8mm / hi8 / VHS-C : Please confirm my cassettes and recording setup thoughts.

bluetech · 26 Jul 2007 at 22:54

Here they are:

FRONT
BACK
BOTTOM

I think the one on the left is a VHS-C, and that a VHS-C -> VHS adapter can be used for playback. (VCR -> PC)
I think the one on the right is an 8mm cassette, where an 8mm camcorder can be used for playback. (8mm camcorder -> PC)

Are my above thoughts correct? Providing I have an analogue -> digital converter for composite connections, appropriate leads (for sound and video), sound card with line-in and video editing software, I should be able to get these on my PC?

Thanks for reading,

please leave your thoughts / comments / corrections.

SidewinderINC · 26 Jul 2007 at 23:20

the one on the right is definately 8mm Hi8, i have at least 50 of those tapes and need a way of getting them onto my PC or other media.. but our player kicked the bucket ages ago.

bluetech · 27 Jul 2007 at 01:20

SidewinderINC said:
the one on the right is definately 8mm Hi8, i have at least 50 of those tapes and need a way of getting them onto my PC or other media.. but our player kicked the bucket ages ago.

From my understanding, 8mm and Hi8 are different. Hi8 being a bigger resolution. If a camcorder is advertised as 8mm, can I still playback Hi8 cassettes on it? Or perhaps the cassettes all state 8mm but it is a way in which the data is captured to tape that gives a bigger resolution?

You will have to forgive my ignorance, I was not into technology when these were all the "rave".

Thanks for the reply!

SidewinderINC · 27 Jul 2007 at 09:10

erm, we had a Hi8 player and it played both formats i think...

i believe they are backwards compatible like playstation 2, where it can play PS1 games..

bluetech · 27 Jul 2007 at 18:00

SidewinderINC said:
erm, we had a Hi8 player and it played both formats i think...

i believe they are backwards compatible like playstation 2, where it can play PS1 games..

Cools, but with my tape on the right that states 8mm. If it transpires to be a Hi8 format. Will an 8mm camcorder play it?

mrgubby · 27 Jul 2007 at 22:52

bluetech said:
Cools, but with my tape on the right that states 8mm. If it transpires to be a Hi8 format. Will an 8mm camcorder play it?

I believe that Hi8 will play 8mm but not vice-versa

bluetech · 1 Aug 2007 at 21:51

mrgubby said:
I believe that Hi8 will play 8mm but not vice-versa

Thanks for that. Does anyone know how I can tell for sure that my tape is 8mm and not Hi8. Or if I can tell if it is Hi8 and not 8mm?

Thanks!