8mm to digtal

S

sum101

New member
Hi everyone,

This is my first post in this forum, I hope someone can help (and I am posting it in the right place!).

I have looked around and found a few similar posts but I was wondering if I could have some more advice.

I have some 8mm camera footage that I want to convert into a digital format and edit on my computer. I don't have a clue where to begin, what I need or anything!! Would someone be able to help me, in the most simple terms possible. I was wondering if you could let me know:

What hardware I will need for the transfer
How I can transfer
What is the best format to store the footage as
What software you would recommend to edit the film with.

I have used Flash and Director before and I would ideally like to add animations and other effects onto the film.

I hope someone can help.

Thanks everyone,

Stu
 
rebootjim

rebootjim

Member
Hi, and Welcome!
First thing, you need some hardware.
Depending on what sort of outputs your Hi8 player has, you need some way to get it into the computer. The last time I played with acetate film, I used the Dazzle150, and rented a projector that had the right outputs.
Once you've got it on the hard drive, you can edit it in lots of different apps. Some are free. I use Virtualdub on avi, and Womble on mpeg.
Once you've got it edited, what do you plan on doing with it? Burn to (S)VCD/DVD?
 
L

LTR12101B

1
8mm tape, or 8mm film?

If it's tape, then you'll need a capture card (which may include "lite" versions of suitable software).

If it's film, then your best bet is to have it telecined professionally, but at a pinch, you can project it and video from the screen, though that introduces trapezoid error from the position difference.
 
ipdave

ipdave

1
For a no-brainer, try Pinnacle Studio 9.0 with the breakout (capture) box to plug in your RCA audio/video cables. Will capture and burn to DVD if you don't want to edit, or you can edit and save to MPG and author to DVD format (.IFO and .VOBs) to burn with your favorite software...
 
S

sum101

New member
Thank you

Thanks for all the help everyone, I will check out the various options. I don't think i was clear, it is 8mm film from a camcorder, is that the right way to say it??

Thanks again,

Stu :)
 
rebootjim

rebootjim

Member
What we're trying to figure out, is this actual acetate film, that requires a movie projector, with the reels, or is this tape, as in a casette (Sony) that fits into the cam.
If it's 8mm film, then you need to find a projector that has outputs, or have it digitized professionally, unless you want to videotape the movie as it plays on a projection screen.
If it's tape, then the camera should be able to play it back, and should also have the outputs on it, to capture it to the computer. This is where the Dazzle (or other capture device) comes in.
If it's acetate film, then you should probably get a shop to put it into a digital format of some sort, and then you can read it on your computer, and edit as you like.
 
L

LTR12101B

1
A camcorder, that would be tape (Video8/Hi8)

Oh boy! it's confusing though....
http://www.simplydv.co.uk/Formats/8mm.html - 8mm Analogue video - needs capture card, or tuner card with capture capability, or graphics card with "All in Wonder" or "ViVo" capability.

http://www.simplydv.co.uk/Formats/DVandD8.html - Digital8 (and all other DV tape formats) would be fed through a digital connection (Firewire = i-Link = IEEE1394) - where USB is provided, it's usually only for stills transfer

8mm FILM format (Standard 8 / Super 8) would need projection and camcorder filming - though the quality could be iffy.

Since you just said "camcorder", I'm guessing it's the analogue format (Video8/Hi8) as the 8mm digital is nowhere near as common.
 
rebootjim

rebootjim

Member
I was guessing 8mm analog tape as well.
Would be nice to know exactly what make and model of cam, so we can see what sort of outputs it's got (if any).
 
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