CompuServe Messages

Joel, I've used the 9700 with good results. It is a remarkable little editor for the money and produces good pictures form Hi8, especially with the built in ChChroma noise reduction. The main thing that makes editing difficult on the 9700 is audio. On Hi8 there is no linear audio tracks, so you can't hear intelligible audio except at play speed. Also, the AFM tracks are not too useful in editing because they must be recorded with video (actually it is mono on the 9700). The PCM tracks are excellent quality, but cannot be recorded separately as CH1 and CH2, but both at once only. So in reality, you only have one insert audio channel. Many people who I know using the machine actually drop their video down an extra generation, recording the PCM audio over to the AFM, so they can insert another PCM track. Like any of these color-under formats, video does not hold up too well after a couple of generations. Comparing to 3/4", if you are going to start with 3/4" and have to end up there, I'd probably go with the 5850 system – real reliable work horse, but no bells and whistles. You do have alot of standard edit capabilities like two insert tracks, hear audio in shuttle, etc. You will be disappointed in bringing your L1 video down to regular 3/4 though. If you wait to April, Sony is introducing the EVO9850. A pair of these will give you a real solid Hi8 editing system (with a controller also needed). These machines have substantially improved tape handling over the 9800s, true frame accurate timecode, built in TBCs, etc. – fixing all of the problems of the 9800s (which we use to edit Hi8 to 3/4 and Betacam. Anyway, good luck with your ventures.