If you have old home movies or videos stored on eight millimeter (8mm) tapes, you may be wondering how to convert them into digital video files. Thankfully, it’s a relatively straightforward process that you can do at home with the right tools. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to convert 8mm to DVD or digital files.
What You’ll Need
– 8mm video camera (e.g. Sony Handycam)
– 8mm tape to convert
– EZCAP D60 (available on Amazon)
– RCA cable
– Computer or laptop (Windows or Mac)
Step 1: Prepare Your 8mm Tape and Camera
Insert your 8mm tape into the camcorder and turn it on. Set the camera to VTR or VCR mode, and make sure to rewind the tape if it’s not already fully rewound.
Step 2: Connect the RCA Cable and EZCAP D60
Open the flap that contains the AV out on the camcorder and plug one end of the RCA cable into the AV out. Take the other end of the RCA cable and plug it into your EZCAP D60. The EZCAP D60 converts analog data from the RCA cable into digital data that can be read on a computer. Finally, plug the EZCAP D60 into a USB port on your computer.
Step 3: Install EZCAP D60 Software and OBS Studio
Put the mini CD that came with the EZCAP D60 into your computer and run the software on the disk to install the video DVR and driver. If you don’t have a CD drive or don’t have the disk, you can download a zip file containing the necessary files. Next, go to obsproject.com and download the latest OBS Studio. OBS is an open-source program that has many uses, including converting old tapes.
Step 4: Configure OBS Studio
Once OBS Studio is installed, add a new source and select “Video Capture Device”. Set the camera to OEM device and configure the video to NTSC or PAL depending on your location. Then, configure the crossbar to video composite. Set the resolution to 720 by 480 and the frame rate to the highest frames per second. In the settings, go to output and set the encoder to x264. Under the recording tab, select the recording format to MP4 and change the resolution to 720 by 480 pixels. Make sure the frame rate is at 60, or 30 if you have a slower computer. Finally, hit “Transform” and “Fit to Screen”.
Step 5: Record Your 8mm Tape
Set your camera to VTR mode and start recording on OBS. Wait a few seconds, then press play on your camera. The tape should start playing and be visible on your screen. Since this is analog video, you’ll need to wait until the tape plays through before it’s fully converted. For example, if you have a 2-hour tape, you’ll need to wait 2 hours. When the tape is finished, press stop recording on OBS, then stop and rewind the tape to the beginning.
Step 6: Save Your Converted Digital Video
If you did everything correctly, you should see an MP4 file named after the date and time you recorded the tape in your videos folder. Open it up to verify that it’s the 8mm tape that you just converted. Congratulations, you’ve successfully converted your 8mm tape to digital video!
In conclusion, converting 8mm to DVD or digital files is a simple process that you can do at home with the right tools. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can preserve your old home movies and videos for years to come.