[SOLVED] Hi8 to PC using Pinnacle Moviebox

Figgy

Hey guys,

I just started at a place where the editor wants me to capture some video from a Hi8 camcorder. He has a Pinnacle Moviebox along with the Pinnacle studio software.

Connecting the Hi8 Camcorder to the Box's "in ports" using composite cables and then a Firewire->USB cord from the box to the PC, I can't seem to capture. In the studio software, it acts like nothing is connected. The box itself is recognized by windows and the drivers are automatically installed, but nothing using the software.

So, is there another method to capture analoge video onto a PC? I've looked up info on this moviebox and apparently it's a piece of shit, so I'm assuming it has just stopped working entirely.

I need a very simple method of getting this video to the PC, and I don't want to go through the hassle of transfering it to a VHS, back to the box, etc. etc. This box is several years old, so I'm assuming there is a more modern, simple version of capturing this video.

Any ideas guys?

Fantasma

Hi,

Just get a cheap PCI TV card with Composite In. Most old TV cards use the B878 conexant chip and are recognized by Virtualdub.

In case of doubt:

http://www.videohelp.com/

flatlinegraphics

usb to firewire sounds like a terrifically bad thing. they are mutually exclusive techs, so any box that does this sounds like its using magic of some kind. and we all know that magic is not very reliable, esp with cheap components.

does the camcorder have firewire on it? if it does, pick up a firewire card (should be about 10-20 dollars). then you can use direct editing, cuing, all sorts of stuff. if its analog out only, can you find a straight analog to usb cable? anything to cut out the usb->firewire magic device.

Figgy

The camera has only an analog out port.

Is there a such thing as Composite->USB? That seems like it would work with the moviebox.

All of the computers in this office are laptops, so I don't know if a video capture card will work.

flatlinegraphics

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=usb+video+capture

don't really have much experience with them. usb is great for burst speed. sustained transfer is ok, but not great. so there may be some dropped frame issues. but still probably better than failed magic cables.

there may be some pcmcia capture cards out there (assuming that you have an open pcmcia slot on the laptops...)

Figgy

Thanks for the help guys... it turns out this moviebox is a piece of shit and wasn't being recognized by Vista. I ended up going out and re-shooting all the footage on an HD cam.

Then, I had fun trying to get his laptop to recognize that camera as well, and eventually settled for importing the files off the camera like an external Hard Drive rather than "capturing" the footage like a HiDef camera.