Tape vs. Tapeless: The Ultimate Guide to VHS, Hi8, & MiniDV

[@isaakmorin]

Appreciate the dedication and quality of this video! Anyone hating on this needs to reevaluate their own life and chill

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@isaakmorin 😭🤝

[@DigitalInfinity]

Ended up buying a sony ccd-sc5 because of this video, searched it on FB marketplace and found it for $250, all accessories and even the bag, and paperwork. Crazy deal compared to the current sc7 for 900 bucks on ebay at the moment. Thank you for uploading! Will soon try to get into tapless recording, I do have some hi-8 tapes so i will be experimenting.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@DigitalInfinity legendary find! Definitely check out Dangy cams custom mount or even dev builds extender if you plan on going tapeless

[@DigitalInfinity]

@@TylerCaseyProd Hopfully will be making some vids soon, will def be looking into dev builds! I have my old childhood dcr-trv340 with nightshot, i want to get some sick ir night vision shots with it as well.

[@Antwuantk]

This video came and the perfect time and inspired me to spend some money today. Thanks for such an in-depth intro to these types of cameras.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@Antwuantk glad I could help

[@Antwuantk]

@@TylerCaseyProd I ended up getting a TRV58 since I knew the setup with the powerplay would work after seeing this video 😆Question though, how do you record using the night shot mode without the massive words "NIGHTSHOT" in the frame? Not sure if it isn't going away because I don't have tape in the camera and it is just going to the powerplay.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@Antwuantk it may be an option in the menu usually mine just blinks and goes away quickly. Try it with a tape and maybe see if that makes a difference.

[@MickMod]

Good video, but I have some feedback regarding the Firewire method. 1. You don't necessarily need any weird adapters, there are USB-devices that have a Firewire input, for example a Pinnacle Moviebox. These work on Windows 10 at least, but can be kinda spotty because they're usually designed for Windows 7 or earlier. 2. The "does work for other formats than MiniDV" is wrong, it's also used for other formats, for example HDV and Digital8. You can also use (some) Digital8 cameras to play back Video8 or Hi8 tapes, which can be transferred in high quality using FW. 3. The "one long clip" part depends on the capture software you use, if I capture using Pinnacle Studio, it makes one long video. If I capture using WinDV, it splits up the clips into different files with filenames including the date and time they were recorded. If anyone has any questions about this stuff, just ask and I'll try my best to answer from my extensive experience :) -Mick

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@MickMod Thanks for info! 1. Most videos I saw using USB C now there was a handful of converters you had to get especially for modern Macs 2. Thanks for the clarification! 3. Sounds very useful

[@MickMod]

@@TylerCaseyProd If you're using a modern mac you most likely need a weird setup for it to work, I just use an old Thinkpad running Windows 7 with built-in firewire and it's super simple plug'n'play. Might be worth looking for something similar if you're gonna do a lot of transfers as it really makes everything a lot simpler :)

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@MickMod for sure! Used to use an old Mac back in high school with FireWire and it’s a breeze. Probably not to expensive to pick up these days!

[@1999skateshop]

Yo! I wanna ask if a Pinnacle way to transfer clips would work with a Focus Enhancements FS-4 Pro HD Series data recorder? I just got one and can't figure out the way to transfer clips from the unit to a laptop.

[@MickMod]

@1999skateshop if it uses a firewire connection to transfer files it COULD work with one of the Pinnacle units. For simplicity I would try to find an old laptop with a built-in firewire port and running Windows XP or 7 on it for best compatibility. The Pinnacle units should have a working FW port, but that's mostly meant for camcorders, not hard drives and so on. I would also check if there are any units that are meant for FW hard drives, just steer clear of any straight adapters and so on, they don't work.

[@vincentmurnieks2948]

Absolutely amazing video. Appreciate it ☝️.

[@Shuma123131]

Thanks for this video dude! Hope it gets more views like it should.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

Thanks for watching!

[@leoakaleman]

There's a thing called the Grabstar Pro by dnt (same product as clearclick), which is basically the same as the clearclick 2.0 BUT it actually runs on battery. They took out the S-Video input tho which sucks. Also It's not available in my country, so I have no clue what it costs or if any of you can even buy it, still worth a mention ... maybe... Great video btw. keep it up!

[@jessepace5899]

Ive got a super nice Panasonic mini DV Camocrder, I use for music videos and live concerts. BUT EVERY. SINGLE. RENDER. from the tape into OBS is like a full stop, even a stop and 1/3 under what the footage on the camcorders screen looks like. I've tried every combination of codecs inside of OBS, which helped as little with. color rendering, at at best gets me a 1/3 stop of exposure. I've also tried just increasing the gain inside of OBS, which works but it the picture quality pretty quickly falls apart if the gamma, and brightness are pushed too far. I even brought it to a reputable tape scanner here in chicago to see if they'd pull anything better, and the footage was identical to what I got at home.

