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Convert Hi8 Tapes to Digital or DVD
The best time to convert Hi8 tapes to digital or DVD is right now. Hi8 tapes, Digital8 and all other magnetic tape formats will eventually deteriorate and loose their recorded content, sooner than you might think. Don’t let your precious family footage and home videos fade away for another day.
With over 25 years of experience, we convert Hi8 to digital or DVD at the highest quality, as well as all other home video tape formats. Converting Hi8 tapes to digital or DVD is the only way to ensure that your captured memories are preserved and protected, forever.
Accepted Video Formats
Our pricing for video transfer service VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV, Hi8, 8mm, Betamax
| QUANTITY | BULK DISCOUNT | PRICE PER TAPE (UP TO 2.5 HOURS) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 10 | $22.00 | |
| 11 - 25 | 10% | $20.00 |
| 26 - 50 | 15% | $19.00 |
| 51-100 | 20% | $18.00 |
| 101 - 200 | 25% | $17.00 |
| 201+ | CALL |
| ADDITIONAL VIDEOTAPE TRANSFER OPTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Capture Video Footage Over 2.5 Hours | $10 per Tape |
| Create Video DVD with Custom Menu & Case | $15 per DVD |
| Additional DVD Copies | $9 per DVD |
| Custom On-Screen Titles | $5 per Title |
| Repair, Re-case, Re-spool Damaged Tape | up to $25 |
| Custom Video Editing Service | $55 per hour |
Every Hi8 Tape Transfer Order Includes:
- Careful Inspection & Handling of Each Hi8 Tape
- Real-time Capture Using Professional Video Decks
- Custom Naming of Video Files by Label
- TBC Video Filtering to Eliminate Jitter & Improve Quality
- Free Shipping for Orders Over $250
- Free Pickup for Orders over $500 (NYC Tri-State Area)
Our Hi8 Transfer Process
We carefully inspect and determine the length of each tape before converting to digital. All tapes are processed in real-time from beginning to end to ensure every moment is captured and preserved. Our skilled video technicians convert Hi8 tapes to digital, as well as Digital8 and other formats using high end decks connected to computers via professional analog to digital converters.
The video signal is filtered through a TBC (time base corrector) device to eliminate jitter, stabilize playback errors, and enhance picture quality. Once each tape is captured in its entirety, blank space is removed from the beginning and end of each video before being converted to MP4 (or any other digital format you prefer). Each video file is reviewed for quality assurance before being put onto your delivery media of choice (Flash Drive, Hard Drive or DVD).
Video Quality and Resolution
The Hi8 videocassette format was an upgrade from Sony’s standard 8mm cassette and offered an increase in picture detail. The third and final 8mm variation, Digital8, was released in 1999 and utilized the industry-standard DV codex to further improve picture quality and functionality. Though slightly more durable than older formats such as VHS or VHS-C tapes, 8mm tapes are still magnetic and will deteriorate over time.
We use professional playback equipment and software to convert Hi8 tapes to digital, ensuring the highest picture and sound quality. To make sure all of your memories are captured; we convert video tapes to digital at the same resolution as the original recording, so there is no loss of quality. Most consumer videotapes including VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi-8, and MiniDV have a Standard Definition Resolution of 720×480 with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Convert Hi8 to DVD or Digital
Our standard service includes converting your Hi8 tapes to digital files, which offers you the most versatility. Digital video files can be stored on a hard-drive, flash-drive, computer, device or in the cloud. They can also be edited, emailed, copied or made into DVDs. We can provide you with the appropriately sized flash or hard drive for your new digital files or we will put them on your own at no charge.
Most smart TVs have a USB input so you can simply plug the flash drive into your TV to watch your digitized home movies. As a standard, we output all Hi8 tapes to MP4. MP4 files are compact, universal to both PCs and Macs, easy to upload, share, and edit. Upon request, we can output your files to AVI, MOV, MPEG-2 or any other file format you prefer.
For your convenience we can also convert Hi8 tapes to DVD. Included with each DVD is a custom menu, custom chapters and case. We can create a DVD for each individual tape or combine multiple tapes onto a single DVD, creating a custom chapter for each. We use dual layer DVDs that hold up to 4 hours of footage on each disc.
