If you're not using the original camcorder, or the same model, I tend to recommend early 2000s Sony DCR-TRV Digital8 Handycams for transfer. I've had many over the years, they don't seem to differ much. If yours does not, pick up a good reviewed PCI FireWire card. If this isn't possible, just make sure you purchase a camcorder that has a FireWire port. Ideally, if you have the original camcorder that was used to record the footage, it will be the best bet for playback. You're adding complexity that isn't needed and won't improve your end file. Do not go plugging in analog RCA cables and hooking up cheap Eas圜ap cards for digital tapes. Because the tape content is digital, you want to keep the entire transfer chain digital. The basic setup for transferring digital tapes is a camcorder/deck and a FireWire card. As the tape plays, digital data is transmitted to your computer just like moving a file from a hard drive or tape backup. This means that transferring these tapes is less like "capturing" and more like a "file transfer". With some luck your files will be 1:1 copies of the original footage.ĭigital8 and miniDV camcorders write digital data directly to the tape. Digital tapes: Digital8 & miniDVĬongrats! These tapes tend to be easier to handle. Some camcorders will only play either analog or digital tapes. Newer Digital8 camcorders will display the tape format when you play it. If the tape was recorded pre-1999, it's likely analog. How do I know if my 8mm tape is analog or digital? VHS, VHSC, Video8 8mm cassettes, and HI8 8mm cassettes are analog. miniDV and Digital8 8mm cassettes are digital. These common tape formats can be split into two categories which will drastically change the way you capture your footage: Analog tapes and digital tapes. This post will cover the common formats you're likely to deal with: VHS, VHSC, HI8, Video8, Digital8, and miniDV. As with most things, you get what you pay for, and the higher the quality you desire the more you're going to go down a rabbit hole of information. The way in which you digitize your tapes is going to depend on the tape format and the quality you wish to achieve. I frequent this sub and spend a lot of time transferring tapes for various communities, here's my setup: Basics I'll be making updates if anyone has strong opinions or things to add. Hopefully this thread will serve the purpose of providing basic and in depth info and options for digitizing common video tapes. I see this question asked on DataHoarder a couple times a week, mostly with the same good and bad answers. Why a "How do I digitize/transfer/capture video tapes" thread? Just make sure to tag the post with the flair and give a little background info/context. On Fridays we'll allow posts that don't normally fit in the usual data-hoarding theme, including posts that would usually be removed by rule 4: “No memes or 'look at this '” We are not your personal archival army.No unapproved sale threads or advertisement posts.
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No memes or 'look at this old storage medium/ connection speed/purchase' (except on Free Post Fridays).Search the Internet, this subreddit and our wiki before posting.And we're trying really hard not to forget.ģ.3v Pin Reset Directions :D / Alt Imgur link Along the way we have sought out like-minded individuals to exchange strategies, war stories, and cautionary tales of failures. Everyone has their reasons for curating the data they have decided to keep (either forever or For A Damn Long Timetm). government or corporate espionage), cultural and familial archivists, internet collapse preppers, and people who do it themselves so they're sure it's done right. Among us are represented the various reasons to keep data - legal requirements, competitive requirements, uncertainty of permanence of cloud services, distaste for transmitting your data externally (e.g.