[steviebwoy]

Hi guys,

My father and I have got some (now very sentimental) Hi8 video footage from a holiday a few years ago that we're desperately trying to convert to DVD. It's roughly 6 hours of footage, and we've currently managed to put it onto VHS but we're concerned that it won't age particularly well.

As a result, we're trying to find ways of getting the tapes onto DVD to try and make them a bit more future proof.

Is the best way of doing it to put the VHS tapes in one of these new DVD/VHS combo recorders and copy them from the tape to DVD? I guess because we're converting firstly to Hi8 then VHS then DVD I'm assuming there'll be a notable loss in quality.

I've also got a SCART lead from the camcorder that I can just play through the TV (this is how I got the tapes onto VHS). Will a DVD recorder enable me to record from the SCART camcorder output straight to DVD?

Any other ideas would be great, I had a lead that enabled input to my PC but I found this really long-winded, I don't need to mess around with post-production or adding music or titles; I just want the footage onto the most future-proof medium I can manage at the moment.

I've contacted a local company who've said they can convert the tapes to DVD for around £70, but I've got a load of backpacker tapes I'd like to record as well so my Dad and I figured we might as well just buy a permanent solution instead.

Any help would be much appreciated

[senu]

Simple. Although more than £70, a decent DVD recorder should sort you out and prove useful in other instances I even use mine for recordings from MiniDV tape ( via DV input) when I cant be bothered to edit
They often have inputs for anything the Camcorder will output and are much less fiddly than the PC method
A settop recorder with HDD is even better as you are not forced to record to DVD in real time ( although you can) and can combine say a tape and a half.
Once recorded to its HDD you can then make the DVD as you please
If you have the originals I would avoid going via VHS tapes
Still keep the originals as DVDs are far from indestructible ( or make copies of the DVD and store carefully)

[steviebwoy]

That's great, thanks

Bit of an ask I know, but is there any way you could provide a couple of links to a DVD recorder, and a HDD/DVD recorder that would do the job please? Just so I know I'm looking at the right thing.

Thanks again

[senu]

Originally Posted by steviebwoy

That's great, thanks

Bit of an ask I know, but is there any way you could provide a couple of links to a DVD recorder, and a HDD/DVD recorder that would do the job please? Just so I know I'm looking at the right thing.

Thanks again

No problem
I have owned a Panasonic and an LG model ( each with HDD) but have used a Toshiba and Sony.. My gut feeling is that they can all do the Job
However there is a Seperate forum for DVD recorders in AVF which you might find a flick through helpful

[chrishull3]

If vhs players were likely to be around as long as dvd ones which they wont i know, i would bet my house vhs copies of the hi8 tapes would outlast dvd discs by a long way,but you can always keep recopying them every so many years.

[James Martin]

In case you wanted to go the digital route, or even edit the videos..

Any Digital8 Camcorder should have a firewire out port on it, which would let you playback any Video8/Hi8 footage just like a modern MiniDV camcorder.

Just in case...

[senu]

What you say is true but Sonys latter Digital 8 did not all have Hi8 bakwards compatibility
I have one TRV 620 which does ( It also has DV, AV and S video-in ) and pass through but they removed that from many subsequent models and the last D8 model must be as least 4 years old now

[JonVic]

Could i just add that i would avoid an LG DVD recorder as i have had bad experiences with them glitching loads when recording to them. I have a Sony with a 120GB hard drive and it is very good, i would recommend Panasonic or Sony, you pay a bit more but either brand is DEFINATELY worth that little bit extra

@ChrisHull3 i understand the advice you were giving but if you make copies of VHS every few years you are going to lose so much quality each time you copy them have you ever seen a VHS copy of a VHS copy its not good! Analogue is not like digital you cannot make a perfect duplicate, this is a misconception i hear a lot. Take it from me VHS is a very poor storage medium i know from bitter experience as i am trying to cap some 20 year old videos and VHS is proving a royal pain in the butt!

[senu]

Originally Posted by JonVic

Could i just add that i would avoid an LG DVD recorder as i have had bad experiences with them glitching loads when recording to them. I have a Sony with a 120GB hard drive and it is very good, i would recommend Panasonic or Sony, you pay a bit more but either brand is DEFINATELY worth that little bit extra

Thanks for sharing that. I think that is personal experience though. I have an LG ( with HDD) which has been faithful now for over 2 years.
I had a Panasonic HS-2 which cost £800 at the time.
Its HDD gave up just 2 months out of warantee and woud cost £250 to fix .(The HDD had failed early and Panasonic said it was due to infrequent use , not any QC fault )
This does not mean I endorse LG or am wary of Panasonic as such. there are however some makes I would avoid as they are essentially PC DVD burners hooked to a rudimentary basic operating system
Sony however seems to inspire confidence somewhat..

@ChrisHull3 i understand the advice you were giving but if you make copies of VHS every few years you are going to lose so much quality each time you copy them have you ever seen a VHS copy of a VHS copy its not good! Analogue is not like digital you cannot make a perfect duplicate, this is a misconception i hear a lot. Take it from me VHS is a very poor storage medium i know from bitter experience as i am trying to cap some 20 year old videos and VHS is proving a royal pain in the butt!

This is also true.The original tapes (well kept) would perhaps be the best archive ( provided there is still a playback method many years in the future)

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by JonVic

Could i just add that i would avoid an LG DVD recorder as i have had bad experiences with them glitching loads when recording to them. I have a Sony with a 120GB hard drive and it is very good, i would recommend Panasonic or Sony, you pay a bit more but either brand is DEFINATELY worth that little bit extra

@ChrisHull3 i understand the advice you were giving but if you make copies of VHS every few years you are going to lose so much quality each time you copy them have you ever seen a VHS copy of a VHS copy its not good! Analogue is not like digital you cannot make a perfect duplicate, this is a misconception i hear a lot. Take it from me VHS is a very poor storage medium i know from bitter experience as i am trying to cap some 20 year old videos and VHS is proving a royal pain in the butt!

Well i should have said svhs but i did not meen make copies every few years of vhs tapes as these tapes would last your lifetime stored properly i have 28 year old tapes that are as good as new i am pretty sure home made dvd will last a lot less, BUT what i said was i doubt there will be vhs players much longer so dvd is probobly the way you will have to go and they can then be copied if the need be later.You are dead right a vhs copy of a vhs copy is

[steviebwoy]

Thanks for your help guys, much appreciated

Are there any specific models you would recommend? We're probably looking to spend up to around £200 if possible..

My father is keen to go to Argos if that helps reduce the options somewhat - we apparently have gift vouchers that he wants to get rid of!

Thanks again