Opinion on workflow?
 

Hi all! Just joined and I've been trying to absorb a ton of the useful information on here like a sponge. My whole goal for getting into digitizing tapes and using camcorders is I actually never really got to experience this hardware much and it's something that fascinates me with my already big interest in the IT field. Something about recording silly things on tapes then getting to digitize it with interesting hardware is really cool. My workflow has mainly been thought of with Hi8 being priority and adding a SVHS deck later. I will include all the parts for my computer along with camcorder choice, vcr, and cables.

PC:
AsRock > 4CoreDual-SATA2
Intel Core 2 Quad QX6800 Extreme
ATI All-In Wonder 9600 (CIB)
Crucial 1GB 240-Pin DIMM 128Mx64 DDR2PC2-5300 Unbuffered (2x)
EVGA 100-GD-0600-V1, 600 GD, 80+ GOLD 600W
Seagate Barracuda 1 TB 3.5" SATA II Drive (will prob add a 74GB WD Raptor 10K for OS)
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy
Win XP w/SP2

Cables:
B&H Photo - Pearstone RCA Male Audio Cable (1.5')
Monster Video 2 S-Video 1m (had this lying around, will prob change out)

Camcorder and VCR:
CCD-TRV65
Sony EV-C100

I'd like to know if my choices here for my long term workflow are good. Along with asking about any helpful advice on the next steps to take, once everything is assembled. Thanks all!

Welcome. :)

Capturing video is more than just VCR/camera > capture card. There must be sopme form of TBC between those. Line TBC cleans the image (removes wiggles, chroma noise), frame TBC cleans the signal (prevents dropped frames, maintains audio sync). Separate functions, two items. Video8/Hi8 are a "drop happy" format, and the line TBC in the camera does not prevents dropped frames of audio de-sync. So some form of frame TBC is required, not optional.

AIW 9600 is fine, but Creative / Sound Blaster cards are noisy and tinny. The best pairing with the AIW is the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (TBSC). Rest of system seems fine.

Monster cables are crap. Fat headers damage gear, never buy/use Monster. Pearstone is probably fine, I forget, search the forum. When it comes to cables, "brand name" really means nothing, and in fact the "brand name" cables can actually be the worst due to over-engineering and ridiculous shielding (such as fat headers). It's a cable for video gear, not something the need shielding in space.

At that late date, the 2020s, Sony 8mm-tape "VCRs" are almost always worse than low-mileage Hi8 camcorders for Video8 and Hi8 tapes. You never really see people that are wow'd by those decks, unlike S-VHS VCRs (with line TBCs). Sometimes (often, actually) "a VCR" isn't the VCR you want.

So take the money away from the unnecessary Hi8 VCR, and put it into a necessary frame TBC.

Makes sense, I wasn't sure about the 8mm deck but now that gives good confirmation. I guess it didn't hit me about how vital a frame TBC is. Ill ditch the Monster cable and Sound Blaster.

Yeah, the savings from the VCR, overpriced Monster and Creative, will give tons of funds towards a good TBC. That's the best move here.

BTW, there is a wrong item on eBay, do not buy it. The TBSC card does not have Firewire.

And you have a PM.