives in few days and should work with the ROXIO converter.

I've got 70 tapes with maybe 10 great hours of Canadian Arctic stuff to digitize so,
one way or another this phase of the project will get done. I'd like to start the editing part
and get lost in it.

You guys as always have been a great help to this old dog. Thanks
I'll let you know how it goes.

John Alexander
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby Steve Grisetti » Wed Jan 25, 2017 9:16 pm

Now that FireWire ports are no longer standard issue on computer systems, we'll need to look for alternative ways to capture tape-based formats. So we very much look forward to hearing how your system works, John!
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby sidd finch » Wed Jan 25, 2017 9:36 pm

You can always get a PCMCIA firewire card.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... lsrc=aw.ds

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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby Peru » Thu Jan 26, 2017 9:49 am

sidd finch wrote:You can always get a PCMCIA firewire card.


I don't think that will work with an all-in-one.
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby Chuck Engels » Thu Jan 26, 2017 1:58 pm

I don't know any laptops that have PCMCIA ports anymore...
1. Thinkpad W530 Laptop, Core i7-3820QM Processor 8M Cache 3.70 GHz, 16 GB DDR3, NVIDIA Quadro K1000M 2GB Memory.

2. Cybertron PC - Liquid Cooled AMD FX6300, 6 cores, 3.50ghz - 32GB DDR3 - MSI GeForce GTX 960 Gaming 4G, 4GB Video Ram, 1024 Cuda Cores.
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby john a » Thu Mar 16, 2017 2:17 pm

Hi Guys

John Alexander Here again, been a couple of months.

You may remember me from such memorable E-mails as:

Why does my Preview Screen look like a Zebra Convention?

What Analog to Digital converter works with PE 15?
The replacement Canon ES 8400 Hi8 and Roxio converter
just aren’t cutting it.

And

I found a Sony VX3 Hi8 to replace the my old one that worked fine,
But in case of trouble what do you suggest?

Well, the camera arrived, very used, which was just fine if the damm
thing would play back! (In discussion with E-Bay)

So, as per my comment about wearing Suspenders and a Belt,
I followed your suggestions,
Bought an old Sony TRV510 Digital Hi8 (backward compatible) and a
Pinnacle “Dazzle” Converter.

The whole system is now working GREAT
I down loaded an hour of Dinosaur Dig footage (in 15 minute chunks)
and can now start to play with PE 15 and YOUR great book.

I have to once again THANK you guys for the help and guidance.
I hope in the future all I have are dumb editing questions.

John Alexander
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Re: Hi-8 Tape to Digital Converters

Postby Steve Grisetti » Thu Mar 16, 2017 3:06 pm

Glad you got it all working, John!
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