Simple Need

[tvz]

Hi,

I have a collection of old videotapes of oral history interviews that I would like to digitize and preserve in the simplest way possible. Ideally, that way would,

1) Be simple

2) Put them into a form so they can be stored on a hard drive, and easily copied by others who don't have any special video knowledge

2) Preserve the quality of the images. (They were made with a regular, consumer-type Sony camcorder using "Hi8" tapes) I still have the camcorder. It is not "digital".

3) Allow for VERY basic editing (cutting out the garbage)

That's pretty much it! Does anybody have a recommendation for me?

I very much appreciate your time on this!

-Tom

[dr_ml422]

Welcome. If the output file of the video tapes are VHS then I would either plug the cam into a DVD recorder and copy the files onto a DVD then copy the DVD to your PC w/your burner. Either that or use the cam's usb plug if any to go straight to your PC. I don't recall if the output files for VHS are in VOB but if they are then you can just use MeGUI to convert them to .MP4 which will easily fit many files on your HDD and the quality depending on the initial quality will be very good. Here's the link:

http://www.digital-digest.com/articles/MeGUI_H.264_Conversion_Guide_page1.html

I don't know what your OS is but I'm using 7 Home x64 and if you follow the guide verbatim you should be just fine.

[paglamon]

They were made with a regular, consumer-type Sony camcorder using "Hi8" tapes) I still have the camcorder. It is not "digital".

There are 2 ways to get the video from cam into your PC:
1. Install a Video Capture Card( a cheap TV-Tuner Card will do too). Capture the footage from cam to PC through that card. If your PC is strong enough(and have large hard disc space) you can capture using a lossless codec(like Huffyuv). I prefer to capture at a smaller size(but preserving reasonably good quality) using MJPEG Codec.

2. Get hold of another Sony camcorder,but the "digital" type.Use this second cam as a pass-through.http://www.videohelp.com/dvanalog