How Can I Copy 8mm Tape onto DVD?
An 8mm videotape is not compatible with mobile devices, computers or DVD players. You can copy an 8mm videotape from a camcorder onto a computer as a digital file and then transfer the file to a DVD. You will only need software that is included with the computer’s operating system and a blank DVD disc. The procedure is straightforward and does not require expertise in video formats or video editing.
Instructions
Copy 8mm Tape onto DVD on a Mac
1. Plug the video camcorder end of the video transfer cable into the 8mm camcorder. Plug the USB end of the video transfer cable into a USB port on the Mac.
2. Insert the 8mm videotape into the 8mm camcorder. Turn the 8mm camcorder on. Press the "Menu" button. Navigate to "Settings." Select "Video Out." Press the "Menu" button again.
3. Double-click on the iDVD icon that is inside of the "Applications" folder in the Mac’s hard drive. Wait for a pop-up menu to appear. Select "OneStep DVD" from the pop-up menu.
4. Press the "Yes" button when the program asks if it should take control of the camcorder attached to the Mac. Press the "Yes" button on the confirmation window that asks if the video from the camcorder should be recorded onto the Mac.
5. Wait anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours as the iDVD program records the video from the 8mm camcorder. Press the "OK" button on the confirmation window when it appears to state that the copying is done.
6. Turn the 8mm camcorder off. Remove the video transfer cable from the 8mm camcorder and from the USB port of the Mac.
7. Click the "Burn DVD" button on the iDVD window. Insert a blank recordable DVD into the DVD slot in the side of the Mac. Press the "OK" confirmation button in the pop-up window that appears.
8. Wait up to two hours for the digital file made from the 8mm movie to be converted into a DVD-compatible file and burned onto the DVD. Quit iDVD when the confirmation window appears to state that the burning is completed.
9. Drag the icon of the DVD that is on the desktop to the Trash. Remove the DVD from the DVD slot in the side of the Mac.
Copy 8mm Tape onto DVD on a PC
10. Plug the video camcorder end of the video transfer cable into the 8mm camcorder. Plug the USB end of the video transfer cable into a USB port on the PC.
11. Insert the 8mm videotape into the 8mm camcorder. Turn the 8mm camcorder on. Press the "Menu" button. Navigate to "Settings." Select "Video out." Press the "Menu" button again.
12. Select "MovieMaker" from the "Start," "All Applications" pop-up menu to launch it.
13. Select the icon of the camcorder on the program’s screen. Select "Record" on the next screen. Select "Desktop" from the "Destination" drop-down menu on the screen. Click the "Start" button.
14. Wait anywhere from ten minutes to two hours as the MovieMaker program records the video from the 8mm camcorder. Press the "OK" button on the confirmation window when it appears to state that the copying is done.
15. Turn the 8mm camcorder off. Remove the video transfer cable from the 8mm camcorder and from the USB port of the Mac.
16. Click the "Add File" button at the top of the MovieMaker’s screen. Navigate to the desktop. Double-click on the digital file that was created from the 8mm videotape.
17.Press the "Eject" button on the front of the computer. Place the blank recordable DVD onto the ejected disc tray. Press the "Eject" button to close the disc tray.
18. Select the DVD drive from the "Devices" drop-down menu on the MovieMaker screen. Click the "Burn" button on the MovieMaker screen.
19. Wait up to two hours for the digital file made from the 8mm movie to be converted into a DVD-compatible file and burned onto the DVD. Quit MovieMaker when the confirmation window appears to state that the burning is completed.
20. Right-click on the icon of the DVD that is on the desktop. Select "Eject" from the pop-up window. Press the "Eject" button on the front of the computer. Remove the DVD from the ejected disc tray. Press the "Eject" button to close the disc tray.
Tags: from camcorder, transfer cable, video transfer, video transfer cable, confirmation window