[@CinePacks]

Best tapeless video hands down 🔥

[@TylerCaseyProd]

I love you CinePacks

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

A cheap on-the-go setup is android phone, USB Camera app, USB HDMI capture card, and AV to HDMI converter. Better picture and audio quality than RC and equivalents. About the the battery thing for VHS-C, I think depends on the camera, cus I was still able to find new batteries for my S-VHS-C Panasonic NV-S5 (though the camera is faulty).

[@Bembeleke]

Thank you

[@AnzAbz-t6u]

Большое спасибо,очень много ценной информации в этом видео,вы помогли мне определиться с выбором рекордера!

[@the_retrosnap]

I need one of those cameras aint gon lie

[@Gabriel-vt2jy]

Thank you so much! i just bought one and i was a little lost

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@Gabriel-vt2jy glad I could help

[@nodata6009]

There is another option you didn’t mention it’s MiniDVR it doesn’t have a screen but it is even cheaper and smaller then anything you showed. It records in HD quality lasts for about two hours and it is SUPER compact the only downside is that it comes with two A/V jack cables that you need to solder yourself but you can get the ImmersiveRC A/V cable for it to work. Definitely check it out would love to see a video about it from you and it cost only around 30$

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@nodata6009 yeah there weren’t any any available on Amazon at the time of recording this but for got to mention. Not a bad option

[@maxsynonym6172]

Which cable exactly do I need if I want to use it with a MiniDV?

[@prestonstauffer2292]

This is great!

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@prestonstauffer2292 thanks for watching appreciate that

[@TimatCarmona]

Hi, Tyler - loved your video. Do you know if the Sony TRV58 takes any NP battery? I ordered a camera and haven’t got it yet. I wanted to order some extra batteries. Thanks.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@TimatCarmona Just google your camera model and then battery and you can find out

[@ElijahTichborne]

Cheers for this video

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@ElijahTichborne thanks for watching📹📹📹

[@Matt-uc1mx]

There are tutorials to make your firewire recorders capable of using SSD and usb C for transfer. I will need to try it out but it looks promising. I got the immersion RC power play and tried it on a cheap panasonic and now im looking for a quality sony handycam

[@sophieg9939]

I have a mini dv panasonic pv-gs29---is it possible to use a wireless lapel mic with this sort of camcorder? Thank you in advance

[@kjr1608]

Hey man, legit one of the best videos out there for the camcorder community. 1 question, when using the power play on nightshot plus, does it record the emblem and the text as well? Are there ways around that while using the power play? I have done so with my Sony dcr-dvd105 by pressing the home button. (Takes away my sight of the footage being filmed) (with iRecord). With my TRV however, are there settings are other ways to ensure that the text and emblem is not recorded by the power play?

[@TylerCaseyProd]

Take the tape out, Turn of Demo mode in the menu (make sure night shot is off) then you are good for no emblem while recording

[@skaterdad562]

The devbuild build appears to be overpriced, considering the low production cost of the cables. The asking price of $30 seems excessive.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@skaterdad562 the cables are pretty solid to me and he’s making them by hand so I think it’s a pretty fair deal. You can always buy the immersion power play cable they sell now. I would just rather support a small creator.

[@skaterdad562]

Hello, I noticed a KZbin content creator named Max Vega who provides instructions on how to make these cables for a few dollars. However, I believe the $30 price tag is excessive for something that costs less than $5 to produce and takes no more than 5 minutes to assemble.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@skaterdad562 nobody is forcing you to buy it. It’s expensive to run a business either support small creators or build your own cable lol

[@isaakmorin]

@@skaterdad562for some people their time is worth more than $30 so it might not be worth it for you but for others the convenience is worth it.

[@femzzz05]

Or just get a fatshark cable

[@trabolmix2839]

Hello, muy buen trabajo y vídeo, tenia muchas duy ahora se que capturadora comprar un saludo muy grande ❤

[@Skoopman]

Thanks so much for this video! I’m looking to grab a Hi8 camera to just bring with me to parties with friends and family get togethers. I have a question if you don’t mind. I’ve been looking at a bunch of Sony TRV models and am having trouble determining which one to go with. So far I’m thinking the TRV75. Do you believe this would be a good camera to start with? I believe I’m going to mirror your tapeless Power-play build.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

Yeah that is a solid camera, Nice it has the hotshoe This camera is nice because it is small and compact for parties and what not. ebay.us/TPqXZ2

[@GuiSlur]

Thank you so much for making this video! I'm currently studying how to use it, and it's been really helpful ❤

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@GuiSlur glad I can help

[@MakavEli_03-7]

I just picked up a jvc 44x recently and I’m trying to figure out what I need to run it this video helped but I’m still lost on trying to find the best adapter for it even though I see that it takes c-tape.

[@full6330name]

What is the font you used for the subtitles ? Looks great !

[@omino3209]

hiii i have sony trv130e can i use this to realize the glitches

[@justinsheavyheart]

link to the hot mount file for print?

