Hi-8 -> comp

wakejunkie137 · Soul Rider Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 377

im just getting into video production but the only cam we have is a hi-8 cam. i dont really want to spend the 700-1000 for a mindv cam unless i have to. so i guess my question is if its possible to put hi-8 tape on the comp easily?

Nephilim · Addict Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 658 City: Ephrata, WA

yeah you just have to get a DV converter they run around $100 you arent going to get the highest quality video but it is useable.

wakejunkie137 · Soul Rider Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 377

damnit. well mayb i can get a minidv cam for graduation

Nephilim · Addict Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 658 City: Ephrata, WA

you'll be able to get good enough footage with it. It will work unless you plan on make pro quality then you'll have to spend even more then 1,000 for a nice DV cam.

MattyBoyR6 · Outlaw Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 239 City: Mesa

Look at Pinnacle Studio 8 or earlier. I know they have the converter in there. You can probably pick it up on ebay or similar for pretty cheap.

garveyj · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 877 City: Savage, MN

You can definitely use a Hi-8 camcorder, but if you burn it to a DVD you probably will not be happy with the result...the reason is because the HI-8 captures video at 340x230 (don't quote me on that number, but it is small). Mini DV, or any digital format will capture it at 720x480.

You will want to expand your video to make it fit the screen right which in effect will make the video basically do exactly what a digital zoom does...It really screws the image up. That is just what I have found....Who knows maybe I did it all wrong. Try it first though before you drop the money for a new cam.

RD · Addict Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 626 City: Discovery Bay

garveyj, sorry but your information isn't correct. Hi8 is an analog version of standard definition 720X486 video just like mini DV is a digital version of the same. If you've found in the past that your captures were scaled down to 320X240 (half size) then it was probably due to your NLE scaling it down due to bandwidth restrictions. Analog video like Hi8 wasn't designed for lossless digital transfer like DV and thus is more taxing on system resources. A lot of your video software on the low end set's itself accordingly to capture at a smaller size or higher compression because of these restraints. But Hi8 quality, given the camcorder is of the same level, is no where near as good as DV and converting it to DV to edit just degrades it more.

garveyj · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 877 City: Savage, MN

RD, Thanks for the info - everything you said makes sense....I just did not put it all together until now.