Burn Hi8 tapes to DVDs with a camcorder, converter box and PC.
Hi8 is an analog videotape format on cassette created by Sony for use in video camcorders. The tape can be transferred to a digital format with a video converter, then stored on a computer equipped with a DVD burner for copying to a multimedia disc. The external video converter hooks up to a Hi8 camcorder for playback and transfers the video signal to a PC or laptop via a USB cable. Copying time to the computer depends on the length of the Hi8 recording.
Instructions
1. Connect the three plugs on one end of the composite cable to the AV output jacks on the side of the Hi8 camcorder, which will probably have a protective flap covering the jacks to keep out dust. Lift the protective flap with a fingernail to reveal the red, white and yellow jacks. Match the plug colors on the cables to the jacks.
2. Push the three plugs on the other end of the AV cable into the corresponding jacks on the converter box.
3. Connect the USB cable from the port on the converter box to a free port on the desktop or laptop.
4. Install the recording software that came with the converter box by loading the CD into the computer's media tray, closing the tray and following the on-screen installation prompts. Restart the computer if prompted to do so.
5. Double-click the name of the recording software to start the program.
6. Load a Hi8 cassette into the camcorder and rewind or fast-forward to the starting point for copying. Press the "Play" button on the camcorder and click the "Record" button on the computer screen to copy the Hi8 tape. Click "Stop" when finished.
7. Save the digital copy of the video by clicking the "File" tab on the computer screen, selecting "Save As" and choosing "Save as MPEG." Type a name for the new video in the box provided and click the "Save" button.
8. Place a blank DVD in the computer's media tray, close the tray and open the DVD burner software, for example, Windows DVD Maker or iMovie.
9. Click "File," select "New" and choose "Add Items" in Windows DVD Maker. Click "New" and select "Import" in iMovie.
10. Click once on the name of the Hi8 video copy to place the file in a list of items for burning to disc. Then click "Next."
11. Select menu styles and features from the options available with the software package. Click the "Burn" button at the bottom of the screen to record the video to DVD.
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