8mm Forum: Converting Super 8mm films with sound to digital

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Topic: Converting Super 8mm films with sound to digital

Tanya Owens
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Glenburn, ND, USA
Registered: Feb 2011

posted March 18, 2011 02:32 PM

Hello again,

Well I think I finally have all the equipment ready to start my project - had some troubles finding a good sound super 8mm project. But, all is good now.

I have tested some films and can see I need to probably clean them a but before starting the recording process. Is there a product that everyone recommends, or just a lint free cloth?

The issue I may run into here is that all the films seem to be recorded at 18fps with sound. Am I going to run into lots of troubles trying to get the sound to "sound ok" and the flicker reduced?

Thanks everyone for your advice! I am looking forward to seeing some progress in my project.

Thanks,
Tanya

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Oli Heln
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Germany
Registered: Mar 2011

posted March 18, 2011 03:36 PM

hello tanya,

you can clean your films with isopropanol and a little towel
like the ones which are used for glasses/frames. be sure that
the material is microfuse!
another product for cleaning film you can find here in the middle
of the page called vitafilm or profi-filmreiniger:
http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de/katalog/03_verbr/b_kitt.php

the fps you should be able to change on the projector or you do it later on in the editing software. but why is your transfer flickering? can you name me your setup?

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted March 18, 2011 11:57 PM

Tanya
since your films have not been run for awhile, I definitely would NOT use any alcohol on them, since the alcohol could eat away at the splices and even the mag track depending on how it was applied...I would probably suggest purchasing some film guard since it is safe to use on the magnetic soundtrack and will help clean the film and allow it to run smoothly through the projector.

Here is info about it
Film Guard

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"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 525
From: Dallas, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 19, 2011 02:14 AM

You will need a 3 bladed shutter in the projector and a video camera shooting at 30P or 60i, with the projector running at 20FPS. You can pitch bend and slow down the image in a program such as Adobe Premiere to put it back to 18FPS (or at least sound like it).

For 24FPS films, you need a 2 bladed shutter (3 will do, but not as effective) and a 24P video camera. Alternatively you could do a 5 bladed shutter and a 30P/60i camera, but the 24P camera will do the film more justice.

Do note a trick to fine-tuning in the speed of the projector is to set the video camera to a high speed shutter setting, then adjust the projector speed with no film in it until you have no "rolling bars". Unfortunately most 8mm projectors will vary speed slightly throughout the reel depending on its load (how much film is on the takeup reel).

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John Clancy
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1954
From: Cornwall
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 19, 2011 03:09 AM

Cor, it's much easier doing cine to video transfers with PAL equipment! I don't think I'd bother with all that hassle in NTSC. Perhaps the easiest solution is to get a PAL camera and just output it to NTSC at the end of the process.

16.66fps with a 3-bladed shutter in PAL. To get the best results a 3 chip CCD camera and an aerial image system are required and if anyone can point us to an affordable kit of optics to capture the aerial image that would be most appreciated.

--------------------
British Film Collectors Convention home page www.bfcc.biz. The site is for the whole of the film collecting hobby and not just the BFCC.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 525
From: Dallas, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 19, 2011 11:41 AM

Actually no its not. To originate in PAL then means another conversion on top of the initial frame rate to get it to NTSC.

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Tanya Owens
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Glenburn, ND, USA
Registered: Feb 2011

posted March 19, 2011 03:05 PM

I am using an Elmo ST-180E M project and have just an expensive camcorder at this time. I may go out and purchase a different if I absolutely need one. Mine that I have now is a Canon ZR65.

I have all the films on the small 50ft reels - I think my first step should be combining them onto larger reels.

I have heard a lot about that film guard. I am going to look into getting that for cleaning the films.

Thanks - keep the great advice coming!!

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