Arts >> Movies & TV >> Film Production

How to Convert Super 8 Cassettes to Digital

Film and video formats are a constantly evolving world unto themselves. Saving home movies is becoming harder and harder. The terminology can be confusing, especially with the transition from film to video, and then again to digital formats. "Super 8" refers to a film format (which contains a hard copy of the image which you can see by holding up the the light), while "Hi8" or "Video8" refers to an analog video format (which is recorded magnetically on to a strip of tape which can't be seen without a video player of some kind.) If the video is contained on a tape, it is considered "Hi8" or "Video8" and is an analog video format not "Super 8." DVDs are a digital format, and so transferring between analog video and digital video requires a bit of experience in how video works. It's crucial to be familiar with inputs and outputs. You should familiarize yourself with a VCR before trying to follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Flatscreen TV
  • VCR or DVD player with recording capabilities
  • Digital video camera
  • A computer with video editing
  • Tripod or other flat surface
Show More

Instructions

  1. Converting to Digital Format Using a TV

    • 1
      A flatscreen TV is preferable to an older TV, because the convex shape of older TVs can distort the image.

      Hi 8 video cameras usually came with an original RCA output cable. Locate this cable and attach the video camera to the flatscreen TV.

    • 2

      Set up the digital video camera on a tripod or other flat surface facing the TV. This will be used to record the image on the TV screen to create a digital copy of the footage. The screen should fill the entire frame.

    • 3

      Start the footage on the video camera and start the digital video camera at the same time. Record all of the desired footage.

    • 4

      Transfer the footage from the digital video camera to the computer. Cut out any blank space at the beginning or the end. Export the footage to a DVD using whatever preferred software on the computer.

    • 5

      Test the DVD copy to make sure that the picture fills the screen, and the image is in good shape. Save the original copy and DVD to make future transfers.

    Converting Directly to Digital

    • 6

      This method requires more expertise than the first method, but will degrade the image less. It requires the use of the VCR or DVD player with a record function, and an RCA cable. Start by hooking up the video camera to the input of the VCR or DVD player.

    • 7

      If using a DVD player with a record function, pop a blank DVD into the drive, and start recording. Press play on the video camera. When finished, test the DVD in a different DVD player. If it works in this player, you're done transferring your footage.

    • 8

      If you don't have a DVD player with a record function (they are rare), hook up the digital video camera to the output side of the VCR with the RCA cable that should have come with the camera. No TV is necessary for this method, as the digital video camera will act as the monitor. After it's all hooked up, check to make sure that the image is playing on the camera.

    • 9

      Rewind the video camera back to the begining of the footage to be captured. Start the digital camera rolling and then play the video. Once complete, transfer the footage to a computer, remove any unwanted blank space and export to a DVD.

    • 10

      Test the DVD copy to make sure that the image is in good shape. Save the original copy and DVD to make future transfers, as formats change.

+:
+:

Film Production

Related Categories