How to capture analog PAL V8 tapes on PC

[satimis]

Hi all,

I have old analog Sony PAL V8 tapes and expect to rip them on PC as mp4 files.

My Sony handy camera has been broken. I'm now searching a Hi8 digital camcorder, which can play back analog Sony PAL V8 tapes, to do the job.

Please advise, addition to Hi8 digital camcorder, what other devices I need? Digitizer?

What software I need to run for this job.

Please advise. Thanks in advance.

Regards

[TheFu]

Any $20 USB2 recorder can be used that will connect to a device that can playback the Hi8 tapes. The recorder will likely record to mpeg2 format, so you can transcode that to whatever the mp4 container will hold. That is typically h.264/aac/mp4. Use handbrake to do that, though you can use ffmpeg, using handbrake will usually be easier and make better results.

I have a Haupauge 950Q which can handle either the yellow cable or s-video inputs along with stereo audio. It is plug-in-use under linux. I haven't tried it in a very long time, since nearly everything I've recorded since 2015 uses HDMI video and audio. That's a different device.

I doubt there's any need to pay the premium for a Haupauge device. Just look through the V4L2 hardware lists for supported chips and find any device that uses one of those chips. https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/V4L_capturing explains. Note that this domain is from the early 2000s when this format was more common.

BTW, it seems you ask the same question about every 12 months hoping for a different answer. What's up with that?

[ne29914]

Wrong!
The ubiquitous "video encoders" are nothing but A/D converters delivering a raw data stream to the PC. Immense post-processing is needed to convert that data stream into something useful, like MPEG-2. Practically all the driver/post-processing/formatting software is only available for Windows, and if you're lucky for Mac.
I've yet to see a product that has good Linux support (I may be wrong here, but...).

The right (and universal) way of doing PAL/NTSC capture is to use a device that provides a direct MPEG-2 stream at its USB output. This can be recorded/processed directly by VLC or whatever video software you use.

Several professional units are available, but expensive.

The only consumer devices I've ever seen doing direct PAL/NTSC -> MPEG-2 conversion are the Grabster AV400 and AV450 from Terratec. Plug in, open VLC and select the stream: Bam! Video is on your screen.

No longer available, but they come up often on Ebay. Grab one if you see one.

[TheFu]

Well, every video recorder I've owned, which is about 5 has
a) supported Linux
b) provided at least mpeg2 as an output format.

Seems like you've just been unlucky in hardware choices. I had a Plextor ConvertX https://www.amazon.com/Plextor-Conve.../dp/B0001CJF3A that would output either mpeg2 or DivX (the original mp4 video format). It supported Linux with both codecs and V4L.

A link to an overly expensive Haupauge 950: https://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-112...dp/B000J1CCGA/ There are cheaper, approx $20 versions of this now, just without the Haupauge name.

I've never had luck using vlc to capture anything. OTOH, I have used ffmpeg and a few other V4L and V4L2 compatible free software on Linux to capture the output from those devices. It wasn't anything difficult.

The only time I was stuck using MS-Windows to capture video was with Haupauge 1212 and 1515.

Here's an example $13 version that says Linux works with it: https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Dig.../dp/B087TDN2FL I'd try that to start.

[satimis]

Hi all,

Lot of thanks for your advice and your time spent to help me.

Is it the right hardware which I need ?
USB Capture Card Digital Video Recorder Av Display
https://www.ebay.com.hk/itm/38705658...&segname=11403

Please advise. Thanks

So VLC will be the software for this processing ?

Regards

[TheFu]

Does the listing say it works under Linux?

[satimis]

Does the listing say it works under Linux?

Hi TheFu,

Could you please explain in more details

Thanks

Regards

[TheFu]

No. It is a simple question. Does the listing on ebay say it works under Linux or not? It is an easy question. If it doesn't specifically say that it will work under Linux, I wouldn't buy it. I provided a link to a device that DOES say it works under linux. The chips inside the plastic matter. You should also check that it supports the inputs you need - S-Video.

Of course, you will need some sort of playback device too connect this recorder to. Nothing will replace that. That requirement should be obvious.

[satimis]

No. It is a simple question. Does the listing on ebay say it works under Linux or not? It is an easy question. If it doesn't specifically say that it will work under Linux, I wouldn't buy it. I provided a link to a device that DOES say it works under linux. The chips inside the plastic matter. You should also check that it supports the inputs you need - S-Video.

Of course, you will need some sort of playback device too connect this recorder to. Nothing will replace that. That requirement should be obvious.

Nothing has been mentioned either for Linux or for Windows

Whether you meant following device;
Video Capture Card USB 2.0 Audio Device Old VHS Mini DV Hi8 DVD VCR to Digital Converter for Mac, PC Support Windows 2000/10 / 8/7 / Vista/XP/Android
https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Dig.../dp/B087TDN2FL

Regards

[TheFu]

【Plug and Play】Our USB 2.0 Video Capture Adapter provides a link between a PC and a video device with RCA connector or S-Video connector, such VHS, VCR, DVD,Hi8, Camcorder. Automatically install the driver once you hook up this RCA to USB Converter to a PC. No external power is needed.Support Win 2000/Win Xp/ Win Vista /Win 7/Win 8/ Win 10/Linux Mac/Android.

【Support All Video Formats】 The Video Capture Card Support Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation Control. Capture audio without the sound card. Support DVD+/ -R/RW, DVD+/-VR, and DVD-Video. Applying to internet conference / net meeting. Support NTSC, PAL Video format. NTSC: 720 x 480 @ 30fps,PAL: 720x576 @ 25fps. Win 2000/Win Xp/ Win Vista /Win 7/Win 8/ Win 10 Linux Mac/Android

is in the item description for the Amz link. Not hidden.