Best way to convert Hi-8 film into Mpeg files? What kind of hardware, video card and program would i need?

Answer 1

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=580965&Sku=A03-7042
this box is best for capturing any anloge video
it not only capture but also convert that anlouge video into digital mpeg1-2
which u can use for dvd creation
also it is cheaper at tigers direct than any where else
again the name of the device is
ADS DVD Xpress USB 2.0
well one of friend have problem with rendering too
there is solution for that
some where in your editor software u can find a option donnot convert compliant mpeg files
in this way your editor would leave them just like that would not bother to convert them again
because they are alreay mpeg2 files
new ulead video studio 10 plus have wonderful option
u can tell it to render the whole project just as first clip
this is good when u have most of the video same as first video clip
in this case ulead would not render all those video clipe which match first video clip
i have amd 3400+ sempron processor
and sometime it take only 20 minutes to render 1 hour video thanks to this option

Answer 2

1) Digital 8 Video Camera
Plays and uses Hi-8 Tapes to record digital signal. Usually firewire connection back to the pc, capturable to mpeg 2 for dvd. Also plays back old Hi 8 tapes, and outputs the the computer the same way. If you plan on making more tapes, and like the Hi-8 tapes look into this. You can get Sony Digital 8 cameras for a few hundred dollars.

2) Cheap $50 TV Tuner for your PC. This is normally for watching and recording tv, but they have video inputs (svidoe and rca's). More than just video capture, so this might not be the best choice unless yo uwant to be able to watch tv also.

3) USB video capture device (RCA's in)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815100112
fopr example... a <50$ solution...

I have captured Mpeg 2 video with no frame dropping on a 1.4gHz processor from both video cameras, and tv tuners. The main goal is to cut down number of running programs, processes, and services while capturing your video. And AVOID "direct to dvd" capturing...

Answer 3

If you don't have many tapes, bring it to the photoshop (or even walgreen's photocenter) and have them convert it for you. It cost $30 or so. In order to do the video rendering, you would have to make sure your computer can handle it.

I have a P4, 2.80 GHz, 1GB Ram computer and I have so much trouble rendering. I have to let it run overnight.

If you do have a lot, than the cost of doing it yourself will be better in the long run. Go to a computer store, not comput USA or anything to that affect, but a store that gamers go to build their computers and they will be able to tell you what the best bang for your buck is.

Answer 4

the only thing u would need is a TV card either PCI or PCMCIA for laptop, u would connect your camcorder to the tv card set the program u get with tv card to record, and play on the camcorder
and this will transfer it from the tape to the pc hard drive.
there is tones of guides out there on how to do this on a more advanced lvl eg at htttp://www.videohelp.com