100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
If you’re dissatisfied with the results, we will reprocess your Hi8 tapes for free.
The Fastest Premium Hi8 to Digital Service
Hi8 tapes won’t last forever! The magnetic tapes inside start to decay after about 10 to 25 years, compromising your precious memories. That’s why it’s so important to convert Hi8 to digital. That way, you can ensure your loved ones can enjoy your home videos forever.
Capture can turn your old Hi8 video tapes into downloadable digital files as well as your choice of DVD or USB flash drive with our professional transfer service trusted by Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and CVS.
We also have a partnership with Google Photos that allows us to seamlessly auto-transfer your Hi8 cassette tapes to your Google Photos library, where you can organize, share, and relive your priceless camcorder experiences.
The best part is that our transfer service is the fastest in the industry with a 30-day turnaround time, compared to the industry average of 70+ days.
Why Should You Convert Hi8 to Digital Format?
The magnetic tape in your Hi8 tapes deteriorates in 10 to 25 years but converting the home movies into digital files can preserve those cherished moments for eternity.
A Hi8 tape transfer to digital can protect your memories from floods, fires, and theft.
Hi8 video cassettes might be smaller than VHS tapes, but they still take up a lot of space compared to digital downloads that can be stored and viewed on your Mac or Windows computer, hard drive, or in the cloud using iCloud or Google Photos.
USB and DVD take up much less space than VHS tapes. You can also store your files on your computer, on a hard drive, or in the cloud (iCloud, Google Photos, Dropbox).
As Hi8 camcorders and TV adapters become more obsolete, a Hi8 tape transfer makes it easy for future loved ones to view, share, and enjoy your precious memories.
By converting Hi8 to digital, you ensure that all your friends and family can enjoy your priceless moments without fighting over a single cassette. Plus, it is easy to share digital files around the globe on social media and via email.
With digital copies of your Hi8 tapes, you can use platforms like Google Photos to take advantage of modern features like search and reminder tools.
After digital transfer, you can use your own video editing software or digital audio tools to improve the quality of your home videos or even create new memories by combining old footage with new digital video.
What Options are There to Transfer Hi8 to Digital?
There are a few different options to convert Hi8 to digital at home or by using a professional transfer service. Each offers different benefits and downsides.
Collapsible content
Hi-8 Video Converter
Digital converters can attach to your Hi8 camcorder or other Hi8 playback device to turn analog cassettes into digital copies. While easy to use, you will still need a camcorder and possibly an extra HDMI or FireWire adapter to use the Hi8 to digital software. Video capture card options on Amazon, like the ClearClick Video to Digital Converter, can work well, but they are still time-consuming and may not produce the highest quality result. One thing to note is that not all of these options will work with the NTSC Hi8 format.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to use
Cons
- Mediocre video quality as Mp4 or MPEG files
- Time-consuming (will transfer in real-time)
- Must already have a Hi8 camcorder
Use a Video Capture Device to Record
If you have a Hi8 camcorder or 8 mm cassette recorder, then you can simply use a tripod to set up a digital camera or smartphone to record your home videos while they play. This is a cheap and easy way to preserve your home movies, especially if they are deteriorating. However, the quality will be subpar at best.
Pros
- Affordable (if you already have a smartphone or digital camera)
- Works with most Mac and PC computers
- Easy
Cons
- Time-consuming
- Requires some technical knowledge to transfer Super 8 to digital
- Will record outside noise
- Low quality may show glares, dust, debris, and jitters
Capture Hi8 Transfer Service
Using our professional service is the best way to convert Hi8 to digital because you get high-quality results, friendly service, affordable prices, security for your memories, and guaranteed satisfaction. We even offer videotape repair and case replacement as needed. Plus, compared with other services that take 70+ days to deliver your original tapes alongside digital copies, we can preserve your memories in less than 30 days.
Pros
- Affordable starting at $29.98 for the first two hours of Hi8 video (and $29.98 for every 2 hours after)
- Professional results are guaranteed, or we will reprocess your Hi8 tapes free of charge
- Fast process in less than 30 days compared to the industry average of 70+ days
Cons
- We don’t enhance colors or improve the resolution of your home videos (but you can use video editing software on the digital copies yourself!)