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What people are saying
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What Our Customers Say
We had such a great experience with Smooth Photo Scanning, and I really can’t recommend them enough. We brought them a very old book with Sanskrit/Devanagari text, which turned out to be a much more complicated project than a standard book scan. Brandon took the time to go through the book, understand exactly what we were trying to accomplish, and talk through the different options with us. One… of the biggest challenges was the OCR. Devanagari wasn’t compatible with the typical OCR programs they normally work with, but instead of just telling us it couldn’t be done, Brandon independently researched different OCR programs and tested several options on our pages. He spent a lot of extra time trying to find something that might actually work for us which was so above and beyond of him. The scanning itself was incredible. The book was scanned completely non-destructively, with absolutely no damage to it, and the quality of the finished images is beautiful. We were honestly amazed at how clear and professional everything came out. The pricing was also very reasonable, especially considering the amount of time and care that went into the project. We were also on a bit of a time crunch because we were trying to get the material ready to begin working with our teacher, and everyone went above and beyond to accommodate our timeline. Everyone we interacted with was super understanding and helpful.. While we were there Brandon also took the time to show us some of the incredible archival work they’ve done, involving places like Madison Square Garden and historical works. It was extremely fascinating to see the level of care and expertise that goes into preserving these materials. We are so grateful to Brandon and the whole team. They were amazing to work with and this truly is a passion for all of them. The quality of the scans is amazing, and we couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out. If you have something valuable or irreplaceable that you need scanned, especially if it requires extra care, I would seriously recommend Smooth Photo Scanning. 11 out of 10!
- Apoorva YaddanapudiGoogle review
Great experience overall. I brought in my paintings to be scanned and they had everything done same day, which I really appreciated. The customer service was very friendly , professional, and made the process smooth. The quality came out exactly how I needed. Definitely a solid spot if you're an artist looking to get your work digitized . I will be back for sure .
- Tamar RobinsonGoogle review
I brought in 17 beta tapes from an old camcorder and within a week and a half they were put on a thumb drive! Excellent service, really nice people that work there! I highly recommend! It was so nice to be able to share these videos from almost 30 years ago with my grown children! They loved seeing themselves as little kids.
- Lesley RafesGoogle review
The old video tape that Brandon had digitized for me had presented a few difficulties on my end. I got back in touch with him with questions a couple of times, via email. He responded quickly every time and guided me to find a solution to the problem. He is a very responsible and professional businessman. I highly recommend Smooth Photo Scanning.
- Guillermo GallegosGoogle review
I had three very old family group photos colorized by Smooth Photo Services and the result was amazing, seemingly bringing those persons back to life with perfectly chosen colors, an excellent job. I wholeheartedly recommend them for your more important b&w photos.
- Lorenzo CamilloGoogle review
- What is the difference between Video8, Hi8, and Digital8?
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All three use the same 8mm cassette size. Video8 was Sony’s original format, Hi8 upgraded it with higher picture detail, and Digital8, released in 1999, recorded digitally using the DV codec for further quality gains. Smooth Photo Scanning converts all three.
- How can Hi8 tapes be played if I no longer have a working camcorder?
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You can find used Hi8 camcorders on eBay, but the best option is to digitize your tapes. Smooth Photo Scanning transfers Hi8 tapes on high-end playback decks connected to computers through professional converters, capturing each tape in real time from beginning to end and delivering the footage as digital files.
- How much does Hi8 to digital conversion cost?
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Hi8 conversion costs $22 per tape for 1-10 tapes, covering up to 2.5 hours of footage each. Pricing falls to $20 for 11-25 tapes, $19 for 26-50, $18 for 51-100, and $17 for 101-200. Footage over 2.5 hours is $10 extra per tape, though Hi8 tapes rarely exceed 2 hours of content.
- Can Digital8 tapes be converted along with Hi8 tapes?
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Yes. Digital8 and Hi8 tapes can be sent together in one order at the same per-tape pricing. Both are captured on professional decks, reviewed for quality, and trimmed of blank space at the start and end of each video.
- Do Hi8 tapes lose quality over time?
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Yes. Hi8 tapes are slightly more durable than VHS and VHS-C, but they are still magnetic media and gradually lose picture and sound quality. Hi8, Digital8, and every other magnetic tape format will eventually lose recorded content, often sooner than expected.
- Can Hi8 tapes be converted to DVD?
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Yes. Each DVD includes a custom menu, custom chapters, and a case for $15, with additional copies at $9 each. Dual-layer DVDs hold up to 4 hours of footage, so several Hi8 tapes can be combined onto one disc with a chapter for each.
- Can converted Hi8 videos be played directly on a TV?
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Yes. Converted Hi8 footage is delivered as MP4 files on a flash drive, hard drive, or DVD. Most smart TVs have a USB input that plays MP4 files directly from a flash drive. Smooth Photo Scanning will put the files onto an appopriately sized drive, or you can provide your own at no charge.