A USB Adapter to an Old Sony HI8 Handycam

serial data, RS232?

We need to know exactly what sort of output your camcorder has, I will guess video & audio (mono).

If I am right, then a Sparkle digitiser 150 from Pinnacle will do a great job, it comes with its own software and plugs into your camcorder and a USB 2.0 on your computer (it must be 2.0, not USB1.1!!).

It will also digitise audio sources as well from your vinyl collection for example if you wish......

As it is an external unit with its own power supply it does not suffer from the problems of many internal units when the PC power supply is not that clean.....be warned about that! There are many other cheaper digitisers around, but the end results are not always what you want!!

I bought new over ebay in Germany as older units were going for only €10 less and had very early versions of the software!! I believe the current version is 10......or higher!

It will convert US or european video standard, switchable in the software!

Have fun!

Very clean and reliable.

If it is like my Sony, that connector (while it looks like a USB) is used purely for power into the unit. I don't really think video/audio comes OUT of the port. You might want to find a Sony dealer and take it in or give detailed model/serial numbers.

Let us know!! ss

I was assuming that the owner will know what sort of connection he has as generally older CamCorders only have Cinch connectors for both Video and Audio, that is exactly what the Pinnacle Sparkle 150 has for input as well, the Pinnacle box is supplied with such a cable as standard!

My old Camcorder came with a cable to allow connection to a TV etc, this cable may also be used if the camcorder has a proprietry connector to connect the Pinnacle box.

The USB 2.0 connection is only for the output of the Pinnacle digitiser, that goes directly and only to the PC .....

Hi:

I was working on a project is why the reply has taken so long. Indeed I do know the connectors, It has the standard 3 wire connection (Red, White, Yellow) for video and audio. It also has a connection that is supposed to be some kind of fast video labeled S Video? In the past I tried both with no result.

I will go to Best Buy and Fry's look for the adapter that has been mentioned? Just a year after this one was purchased Sony Handycam's came out with direct connect to USB2

http://www.usbgear.com/

http://www.usb-ware.com/

This adapter looks like the complete answer;

USB Video Adapter USB 1.1 Audio/Video Grabber S-video& Composite

Manufacturer: USBGear Barcode: 345432534534534 Part Number: USBG-VX5 Warranty: ONE YEAR In Stock: Yes Ship Weight: 2

Thanks a Lot for the tip and answer

Regards

I think the easier way to do this is buy a tv tuner for your computer. The one I have has a S-video and a RCA connections (The red, white, and yellow connection). You can connect your camcorder on one end, and the other (USB) connection to your computer, play your tape on your camcorder, and you can recorded on your computer.

MidniteFighter

Its good that it is an external unit, but it appears that it would be powered by the PC or Laptop - not good. USB takes its power often from the PC. If it can use an external power supply its much better....

Also I cannot recommend USB 1.1 if you want the quality not to get any worse after digitisation, than it was before! Remember, you will be recording onto the PC in real time, 1.1 has the thruput theoretically, but often not in practise..... especially if the firmware is basic and your PC not the latest, or you are doing a lot of other things at the same time.....

....I would recommend as a minimum a digitiser that connectes to a USB 2.0 port on your PC, and it is in full USB 2.0 mode internally itself. Give it the headroom that it might need....

Why do you think the 1.1 versions are so cheap?

If your Laptop or PC does not have USB 2.0, then invest in a card, as a PCI card they cost less that $20 in a shop, probably less than $10 on ebay.....

For an older laptop, they are also not expensive, I have not looked recently on ebay, but a max of about $30 for a PCMCIA version I would guess.....could be less as PCMCIA is old hat today....

Newer laptops have USB 2.0 already on them.

Best of luck.

Hey Thanks

My laptop is and old Dell 8200 and USB2.0 compliant I will check on that, so that is not the problem. I will be reprogramming it again to Windows 2000 Pro Workstation before I do the data input. so it should be lightly loaded.

If not I will buy the 2.o card and just update the system. The machine is still working and is on it's last warranty extension as far as I'm concerned. However it's my fun and games machine and my work laptop I will not put any videos on.

My next laptop will be one of those wide screen IBM ThinkPad's. They are similar or better than the HP's at a similar price. I never intend to purchase as expensive a machine as I did with this Dell 8200. With bells and whistles and extra stuff I sunk into it far more than it was worth.

Thanks again

Please let us know about your results. Have a great day.

It's working

Thanks for the resource, I was looking for an answer for some time. Those old videos hold more value than anything done today. The relatives always want a copy.

See Ya:

I have a very similar question...I have a Sony CCD-TRV308 Handycam Hi8 and I want to make some of these tapes into DVD's. I have blank DVD+R discs, a DVD burner, DVD creating software and the camera thats it. As far as outputs it has S Video out, A/V out and RFU DC out (NO USB OUT)...I am thinking if I get an A/V out to USB cable it can work, but not sure...the A/V out is small maybe 1/8" size hole. So can I use just a cable/adapter or do I need a converter box or something? Please help I have no idea how to do this. Thanks so much!

If you read this forum right thru from the beginning, I feel it will answer your question, if not, say so and I will help.

Please help I have read it and am very confused as most of this stuff makes little sense to me, thanks!