Hi this might be a silly question, but I have a Sony Handycam DCR TRV520 that has a firewire port, I also have a ton of Sony 8mm tapes (does not say Hi8 or Digital 8 on them). My question is if I can transfer them using this firewire technique? Thanks in advanced!!
bought a 2012 mac mini Catalina for $100 last year of firewire plugged it in loaded life flix and everything worked perfectly no extra cables or work around
Agreed. this is the most proper way. I also use Canopus advc-100 to capture my VHS tapes to DV format. It is really annoying seeing those "tutorials" using those shitty USB dongles with OBS Studio which produce over sharpened, blown highlight/contrast, and improperly deinterlaced captures.
Hi there, thanks so much for the video. May I ask - I have many tapes which were recorded with a Canon HI 8 Camcorder. Would it also work to digitalize them with a Sony Camcorder like yours or does it have to be the exact model with which the tapes had been recorded?
As long Your Sony camcorder will read analog tapes (like that model I presented) it will work without any issues with any brand. Problems might happen when Your old camera had technical problems head was misaligned then it will work "better" played back on device it was recorded but this is more in form of fun fact not general standard - so someone might tell You that and in rare cases it will be true.
Hi there, thanks for the video 👌 I have the same problem and I hope that your method will work. I have a question: I also have a MacBook and a Sony DCR-TRV830E and I want to digitalise my old videos. Do you think, that your method will work with this camera? If it works, will the quality still be great, or will it lose some quality during the process? Thanks for your help 💐
I quickly check and I think it will work as those cameras are being sold right now with "digitization" in title - so most like I was not only first person who discovered it ^^ There is always quality degradation while working with analog signal - but in my opinion it's going to be close to 0 since it's first playback conversion in chain. Let me and other people know how it work for You. Thanks!
I can't answer that question because it's related to equipment You got. I use: (Apple thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adapter) -> (Apple thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapter 800) -> (firewire 800 to regular 6pin (from some random company)) -> (cable that convert 6pin to 4pin to match camera). If Your compute have firewire port - than You don't need any adapters - just plug it directly.
That's true - but just imagine - You can connect 20 years old equipment into latest MacBook - most like if there will be another iteration - we could just add another dongle :D :D.
Thank you for this great video. Hopefully it comes in handy with my digital 8 and mini dv footage. :) cheers
Hi this might be a silly question, but I have a Sony Handycam DCR TRV520 that has a firewire port, I also have a ton of Sony 8mm tapes (does not say Hi8 or Digital 8 on them). My question is if I can transfer them using this firewire technique? Thanks in advanced!!
bought a 2012 mac mini Catalina for $100 last year of firewire plugged it in loaded life flix and everything worked perfectly no extra cables or work around
What's the camera model. Btw thank you for showing the proper way. People using rca cables irk me cause its so wrong
Agreed. this is the most proper way. I also use Canopus advc-100 to capture my VHS tapes to DV format. It is really annoying seeing those "tutorials" using those shitty USB dongles with OBS Studio which produce over sharpened, blown highlight/contrast, and improperly deinterlaced captures.
@@rickyc4905 thanks for the info on the Canopus, I didn't know about that device.
Hi there, thanks so much for the video. May I ask - I have many tapes which were recorded with a Canon HI 8 Camcorder. Would it also work to digitalize them with a Sony Camcorder like yours or does it have to be the exact model with which the tapes had been recorded?
As long Your Sony camcorder will read analog tapes (like that model I presented) it will work without any issues with any brand. Problems might happen when Your old camera had technical problems head was misaligned then it will work "better" played back on device it was recorded but this is more in form of fun fact not general standard - so someone might tell You that and in rare cases it will be true.
Will this work with Mac OS ? Thanks
what if I dont use final cut?
where can i buy thunder bolt 2 to firewire?
I bought mine second hand used, try eBay.
Hi there,
thanks for the video 👌
I have the same problem and I hope that your method will work.
I have a question:
I also have a MacBook and a Sony DCR-TRV830E and I want to digitalise my old videos.
Do you think, that your method will work with this camera?
If it works, will the quality still be great, or will it lose some quality during the process?
Thanks for your help 💐
I quickly check and I think it will work as those cameras are being sold right now with "digitization" in title - so most like I was not only first person who discovered it ^^
There is always quality degradation while working with analog signal - but in my opinion it's going to be close to 0 since it's first playback conversion in chain.
Let me and other people know how it work for You. Thanks!
Please give the links
Does a FireWire to usb cable have any loss is quality? The Handycam I have came with one & I can just plug that directly into my Mac
If You mean firewire to thunderbolt then there is no quality loss , this is all digital and You will get exactly what was on tape.
Do you require particular driver in mac?
i've tried this before but the handycam is not detected in my computer.
No I had not use any additional drivers - plug and play - just show up in FinalCut. Back then I was using Intel CPU - maybe this is issue?
I bought a FireWire usb to 4 pin with a usb dongle to MacBook and it won’t pop up. Do I need exactly what you used?
You need an official Mac dongle for firewire, unfortunatly those cheap converters or whatever on amazon dont work
Do you have a copy of the VCR-4 Manual in pdf format that you can send me?
Sorry I don't have.
What are the exact cords needed?
I can't answer that question because it's related to equipment You got. I use: (Apple thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adapter) -> (Apple thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapter 800) -> (firewire 800 to regular 6pin (from some random company)) -> (cable that convert 6pin to 4pin to match camera). If Your compute have firewire port - than You don't need any adapters - just plug it directly.
@@ElectronicNoobBlog okay thanks i have a MacBook
@@ElectronicNoobBlog Can I also go from thunderbolt to 800 firewire and then with 9 pin male to 4 pin male cable into the camera?
so many dongles lol i just use my powermac g5
That's true - but just imagine - You can connect 20 years old equipment into latest MacBook - most like if there will be another iteration - we could just add another dongle :D :D.
like 9 adapters! haha
Tim Cook need to earn even after standard is dead - hahah