Converting analog video to digital.....

[Roy Howell]

Any of you done this...convert VHS or Super8 video(analog) to digital for editing purposes?
I was talking to Bastiaan(who's a pro) about a program I saw called Dazzle... looks pretty good, but do any of you know of any alternative choices?

thanks, Roy

[Aussie169]

Hey Roy
I think you just need a decent video capture card. You just plug the video in and press record on the computer. The card will come with software.

[Nick4228]

You can also try a video digitizer, which will probably come with its own software as well...

[Roy Howell]

OK thanks, Mark...(I had just sent you an email [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ) I'll look into it. The Dazzle converter is an analog plug interface...looks similar to a small cd player (to me). A card will be even better. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[funkdefino]

Pinnacle Systems

Dazzle

ATI

ADS

Irez

These all have their ups and downs. Are you planning on going digital anytime soon? If you are you can usualy use your digital camcorder as a gateway to capture your old analog stuff.

Food for thought!

You could find a nice digital camcorder on ebay right now for under $500. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Roy Howell]

Originally posted by Nick4228:
You can also try a video digitizer, which will probably come with its own software as well...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">OK, thanks Nick...I'll look into that too.

[funkdefino]

Talk about fast!!!!!

[Stone Knife]

Also check out Matrox... their capture stuff is A-OK, GI.

[Roy Howell]

Originally posted by funkdefino:

You could find a nice digital camcorder on ebay right now for under $500. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hey funkdefino...thanks for the sites! Let me ask you something about digital camcorders. I noticed some today in BestBuy ads. Sony has a 'Digital8' camcorder(low as $500), and a 'Hi8'camcorder($270). Is there a big difference between 'Digital8' and Hi8'? Both are digital with similar optical and zoom features. But it just looks like the 'Digital8' is USB ready (and had an MPEG 'movie' mode).
Would you have any idea? I really appreciate this info... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[kCmCg]

What do you mean both are digital? Digital 8 Is just sony's answer to "break-in" the Digital video format. It'll play standard Hi-8 tapes too, as well as record to them (as opposed to Mini-DV or DVCAM). I would go for the Digi8 far before the standard Hi-8. It will yield higher quality and the recorded material wont be as fragile as standard Hi8 (not to mention hi8 has been on its way out for a couple years now). If this was the case, just get yourself a firewire card and capturing will be a breeze. What is the source format your coming from? Are you going to record the material on the new camera or do you already have it on existing tapes? If so...what format?