#Hi 8 Editing Solutions?
8 messages in this thread
I am trying to set up a practical way to edit my HI 8 tapes to VHS format and
add sound ( music & narration). I have bought Video Director 2.0 and have been
using
my TR-700 as the playback deck. This arrangement is very slow and difficult to
find edit points quickly. I also worry that this is hard on the tape transport
in the camcorder. I have been considering adding a EVS-7000 to use as the
playback deck. I have also been offered an EVO-9700 which is a professional
playback and record deck. Which of these two solutions will work out better?
Most of the people that I have talked to say that the HI 8 tape will not hold
up during the editing process. Are there any good solutions other than
transfering up to a better format. I have also been advised not to spend much
money on linear gear now because Non-Linear will be cheaper and of better
quality in about a year or two. Do any of you agree that this will happen
soon? If so what is the best intrim solution without spending too much money.
Thanks for your help.
Would like to suggest FUJI M221E tape. Seems to hold up very well. Your other
problems are universal with the HI-8 crowd. Just don't lose the Y/C.
Richard Floberg
74001,2744
Thanks for the advice on the Fuji 221E tape. I'm already using it as my camera
master tape.
> I am trying to set up a practical way to edit my HI 8 tapes to VHS format
> and add sound ( music & narration).
Suggest stay in Hi8 to Hi8 for second generation. Then with a deck that can
add PCM audio you can dub a continuous cd-quality stereo sound track.
Perfect for narriation and music … just what you want to do.
Then dub the second generation over the VHS when you're satisfied with it.
Hi8 starts with enough resolution you don't gain much by doing the second to
VHS. But you gain a lot in editing capability by staying in Hi8.
> Video Director 2.0
Fine start imho.
> TR-700 as the playback deck
I'd suggest using it as a record deck instead. Minimal wear and tear this
way. Eventually you'll want a separate record deck but first …
> a EVS-7000 to use as the playback deck
This or a EVC-1000 Vdeck is an excellent choice. Both can do PCM audio.
And both can be controlled by VD. The Vdeck can often be found used for
$800-1000. Partly for this reason that's the direction I went.
> HI 8 tape will not hold up during the editing process
Not true. Seems many think the bigger size of VHS/SVHS means it's more
durable. I don't see any evidence of that based on user comments of both
… or my use to date.
> Non-Linear will be cheaper and of better quality in about a year or two
I agree. It will take a combination of good hi rez PCI capture cards and
low cost multi-GB hd's to put this in reach of us comsumers. The PCI cards
are just about to come out having been announced this spring.
-jts < $ .02 >
Thanks for the practical answers to my questions. I'm interested in any more
information you can provide me on the EVC-1000. Can it be used as a stand
alone deck or must it be controlled via a computer interface? Does it have
it's own jog shuttle control, and do you think it has a more durable tape
transport than the EVS-7000? Any other comments would be appreciated.
> the EVC-1000. Can it be used as a stand alone deck or must it be
> controlled via a computer interface?
Both ways.
> jog shuttle control
No … BUT if you have a Sony remote with jog shuttle then it will work with
it. So in a way, actually yes. It does come with a nice remote. Just no
jog shuttle. But VideoDirector has essentially jog-shuttle since it can do
single frame (30 frames/sec) step accurately with the 700 and Vdeck's RCTC.
> a more durable tape transport than the EVS-7000?
I'd guess about the same but I'm not positive. The Vdeck/1000 seems to be
the choice among professionals for Hi8 until they need single frame
recording ability. Then they step up to a $5,000 Sony Hi8 deck. The
EVS-7000 is very new so I'm not seeing a lot about it from pros yet.
Consumers appear to be favoring it over the Vdeck. If I were buying new I'd
probably prefer the 7000 as both decks are $1400 and the 7000 gives a single
frame TBC (not the best but ok).
To get a better feel for what the pros are favoring, if this is important,
I'd suggest calling B&H and ask them. They shoot straight with minimal BS
in my experience.
> other comments
While I used my 700 in the editing setup initially I don't like it this way.
Most say it adds undesirable wear and tear. But for me it had the net
effect of taking the 700 out of my hands so that I wasn't shooting video. I
just didn't want to unhook it from the editing setup. I really like the two
Vdecks I'm using … compact and efficient. If I decide to do some A/B roll
then I'll probably press the 700 back in service as either the B deck (most
likely) or the record again. But by them I hope NLE will be a reality and
that will supply the second source for roll … or heck, do it all on the
hd. It all depends on output quality and storage requirements.
One other point, so far I've seen little useful, practical guidance on video
editing in print. Videomaker is ok. Nothing else is practical that I've
found. Camcorder is way too superficial. The best way I've found to pick
up information is hanging out on the various vendors' forums. Adobe on
ADOBEA, Fast on MULTIB and Videonics on CEVIDEO. BPFORUM is good but
traffic is slow as is MULTIMED. DTVFORUM while the new kid on the block is
coming on strong.
-jts
Thanks for all the help. I think I'll go out and buy the EVS-7000 unless
someone tells me that I should pickup the EVO-9700. I can get the 9700 for
$3400 used with a offer to sell it back for $3000 from an equipment broker. It
has the advantage of having a playback and record deck in one unit along with a
titler and edit controller. Whatever I get I don't want it to be totally
useless when I upgrade to NLE, unless I can resell it.
Sounds like you're heading in a solid direction. I'm not sure I'd pop for
the 9700 at the start. The 7000 could be easily resold here if you decide
you want more machine. But I don't think you'd need anything else when NLE
comes along. I'm settling in for one to two years more of linear editing. I
suspect it will take something like this for consumer NLE to get here. If
it's this year that will be nice but I think the odds are not good unless
you settle for buggy capture cards, software and large expensive SCSI drives
and host adapter. That's the reason I decided to pick up another Vdeck
rather than turn blue holding my breath. If I'm wrong, that's good!
-jts