Digital Transfer?

February 5, 2007 11:51 AM

DigitalTransferFilter: I have a Hi-8(I think) tape with about 30-45 minutes of video on it from 2001. I would like to get it transfered to a digital format in the DC area. Recommendations?

The tape has been stored in a safe (presumably room temp and low humidity) since 2002. I have no way of checking the quality of the footage to see if it is still good. I would like to physically take it to a shop (as opposed to mailing it) and have them transfer it to digital. What I would really like is for them to capture it in DV and drop it on a harddrive for me (ie. bring in my external harddrive). Compressed mpeg2 would be alright, but I'd prefer uncompressed. Any recs on shops in the DC area or experience with harddrive transfers?

posted by i_am_a_Jedi to Technology (3 answers total)

Do you know anyone with a Sony Digital 8 camcorder? If you do, it should be able to playback a Hi8 tape, and transfer to your computer via firewire. I haven't tested this myself, but I seem to remember reading it in my handicam manual, and it's mentioned in the wikipedia entry also.
posted by teg at 12:42 PM on February 5, 2007

Yes, you can dump the video from a Sony Digital 8 Handicam camcorder to a computer with firewire (possibly via USB 2.0 depending on the camera) and the necessary software. You should be able to do it with Windows Movie Maker.
posted by ganzhimself at 1:48 PM on February 5, 2007

I know of a shop in Frederick, MD that does this sort of work. I don't remember the name of the place off the top of my head, but if you're willing to make an hour drive, drop me an email (finitysedge_at_hotmail_dot_com) and I'll look up the details for you.
posted by Alterscape at 8:10 PM on February 5, 2007