Digital8 Camcorder play Hi8?

[MTWarren]

We offer DVD conversion to our clients. I've managed to scrounge a Hi8 camcorder, but recently a client brought me some Hi8 tapes that were recorded in LP. I didn't know Hi8 could go above 2 hours per tape. My scrounged Hi8 can't playback LP Hi8.

The only other common format we aren't setup for is Digital8. Since the cassettes are physically the same I find myself wondering if playback of Hi8 might be possible as a hidden feature. I'm not quite sure what happens between CMOS and recording heads so maybe it's a stupid question, but I can see manufacturers throwing it in if it didn't cost them anything in materials.

[Darkside Post]

Well I do know that Hi8 tapes will play in a Digital8 camcorder. What I don't know if it will play LP.

I had many tape shot on Hi8(SP) and used Digital8 to capture them. I would assume that if the Digital8 that I had would play Hi8 (SP) I would also assume that it would play LP. Don't know never tried it. Go to a Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. Find a Digital8 camcorder and see if a plays the tape.

Best of Luck

[MTWarren]

Wow. Thanks, Here I thought I was asking a stupid question. Thanks for the tip.

[Garrison32]

Darkside, I agree, don't think a Digital8 Camcorder will play a Hi8 tape recorded in LP mode. I had the same issue, and I could not capture the footage. I remember being able to capture SP but LP somehow messes up the signal I think.

I couldn't capture using FCP or iMovie.