I've seen this question asked many times....but never quite get the answers I am looking for.
I have fourteen years worth of Hi8 tapes (Canon A1 camcorder and Sony TRV99). I would like to copy all of them to preserve and archive them in the highest possible quality. (I will edit video later.)
I would presume that I want to get it into the DVD format somehow.
I will spend whatever it takes (within reason, less than $5000) to make the highest quality recordings I can.
1) I would imagine my playback source makes a difference. I can record off my TRV-99 using the S-Video ouptut. Would it be beneficial to purchase a Hi8 player or Digital 8 player (or camcorder) that offers alternate outputs: e.g., component video outputs or Firewire / USB 2.0? Any specific recommendations?
2) Will I obtain the best video quality via DVD recorder in my computer or a stand alone DVD recorder? Given the large number of tapes I am dealing with, I would assume there would be a real advantage to the stand-alone DVD recorder. Again, any specific recommendations are appreciated.
3) Will DVD format effect quality in any way or effect the life expectancy of the DVD recording? I can purchase / use whatever is required.

Please let me know if I am leaving anything out or if you require additional information.

Thanks for your help.

JREED

JREED, you didn't say whether you expect to edit the video before it lands on the dvd.

Using your old camera you could buy a digital video converter from someone like Canopus. They have different levels of equipment. Like this: http://www.canopus.us/US/products/i...oduct_index.asp

Also, a D8 camcorder that is backward compatible to Hi8 is one way to do the job. Sony makes one. The output will be digital.

You could also buy a DV camcorder that has av inputs and use its firewire (digital) output.

I can't speak of standalone recorders.

Will you make multiple copies of each?

If you really want to keep a master copy you could move you master copy to the next generation format by recording to DV tapes and still make the dvd's. The DV tapes are digital and lossless. Then in a couple more years as DV tape equipment is disappearing you could move your master copies to the next generation format.

1) I would imagine my playback source makes a difference. I can record off my TRV-99 using the S-Video ouptut. Would it be beneficial to purchase a Hi8 player or Digital 8 player (or camcorder) that offers alternate outputs: e.g., component video outputs or Firewire / USB 2.0? Any specific recommendations?

Your playback source could make a difference. Consider that all MiniDV (and Digital8) camcorders have internal analog to digital (A/D) circuits. I have never seen where poor video quality was caused by poor A/D performance of a properly functioning camcorder. I have never seen any real test results of A/D testing of camcorders and A/D boxes such as the Canopus which is regarded as good in the price range. There have been some poor quality A/D boxes on the market in the past, I assume some still exist. You don't need a variety of outputs. You need to digitize your analog sources as DV-AVI. I would go with a good quality MiniDV camcorder, play your analog sources from your existing analog recorders through the MiniDV to a computer via Firewire. This is refered to "analog to digital conversion" or "Pass Through". I have routinely done "Pass through" with my Sony HC40 and TRV460 and the quality appears to the eye to be as good as the original. as S-Video can give better quality video. I have seen the differences on some setups with S-Video.

2) Will I obtain the best video quality via DVD recorder in my computer or a stand alone DVD recorder? Given the large number of tapes I am dealing with, I would assume there would be a real advantage to the stand-alone DVD recorder. Again, any specific recommendations are appreciated.

Are you trying to "preserve and archive them in the highest possible quality or create good DVD's or both.

I will assume both. I would digitize my video as above keeping the data in DV-AVI format and write them back to MiniDV tape for archiving. I would create DVD's basically in the fashion Dennis has described here: DVD tutorial

I don't see any advantage for me to use a stand-alone DVD recorder. I use internal units.

3) Will DVD format effect quality in any way or effect the life expectancy of the DVD recording? I can purchase / use whatever is required.

The DVD format will not affect the quality of the video but it can affect compatability on players as can the media used.

There will be different opinions on the above and people can have a different work flow. The method I use is basically:

1. Transfer my video data from my camcorder to my computer as .AVI files via Firewire.

2. Edit .AVI file in editor as desired.

3. Save edited file as .AVI when you are done editing. If archiving I write the edited video to new MiniDV tape.

4. Feed the edited .AVI file to a DVD Authoring program (which encodes .AVI to MPEG-2, then make menus, then burn DVD).

Rich

Thanks for your quick feedback.

My goal is to archive the "old" recordings in the highest quality possible and to edit them later. I expect to make only one or two copies of each Hi8 tape. I probably have about 70 tapes.

Thanks again for assistance.

Sincerely, JREED

I agree with Poncho: when copying your analog tapes, use the S-Video output of your analog camcorder, using the red (right channel) and white (left channel) A/V audio cables to transfer the sound track (S-Video only transfers the video). The S-video output gives about 50-75 more lines of resolution than the A/V's yellow connector and cleaner edges of objects (no "dot-crawl" etc.).
Transferring to a "standalone" DVD Recorder is ok IF you do not intend to edit the scenes, and the MPEG2 quality may not be much worse than the Hi-8 quality. However, you will never have an archived digital "maximum quality" master to create more DVD copies. The great part in a PC is the "authoring": creating titles and chapters. I just made my 1st DVD, with a couple of dozen "chapters", one for each scene, and titled the scenes. It's quick and easy to do. Now I can jump to where ever I want in a flash. And it looks very professional: I almost amazed myself ;-)

Since you mention 2 items:

1. Highest quality possible
2, Edit later.

I think either one of these items disqualifies DVD's and disc media in general.

"Best quality possible" to me means transferring this analog video directly to digital tape. After the conversion to digital, no more compression will take place. Going to Disc media involves additional compression in most cases. Compressed Mpeg2 video can be difficult to edit so avoid this step until you are finished editing.

I think what I would do to meet your requirements is to buy 2 Digital8 camcorders (TRV260 and TRV460) and a 4-pin to 4-pin firewire cable. Connect the 2 camcorder firewire ports together with the firewire cable. Play your analog Hi8 tapes in the 460 and record them on the 260. Your Hi8 tapes are now digitized with the lowest loss possible and you can edit them at a later date. Your investment is about $600 or maybe slightly higher?

Dave

I think you just need any single MiniDV or Digital8 camcorder that has A-to-D "pass-through", not two (all but the base units in each camera line has passthrough). But pick one you will be happy to use in the future if you are giving up Hi-8 for Digital: you might as well get the quality and features you will want from now on. Buying two cheaper camcorders you may be dissatisfied with in a year is no bargain.
The ADC in a TRV460 is no better than in any other miniDV camcorder, so just plug your A-1 or other camera into a MiniDV or Digital8 that has analog-to-digital passthrough, and record to the tape in the MiniDV/Digital8 (using S-video and A/V audio) or leave the tape out of the digital camera and pass through to the PC (maybe you can do both simultaneously, but you won't have enough hard disk space for ALL your tapes (unles you have MUCH bigger hard drives than usual).

How much llines of resulution are the A/V cables?

A/V cables do not have lines of resolution.


Rich

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