Cleaning house and found some old family vids on cassettes. Need ideas for conversion.

[bbhaag]

Wasn't sure if ot or the video and photography forum was the best place to post this but I need some ideas.

So we are moving soon and decided to rent a dumpster to clean the house of stuff we don't want to take with us. In the process I found our old Cannon 8mm camcorder and Sony digital camera. Both are circa 2001-02. The camcorder and camera were both broken but we found some memory sticks and cassette tapes.

I would like to get the media off these but I'm not sure how to go about doing it. A search suggests that there are many services out there where you send away the original media and they put it on a usb or dvd for you.
I think this would be the best option but which service is good? Does anyone have some first hand experience with one of these companies? If you do which one and was the end result good?

 

[sdifox]

you cannot read the memory stick? also, is it digital8 or analogue 8mm?

 

[highland145]

I bought the Diamond onetouch video capture....um, some years ago... and still haven't used it. The wife is going to kill me if I lose video of the kid.

 

[bbhaag]

you cannot read the memory stick? also, is it digital8 or analogue 8mm?

The memory sticks say Sony MagicGate on them. I do not have a card reader that these fit into. Some of the cassettes say Sony Hi8MP 120 videohi8 60 digital8 others just say Maxell 8mm MP 120b. I do not know if these are digital or analog.

 

[bbhaag]

I bought the Diamond onetouch video capture....um, some years ago... and still haven't used it. The wife is going to kill me if I lose video of the kid.

I am not familiar with the Diamond onetouch video capture. I will look into and see if it will work for me. Thanks for the suggestion. My wife will also be upset if I lose the media contained on these cassettes hence why I am more inclined to let a professional service do it.

 

[sdifox]

I am not familiar with the Diamond onetouch video capture. I will look into and see if it will work for me. Thanks for the suggestion. My wife will also be upset if I lose the media contained on these cassettes hence why I am more inclined to let a professional service do it.

How is video capture going to help you if you don't have the camcorder to playback? Just go to a local service. It is entirely possible they are degraded already.

I have a 3ccd minidv. Never bothered to transfer the video out :awe:

 

[Red Squirrel]

Whatever you do make sure you get it as a normal data file in a lossless format. Whether you do blue ray, DVD, etc those are only going to be around for so long as well, but if you have an actual file then you can easily burn it to whatever new thing that comes out. Files also don't degrade (well there is bit rot but think that's more theoretical and it happens at a crazy slow rate).

So basically I would convert them all to some kind of file format using a video capture device. From there, burn to Bluray. Keep the originals too, as long as they are still readable it's still something cool to have.

 

[sdifox]

Whatever you do make sure you get it as a normal data file in a lossless format. Whether you do blue ray, DVD, etc those are only going to be around for so long as well, but if you have an actual file then you can easily burn it to whatever new thing that comes out. Files also don't degrade (well there is bit rot but think that's more theoretical and it happens at a crazy slow rate).

So basically I would convert them all to some kind of file format using a video capture device. From there, burn to Bluray. Keep the originals too, as long as they are still readable it's still something cool to have.

... He does not have a playback device...

 

[Thebobo]

I have a Canopus it's a little expensive but I have a lot of SBeta SVHS and super 8 and audio cassettes. Its worked flawlessly for audio and video. You do need a firewire connection.

https://www.amazon.com/Canopus-77010138100-ADVC-55-Converter-External/dp/B0006ZSQL4

here is an example of quality from one of my tapes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb6GwqVuUj8

 

[bbhaag]

How is video capture going to help you if you don't have the camcorder to playback? Just go to a local service. It is entirely possible they are degraded already.

I have a 3ccd minidv. Never bothered to transfer the video out :awe:

I didn't know what it was that is why I said "I will look into and see if it will work for me.". You are correct I do not have a functioning camcorder or vhs player to use the device that highland145 mentioned.
I would like to use a service either local or sending it away.
Do you have a suggestion on a good service to use? I know I can go off internet reviews just like everyone else and pick a service but I was thinking that I might as well ask here first and see if anyone has a suggestion based on personal experience.

 

[Thebobo]

I would find something local, not staples or the like. Guess it depends on where you live.

 

[Red Squirrel]

... He does not have a playback device...

The point is to get one. Ebay, etc.

 

[bbhaag]

No I do not wish to buy outdated a/v equipment to get the media off these cassettes and memory sticks. I do not wish to buy any equipment nor do I want to do this myself.
Perhaps I have not made it clear enough in my previous posts, but I am simply looking for a recommendation for a company that members here have used and were happy with.

 

[deustroop]

I would find something local

Yup.
I've done it myself and given the job to a local service and local is mucho easier. If you live in the boondocks you'll have to courier to a service, so call first. I would use Staples for sure.

 

[sdifox]

I didn't know what it was that is why I said "I will look into and see if it will work for me.". You are correct I do not have a functioning camcorder or vhs player to use the device that highland145 mentioned.
I would like to use a service either local or sending it away.
Do you have a suggestion on a good service to use? I know I can go off internet reviews just like everyone else and pick a service but I was thinking that I might as well ask here first and see if anyone has a suggestion based on personal experience.

Your local ain't my local...look at pro video equipment rental place, they might have the service and they definitely have the expertise.