If so I have some questions...I am trying to future-proof/preserve home movies and I'd like some pointers. My movies are in the home of Hi-8 and Video-8 tapes and VHS. I'd like to have them put into a lossless format which could work as a "new master" from which further lossless conversions could be made in the future.
Does anyone know anything about video preservation?
- Thread starter Commander Kielbasa
- Start date
Do you have a computer set-up that would allow you to plug a VHS player in? It usually requires a special card (Hauppage) make some good ones.
You'd also need a good capture app that could record in whatever format you want. I think PowerDirector can capture from an outside source like a VHS player.
These Hi-8 & Video-8 tapes, they can be put into a VHS machine with an adaptor, right? They're the actual tapes from a camcorder?
You'd also need a good capture app that could record in whatever format you want. I think PowerDirector can capture from an outside source like a VHS player.
These Hi-8 & Video-8 tapes, they can be put into a VHS machine with an adaptor, right? They're the actual tapes from a camcorder?
They can also be copied onto DVD with a combo-recorder, should you be able to get acceess to one. In our local ad paper there're usually one or two ads offering copying VHS and other older formats onto DVD or digital format, for a fee of course (though, I imagine, still cheaper than buying all the necessary stuff for yourself). Maybe there're ads in your local paper?!
Those tape players that copy to DVD don't really do that good a job. For the best quality a capture card is the only way to go.
I've been working on transferring video from VHS, digital 8 and miniDV tape for several years. I do not have any experience with dedicated capture cards. I'm sure they're fine.
I would caution you to stay away from USB based transfer. I had several issues with VHS audio / video synching correctly with a USB system. I believe that this is because USB is not dedicated to the capture process as it continually 'polls' existing USB ports for potential activity. I used USB 2.0 exclusively. I know that 3.0 is faster, but I do not know if it would behave any better in regard to avoiding synching issues.
I ended up getting a Firewire card. Although this is somewhat dated technology, it works well and is 'dedicated.' Further, the cards are relatively cheap and my digital 8 and miniDV camcorders were equipped with Firewire ports. Also, the miniDV camera had an analog to digital passthrough circuit on it that allowed me to connect a VHS player to the camera and easily digitize VHS tapes.
I've used Sony Movie Studio software to capture, edit and create DVDs. It works very well and is pretty powerful in regard to editing. It may be more than you need, but it is reasonably priced and, like most software, you can just use the features you want and ignore the rest.
Last suggestion I have is VLC Media Player. It's freeware that will allow you to put DVD video on a flash drive and have it behave exactly as it would on a DVD player - choose chapters, etc. You can put more than one video on a flash drive. All you need is sufficient capacity and separate folders to hold each video along with its own copy of the VLC player. It will run on hard drives as well. Again, all you need to do is set up separate folders.
I would caution you to stay away from USB based transfer. I had several issues with VHS audio / video synching correctly with a USB system. I believe that this is because USB is not dedicated to the capture process as it continually 'polls' existing USB ports for potential activity. I used USB 2.0 exclusively. I know that 3.0 is faster, but I do not know if it would behave any better in regard to avoiding synching issues.
I ended up getting a Firewire card. Although this is somewhat dated technology, it works well and is 'dedicated.' Further, the cards are relatively cheap and my digital 8 and miniDV camcorders were equipped with Firewire ports. Also, the miniDV camera had an analog to digital passthrough circuit on it that allowed me to connect a VHS player to the camera and easily digitize VHS tapes.
I've used Sony Movie Studio software to capture, edit and create DVDs. It works very well and is pretty powerful in regard to editing. It may be more than you need, but it is reasonably priced and, like most software, you can just use the features you want and ignore the rest.
Last suggestion I have is VLC Media Player. It's freeware that will allow you to put DVD video on a flash drive and have it behave exactly as it would on a DVD player - choose chapters, etc. You can put more than one video on a flash drive. All you need is sufficient capacity and separate folders to hold each video along with its own copy of the VLC player. It will run on hard drives as well. Again, all you need to do is set up separate folders.
Agreed on the USB capture process. I bought a Pinnacle setup several years ago, and had a lot of sync issues.
I have a simpler USB-to-RCA dongle I've never actually used.
I have a simpler USB-to-RCA dongle I've never actually used.
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