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September 8, 2017
Answered

Digitising Hi8 and Digital8 Tapes using a Sony GV-D200

  • September 8, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 984 views

I have hundreds of Sony Digital8 tapes and a fair number of Sony Hi8 Tapes. After a catastrophic disaster to my HDDs all my digitised versions of the material on these tapes were lost. So I now need to re-digitise the whole lot as quickly as possible as time has degraded the image and sound quality. The camera I recorded the interview material contained on these tapes and used to digitise them, the Sony DCR-TRV330, is now starting to die. After looking for a replacement option, I found the Sony GV-D200 which looks like it could help my workflow due to not having to turn the camera upside down each time I have to change the tape plus it would fit well on my desk next to all the other essential editing pherphials.  So with all that said my question is:

Will a completely refurbished Sony GV-D200 enable me to digitise my Hi8 and Digital8 tapes using the last version of Adobe Premier Pro? I have a subscription to Adobe's creative cloud so always keep it updated.

Will I be able to preview what I am digitising and control the device within Premier Pro? Will it digitise the tapes at a higher quality than using the now 17 year old Sony DCR-TRV330 camera? I use a Sony HVR-M15U to digitise my miniHDV tapes using Premier Pro and I can control the deck and preview what I'm digitising. Plus, it does a far superior and much smoother job without the hassle of drop frames etc. Will the Sony GV-D200 give me that same ability?

I'm using the Sony HVR-M15U on a Mac Mini with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor and 4Gb of RAM and for a Mac with such low Specs it does sas good a job as my late 2015 iMac.

Any advice, answers or comments would be very much appreciated.

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Correct answer Ann Bens

Will a completely refurbished Sony GV-D200 enable me to digitise my Hi8 and Digital8 tapes using the last version of Adobe Premier Pro?

Theoretical yes but you wont know until you tried it. Premiere can be a bit stubborn when it comes to capturing tape.

Will it digitise the tapes at a higher quality than using the now 17 year old Sony DCR-TRV330 camera?

Nope.

If you have dropped frames use a tape cleaner first.

I still have D8 tapes and they have not degraded in any way.

1 reply

Ann Bens
Community Expert
Ann BensCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
September 8, 2017

Will a completely refurbished Sony GV-D200 enable me to digitise my Hi8 and Digital8 tapes using the last version of Adobe Premier Pro?

Theoretical yes but you wont know until you tried it. Premiere can be a bit stubborn when it comes to capturing tape.

Will it digitise the tapes at a higher quality than using the now 17 year old Sony DCR-TRV330 camera?

Nope.

If you have dropped frames use a tape cleaner first.

I still have D8 tapes and they have not degraded in any way.