Recording with Hi8 Camera, TBC/DNR settings on or off?
 

Hello! I own a Sony TRV87 to record, then use a digital 8 Camera to transfer the tapes with firewire. I was wondering how the TBC/DNR settings on the HI8 Camera affect the image quality. Should I have these on or off when recording and if so what do they do?

They don't do anything while recording, they act to stabilize and reduce noise on the image during playback.

So it would be useless because im transferring with another camera?

As hodgey said the TBS and DNR functions don't/can't do anything while recording (in Camera mode). They are only available during playback (in Player or VTR mode depending on your model of camcorder). If you record the video on the Hi8 camcorder and then play it back on the D8 camcorder, the D8 may have the TBC and DNR functions available during playback. Some D8 camcorders cannot playback Hi8 tapes at all. I don't know if all that can playback Hi8 also have the TBC/DNR function though it seems likely that they would.

Also, on a D8 camcorder that can playback Hi8 tapes, the TBC/DNR functions are ONLY available when playing analog (Hi8 or Video8) tapes. Since a D8 recording is already digital (DV format) they could not serve their purpose of aligning and cleaning up the analog signal (since there isn't one).

Here is a discussion of Camcorder models recommended for Video8 and Hi8 playback for digitizing.

Note: Sony has most of their manuals available online.

Here is the relevant info from the CCD-TRV 67/87 manual:

If you're playing the Hi 8 tapes in your TRV87, then yes, put the TBC and NR of the 87 on. That will/should improve the video arriving at the D8 camera.

Following on from BW37's comments, as a trial, you could try just playing the tapes in your D8 camera and cut out the 87. Especially if your D8 has a TBC as well, you may end up with better quality video (and have a simplified equipment workflow).

Thanks everyone for the help, I use the hi8 over the D8 camera due to the fact of getting more recording time and that the D8 camera i have has a noisy head which the cameras microphone pics up