Convert an 8mm Video Cam Tape to a CD
Video8 and Hi8 are tape formats developed to compete with VHS and S-VHS in the early 1990's. Because of their smaller size (the tape was only 8 millimeters wide) they became a popular format for video cameras and camcorders. Both formats are analog, so the ability to transfer tapes into a digital format requires hardware to "capture" the video as a digital computer file. Many people are not aware that before DVDs, CDs were used to store and play video in a format known as "VCD." Here's transfer your 8mm format videotapes to a video CD.
Instructions
1. Purchase a video capture device. Many affordable options exist that would be well suited for transferring 8mm formats. Companies like Adaptec, Pinnacle, and Hauppauge produce TV tuner devices that include the ability to input analog video through an RCA or S-Video connection, such as those found on your 8mm camcorder. For easy installation, select a capture device that plugs into the USB port of your computer. Make sure the TV Tuner or capture device can encode to the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 file formats.
2. Install the software provided with your capture device on your computer. Depending on the model you select, you may have only the ability to record the video from your camcorder to your computer, or you may be able to produce a VCD. If the software supplied will not manage your video files so they can be burned as a VCD, download free VCD software at blazemp.com/vcd_burning_software.htm. If you need to, download and install this software to burn discs in a video CD format.
3. Connect your devices. Plug your 8mm camcorder to the capture device. Use S-Video connections if available on your video camera, otherwise, use the RCA connection. Plug your capture device into your computer's USB port.
4. Open your capture utility software on your computer and select where you want to store the video files. Configure your software to record the files as MPEG-1 (for VCD formatted CD discs) or MPEG-2 (for SVCD formatted CDs). Play the tape in your camcorder, then begin recording to your computer using your capture software. You can only store 74 minutes of video in the VCD format, or 35 minutes in the SVCD format, so plan your recording times accordingly.
5. After capturing your video, open the video CD burning software and add the files you want transferred to your recordable CD. When finished, burn the CD.
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