Can SCSI streamers read 8mm video tapes?
 

Hello.
I would like to ask if there are any streamers for 8mm tapes (Data8/exabyte) that could be flashed to read 8mm video tapes?
In the same way as DDS drives can be flashed to read DATs.

You would need a nonexistent software analog video decoder to interpret the data, so what would be the point?

For Video8 yes, but Hi8 and Digital8 were digital.

The point is, to finally transfer the old tapes to PC.

Cassette can not be "transferred" only the movies from the bands

V8 and Hi8 via D8 camera intern turn on TBC and off DNR.
Signal via Firewire to the OHCI to the PC, read with WinDV.

or even better and cleaner
Sony EV-S9000...int TBC=on...int.DNR=off
or Sony EVO 9700p or 9800P signal .... to a TBC1000
and because either in a Canopus NX or to a Data Video DAC. 7
From DAC-7 then via SDI [digital] in the PC.

Sometimes I have to access a D8 camera, but I admit that the signal via analog in S-Video out again. [in V8 + Hi8 tapes]
Because the denoiser on the chip in the camera is poor and only suitable for the real-time output.
Capturing with Huffyuv or Lagarith
Filter with Avisynth.

Hi8 is analog, and given the cost of a used Digital8 camcorder it isn't worth pursuing some other method to transfer Digital8 data.

I knew V8 was analog and D8 digital, but wasn't sure about Hi8.

The cost is what makes me wonder if transfer can be achieved by an Eliant drive, either by software, or recording the magnetic flux.

In the US, a Digital8 cam can be had for under $70 on eBay if you're patient enough.

Unfortunately can not play all the D8 camera also V8 or Hi8.
Watching one must even when shooting at SP or LP.
Internal TBCs also offer the least.
Internal DNR switch off also does not go in all the D8 camera

Original
www.ww-consulting.ch/DL/D8.zip

Yep, I was speaking specifically about the cost to transfer Digital8 tapes as compared to his flashing idea since we established that his method wouldn't be useful for Video8/Hi8 anyway.

I guess, despite the tape being pretty much the same, the data drive did not have firmware to be compatible with those formats...

I've heard these requests (often whining) since I started back in 1992. At that time, it was wanting 2x+ non-realtime analog ingest for editing. You could duplicate faster than realtime, using the non-VCR direct pressing method.

In the early 2000s, it was to ingest/capture VHS to digital. But that never existed either.

Analog video (meaning anything on tape) is realtime, period.

Video is not an endeavor for the impatient. It would be nice, but nothing like this exists. Blame physics, and the laws of the universe.

It could be even 0,5x.
But it all comes to the conclusion, that there is not an already made solution available, so it's still open for creation.

Beside, realtime is the best for analog, especially for loop bin duplicators (damn you 1:64)...

However I've read that 1x does not work well on optical media duplication.

Just a random curiosity:

There is a scene in George A. Romero's 2007 motion picture "Diary of the Dead" where one of the main characters inserts an 8mm tape from security cctv into what looks exactly like an external tape streamer.

Though this might have just been nothing more that for the purpose of the film.