What Makes Capture the Best Hi8 Transfer Service?
State-of-the-Art Tracking and Security
By tracking your media every step of the way, you can have peace of mind knowing that your precious memories are in good hands.
Trusted by Top Retail brands
We have exclusive partnerships with major retailer brands like Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Google Photos, and CVS.
Sensitive Information Protection
Our secure Memory Cloud storage system guarantees only customers have access to their memories.
Complimentary Backup
We offer a complimentary 60-day backup of your digitized memories, so your home movies are never lost.
The Fastest Turnaround Time
You will receive your digital versions (and original tapes) within 30 days instead of the industry standard of 70+ days.
Auto integration with Google Photos
Automatically transfer your digital copies to your Google Photos library (or upload media to your iCloud account with our help!).
Quality Care
We handle your analog videotape memories with care while creating priceless digital heirlooms that are guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Media Repairs
We fix minor issues with your Hi8s including mild ribbon damage and mold on your magnetic tape.
How Does Capture Hi8 to Digital Conversion Work?
When we transfer Hi8 to digital, we preserve your legacy using high-quality equipment designed to produce a professional result, guaranteed.
Converting Hi8 to digital is easy using these three simple steps:
Create your order using the button below. Then gather your Hi8 home movies and any additional information that you want to provide.
Send us your Hi8 tapes by adding a shipping label during the checkout process and then dropping them off at your local courier.
In less than 30 days, you will receive your new digital video versions as well as your original analog Hi8 videotapes in the same condition (or better if they require repairs or cleaning).
What is the Difference Between Hi8 Tapes, Video8, and Digital8?
Hi8, Video8, and Digital8 are three separate formats of 8mm tapes, which means they use 8 mm magnetic tape for audio/video recording.
Video8 was the original format. However, Sony later released the higher-quality Video Hi8, short for High-Brand Video8, to compete with the Super-VHS format. Digital8 was yet another improvement that used digital recording instead of analog within the 8 mm tape format.
These tapes were much smaller than VHS tapes, which made it easier to record home movies because of the much smaller and lighter Sony Handycam. Later, the VHS-C format was released to offer a compact and VCR-compatible alternative to Hi8.
Capture can transfer all these 8 mm video tape formats and more!
How Much Does It Cost to Digitize Hi8?
How Much Does It Cost to Digitize Hi8?
We price our Hi8 to digital transfer services by the length of the home movie footage. Our pricing for Hi8 digitization starts at $29.98 for the first two hours of video. Then, we can digitize each additional set of 2 hours for $29.98.
In addition, our service includes Hi8 cassette repair and case replacement as needed so that your original copies are protected. If the actual length of your home movies is longer than what you originally paid for, our friendly customer service team will contact you via email to confirm what to digitize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sony introduced Hi8 tapes as a high-quality version of Video8 in 1989 to compete with the S-VHS format. Hi8 tapes are a type of 8mm tape, which means they can be used with the Handycam device, much smaller than a VHS camcorder tape, which made making home movie memories easier than before. Other companies made camcorders compatible with Hi8 as well, including RCA, Canon, Samsung, and Nikon.
On their own, old Hi8 video and audio cassettes aren’t worth much. You can find them on eBay for cheap, but the memories contained on them are priceless. That’s why it is important to convert Hi8 to digital before you lose your home movies as the magnetic tape begins to decay.
No, because a standard VCR is designed to play VHS tapes. To view Hi8 tapes on a VCR, DVD player, or anything other than a specific Hi8 camcorder or player, you will need to transfer them into DVD, USB flash drive, or digital copies.
As long as you have a Hi8 camcorder or recorder, you can use a digital converter to transfer your memories into digital format yourself, but it is time-consuming and may not offer the best quality. For professional results, it’s best to use a Hi8 to digital service like Capture.
By using Capture, you can convert Hi8 into digital download, DVD, or USB drive copies. Plus, we will secure your cherished memories for 60 days with a complimentary backup.
Yes! Additionally, Capture provides regular email updates and a revolutionary barcode tracking and security system that ensures we know exactly where your precious memories are throughout the entire conversion process.
What Other Formats of Videotapes Can Capture Preserve?
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