8mm Forum: HW to download 8mm & super 8mm

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Posted by Tim Wadholm (Member # 624) on June 13, 2006, 09:32 AM:

I have some 8mm that I want to download to my computer. I want to do this myself - vs paying someone to do it, or by playing the 8mm and then re-recording it with a camcorder.

Can anyone point me in the right direction so I can see the type of hardware I would need to do this? Thanks.

Posted by Kurt Gardner (Member # 440) on June 13, 2006, 09:49 PM:

Unfortunately, you still need to run the film through a projector and record the image with a camcorder. The camcorder must have an output jack compatible with your computer, i.e., firewire or USB 2.0. Then you need a capture program on your computer to digitize the resultant video to a digital stream. Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro are the big ones, but they're costly. You could probably find a less expensive capture and editing program, but the quality will vary due to cheaper compression engines.

The main thing is to record the 8mm film onto videotape (you can even project the image on a screen and shoot it with the camcorder), then input the tape via the capture program into the computer. There, you'll be able to edit it, add music, titles and special effects and re-output it onto tape or, with a DVD authoring program, onto disc.

Most important, your computer must have a fast enough processor to handle the capturing and a big enough drive to store the footage. Even 10 minutes can be as much as 2 gigabytes. So if you have an old, slow computer with a small drive, it probably can't do it.

Check out Final Cut Pro on the Apple Web site (www.apple.com) and Adobe Premiere on the Adobe Web site (www.adobe.com). That will give you an idea of what you need to invest. Sad to say, there's just no way at home to "scan" the original film directly into the computer.

There are some less expensive capture/editing programs. You can look here:

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Dazzle/?dz=1

but the cheaper the compression/editing/authoring program the more variable the results. So here's the big three: a projector, a video camera with a computer output and the compression program. Hope this helps!

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 13, 2006, 09:51 PM:

Probably the best middle ground between paying someone to telecine your films and doing it off the wall is to buy one of these:

http://www.moviestuff.tv/8mm_telecine.html

It would take quite a bit of footage for this to be a paying proposition, but that's up to you.

Posted by Joerg Polzfusz (Member # 602) on June 14, 2006, 06:08 AM:

This device would give better results (but "of course" it's more expensive):
http://www.mwa-nova.de/flashscan8.htm

Posted by Kurt Gardner (Member # 440) on June 14, 2006, 08:51 AM:

Hey, I see on that Movie Stuff site that they also offer video transfers -- $20 per 50 feet. That's a pretty good price and eliminates the need to buy extra equipment, but you'd still need a way to get the transferred footage into the computer.

http://www.moviestuff.tv/transfers.html

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on June 14, 2006, 10:27 PM:

They transfer to videotape, which includes mini-DV (digital video). You can playback that tape right into a computer using the video camera's Firewire port.

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on June 15, 2006, 01:27 AM:

Tim, how many feet of film do you need to transfer?

Posted by Tim Wadholm (Member # 624) on June 15, 2006, 03:40 PM:

Everyone - thanks for the suggestions. I already have the video editing stuff to make DVDs. I just wanted a magic machine that one read super 8MM and two had a firewire connection.

I'll try playing the 8 mm and then copying it with a camcorder.

thanks again.

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on June 15, 2006, 06:20 PM:

Tim, you will need a variable speed projector or you will get a strobe light effect.

[ June 15, 2006, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: Dan Lail ]

Posted by Freddy Van de Putte (Member # 587) on June 16, 2006, 02:57 AM:

Well,

I have build two of these 'magic machines'.
One for Super-8, and I just finished a R8 unit.
Both are based on Eumig projectors.

I use the frame-by-frame principle:
No hotspot, no flickering.
Nice bright picture.

For the camera I use a 1024x768 machine vision cam.
This cam comes with capture software.

But for capturing and editing there is a free solution:
Avisynth/Virtual Dub.

For NLE: Magix is not bad at all, and very cheap.

Please have a look at my site, maybe it gives you some ideas.
(Must update the site, some frames are over-sharpened and I use a better Sony macro lens now)

Fred.

Posted by Craig Hamilton (Member # 258) on June 16, 2006, 05:18 AM:

Freddy, great website [Wink]

Craig

Posted by Freddy Van de Putte (Member # 587) on June 16, 2006, 05:45 AM:

Thank you!

It's my way to promote film.
If I ever have time, I translate it to English.
(I sure hope my "Belgian-Flemish" English is not too bad) [Embarrassed]

Freddy.

Posted by Tim Wadholm (Member # 624) on June 19, 2006, 12:42 PM:

Ok. Thanks for the information on the transfer of the data.

Can I ask for recommendations on projectors that will allow me to view the 8MM and super 8MM film that my mom has?

As you can probably tell, this 8MM stuff is new to me.

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