8mm videotapes get a second life when transferred to DVD
Preserving a library of 8mm videotapes requires transferring the tapes to a digital format. Although the DVD has been replaced with the high definition Blu-Ray format, Blu-Ray players can also play DVD's. DVD's are an enduring standard definition format that will extend the life of your 8mm videos for years. With a DVD recorder or TV Tuner connected to a computer, you can transfer 8mm videotapes to a DVD recorder or disc burner.
Instructions
DVD Recorder
1. Connect the 8mm or Hi8 camcorder to the DVD recorder with an RCA audio-video cable. Match the color-coded plugs to the same yellow, red and white connectors on the output of the camcorder and input of the DVD recorder. If available, use input connectors found on the front panel of the DVD recorder.
2. Select the correct input for the DVD recorder using the remote or input button on the unit.
3. Select the desired recording quality from the DVD recorder menu using the remote. Unless your tape is longer than an hour, choose the highest quality setting. If the tape is longer, select the appropriate quality setting for the length of the tape to be recorded. The "SP" setting normally designates the quality setting for two-hour tape lengths.
4. Insert a recordable DVD into the recorder. Wait for the recorder to format the disc.
5. Insert an 8mm videotape in the camcorder. Rewind the tape if necessary.
6. Press the "Record" button on the DVD recorder and "Play" button on the 8mm camcorder. When the recording is finished, select the "Finalize Disc" setting from the DVD recorder menu to finalize the DVD so the disc will play on normal DVD players.
Computer DVD Burner
7. Download and install the USB TV Tuner (or video capture device) software from the manufacturer's website.
8. Connect the USB TV Tuner to an available USB port on your computer. Wait for the operating system to configure the hardware and notify you the device is ready to use.
9. Plug the RCA audio-video cable into the outputs of the camcorder and the inputs of the TV Tuner. Match the yellow, red and white color-coded jacks on the video devices to the same colored connectors found on the audio-video cable.
10. Rewind the 8mm videotape if necessary and insert the tape into the camcorder.
11. Open the TV Tuner recording software and configure the software using the options menu to select the RCA inputs and record the file in the MPEG-2 format.
12. Press the "Record" icon in the software and the "Play" button on the camcorder to begin capturing the video. When finished, enter a file name and select the folder where you want to save the digital video file.
13. Open the DVD burner utility and add the MPEG-2 file to a new DVD project. Be sure the MPEG-2 file size does not exceed the capacity of your recordable DVD.
14. Insert a recordable DVD into the DVD drive.
15. Click the "Burn" icon to burn the DVD.
Tags: audio-video cable, quality setting, button camcorder, connectors found, from recorder, from recorder menu, input recorder
