Many moons ago... I purchased a Sony Video8 camcorder & have hundreds of hours of tape recorded to 8mm/Hi8 formats. Recently my camcorder bit the dust & now I'm looking for a solution to transfer these analog tapes to digital format. It seems the only solution, which is rather expensive, is to buy any of these devices from Sony:

GV-D200 Digital8® Video Walkman

GV-D800 Digital8® Video Walkman

DCR-TRV280 Digital8® Handycam® Camcorder

My impression is the GV-Dxxx Walkman's will play previously recorded 8mm & Hi8 tapes but the DCR-TRV280 will not.

I'm looking for the most inexpensive way (short of shopping @ ebay) to convert my old analog tapes to digital. Does anyone have some alternative methods they can recommend?

the cheapest solution (considering you have hundreds of hours of tapes):

1. buy GV-D200 Digital8® Video Walkman
2. when done, sell it on eBay

no, I'm not joking.

Thanks David that is what I surmised also. Have you used any DVD creation software? I'm new to the video editing game and I see there is applications available that cost anywhere from $50 to $500. Is there anything you recommend?

I personally like the no-fuss-no-muss approach and the great quality of Pioneer DVR-604. Record everything you have on the HDD at XP mode, edit out the things you don't need, burn the resulting files to DVD-R (don't use dual-layer, they are less reliable)

I pulled the trigger and bought a GV-D200 today. Delivery is scheduled for Thursday & it will be interesting to see how my circa 1990 tapes have held up.

Thanks for your response & suggestion regarding a DVD recorder. Which of the current models (e.g. Top 7 DVD Recorders (http://hometheater.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/aatpdvdrecorder.htm)) do you recommend?

My 2 cents worth on DVD recorders. You MUST get one with a built-in hard drive. Unfortunately all manufacturers quit making them a year ago. So it will probably boil down to which one you can find that is still for sale for a reasonable price.

Everyone is guessing about WHY did they all quit making the best machine to be produced in recent years? Some will say that the FCC prohibits the distribution of recorders that don't have the new digital tuners after February 2007 and the manufacturers are still trying to please the MPAA in regards to their extreme concern over copying rental DVD's and premium cable channel content. So nobody knows for sure IF they will build any more hard drive models or when they will be for sale. The existing supply of hard drive models is almost exhausted and those that have a few units left are asking premium prices for them.

My advice is "If you can find a hard drive model that is listed as one of the top 7, buy it if it is not priced higher than it's list price".

Edit - I just want to comment on the D200. I own the D800 which I think is the same as the D200 except my D800 has a 4" LCD monitor built in. You will probably need to connect your D200 to an external monitor in order to operate it, view it's menus and set it up. I love my D800 except for the high price I paid for it probably 5 years ago at about $850 if my memory is correct. It appears to be a TRV720 put into a different case, minus the camera section but with a higher price. But at least the high price keeps them still available somewhere and they are great machines. Very slow rewind and FF times but so were the camcorders. My only disappointment was that a lot of my 8mm and Hi8 tapes had PCM stereo sound tracks and these D8 machines can't play the PCM audio tracks. But they will play the monaural HiFi audio track and stereo HiFi tracks which for most people is all that they have. You shouldn't have any trouble playing your old tapes IF they were recorded at the SP speed. If you used the LP speed, good luck, you will need it.

Dave

After making the decision to buy a GV-D200 I began looking at the DVD recorders currently available for the US market, and you're right; it's basically impossible to find one that has an internal HDD & ATSC tuner. I'm "hopeful" some new models will be released sometime this year.

The videos I recorded were taken with a Sony CCD-TR6 Video8 Handycam & page 24 of the operating instructions state:

"Recording Mode

An 8 mm video format cassette records in the SP (standard play) mode and can play back in the SP and the LP (long play) modes."

So presumably I'm good to go.

I don't think any name brand manufacturer has made available yet that combination of hard drive and ATSC tuner. The hard drive and standard tuner combination is the one you might be able to find yet but it will likely be over priced. Most companies are opting to remove the hard drive when they release their ATSC tuners.

You are lucky if your TR6 didn't allow you the option of recording in LP speed. Most 8mm and Hi8 camcorders allowed you to record in either SP or LP speed and if you chose LP, your recordings will probably only play in the camcorder that recorded them. You should be good to go.

Dave

You are lucky if your TR6 didn't allow you the option of recording in LP speed. Most 8mm and Hi8 camcorders allowed you to record in either SP or LP speed and if you chose LP, your recordings will probably only play in the camcorder that recorded them. You should be good to go.

DaveI checked the camera this morning and fortunately it has no SP/LP switch. Lets call it the luck o' the Irish (http://www.familyeducation.com/quiz/0,1399,1-5487,00.html), although... I'm not Irish. :D

for playback you don't need a switch, it'll automatically play accordingly. Now, for the optimum quality you'll need the recorder you recorded the tape on, but most probably it'll play no problem.

I've been looking for a good, mid tier priced, DVD recorder since your recommendation earlier on this thread. They are rather difficult to obtain right now. Will any of the leading manufacturers (e.g. Pioneer, Panasonic, etc.) be releasing new models w/HDD & tuner(s) during the remainder of 2007?

although the Pioneer 640 have become scarce, the 540 is still in abundance at various Sam's Club in Canada.

although the Pioneer 640 have become scarce, the 540 is still in abundance at various Sam's Club in Canada.I guess I could take a ride up the "Northway." :D

I received the GV-D200 yesterday & I'm playing back my old 8 mm tapes on the PC (GV-D200 DV --> IEEE 1394 m7350n) w/Nero Vision capture video. The picture quality is surprisingly good & audio is active.

How "young" everyone looks. :)

This sure is one expensive little unit but at least it works as advertised. I purchased the GV-D200 from "one call . com" and the unit is definitely new, was well packed for shipping and arrived a day earlier then promised. I've dealt with "one call" before & even RMA'd two HDDs without incident.

I went to the major A/V shops in the smAlbany NY area last night: Hippo's (high end custom shop), Tweeter's (going out of business in my area), CC & BB; but there are no "decent" DVD recorders available.

The search continues.