[@Tizzifyy]

I’m not sure why but I’ve charged the batteries you got for the Rcx and it’s worked a few times but now when they charge all the way the rcx beeps and doesn’t turn on. It still works just the batteries now for me aren’t working, not sure how to fix that

[@leoakaleman]

Maybe somebody here can help. I got the irecord thing and it saved all videos as .avi files which can't be imported in most editing softwares. When I try to convert it to mp4 almost half of every video gets really glitchy. ( I tried almost every software to convert) Anybody has the same problem? And do you know as which file format the immersion powerplay saves the videos? Thanks ✌🏽️

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@leoakaleman try one of the simple avi to mp4 converters online. www.google.com/search?q=avi+2+mp4&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS791US791&oq=avi+2+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgCEAAYgAQyCggAEEUYFhgeGDkyBwgBEAAYgAQyBwgCEAAYgAQyBggDEEUYPDIICAQQABgWGB4yCggFEAAYChgWGB4yCAgGEAAYFhgeMggIBxAAGBYYHjIICAgQABgWGB4yCggJEAAYChgWGB7SAQg1NTM1ajBqN6gCGbACAeIDBBgBIF8&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8 Power play is mp4

[@xdvilo8632]

please what camera/effect did you use for the picture in 1:49? It looks like retro but modern in the same way

[@BruiserZombyZone]

Does the TRV58 have a mic input? If not, can I attach a mic to the PowerPlay or iRecord to get better audio quality?

[@pickle4293]

Deinterlacing is recommended, to get that full 60fps.

[@breadguything]

Just got a JVC GR-D90U yay

[@shotbydonn]

can you not get a workable chord for the rc power play from amazon? i need it pretty soon and not sure how fast the dev build site ships

[@TylerCaseyProd]

No you can email him and see how quickly he can ship to you. Let him know I sent you and use my code 😉

[@DorDeKrey]

That RC Powerplay jitter makes the footage difficult to watch...all of them excep the Elgato clearly aren't handling the interlacing correctly as its constantly jumping up & down by 1 line. For my eyes, the Elgato gives the most watchable picture with the ClearClick being 2nd. I'm lucky in that I have an old Toshiba laptop with a firewire port on it, so I can run 1 cable from my Sony Handycam DCR-TRV19 MiniDV to the laptop with 1 cable.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@DorDeKrey yeah an old laptop isn’t a bad option

[@slowmotion-songs]

If folks want to buy these cameras with broken tape decks and worn out heads, fine, but the hype around these cameras is grossly inflating the prices for people like me who are trying to digitize peoples home movies that are trapped on aging, obsolete media. Ebay has become a cesspool of broken dumpster cameras that sell for top dollar, and finding replacement parts is impossible now.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@slowmotion-songs 🤷‍♂️

[@jamesjr2550]

Seems like vhsc batteries are bought alot lately just a few months ago they were everywhere kastar and duracell erc

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@jamesjr2550 good to know!

[@spaceboybrandon]

I have the rc power play and the batteries you linked but when I charge it with a usb c cable and it says 100% and I use it it dies right away when turning it on in 1 minutes drops down all the way to 5% do I gotta charge the batteries off the rc power play? Or what do I do

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@spaceboybrandon charge the batteries with the charger they came with then put them in the RC power play

[@Exodus310]

I have a question. My camera has the no tape symbol right in the center. Will it show once I connect the power play or does it not show up on the power play screen.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@Exodus310 mine doesn’t. The only thing that showed was night shot, and I just had to turn it off demo mode

[@Exodus310]

@ thank you!’

[@fortnitetrener1283]

But what is the problem with VHS-C batteries? If the one i got isn’t good anymore, i can just buy a new one from amazon or am i missing something?

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@fortnitetrener1283 if you can find them go for it. They are just harder to find that’s all

[@kooljesus]

Do u know the best render quality for instagram with these camcorders?

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@kooljesus you could just upscale it to 1080p

[@femzzz05]

Would this work with the sony dcr trv245

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@femzzz05 yes

[@femzzz05]

@@TylerCaseyProd thanks man

[@vwestlife]

That is a Digital8 camcorder. The best way to capture video from it is to connect it to a computer via FireWire, as that will preserve the video in its original digital form, rather than losing quality by converting it to analog and then back to digital.

[@femzzz05]

@@vwestlifeI dont mind loosing a bit of quality as I’m deliberately going for that aesthetic. Would you suggest going for tape straight or a tapeless build as shown here ?

[@vwestlife]

@@femzzz05 But bad digital capture does not make it look more like VHS. It just looks like bad digital video. Look up the video "Ben the surfer - Digital8 in 720p 60fps HD" if you want to see what Digital8 tape is supposed to look like, when properly de-interlaced and upscaled.

[@distributiontechvivomediaa8989]

But does anyone make one of these recorders that will record to a ProRes codec? They all seem to only do H.264.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@distributiontechvivomediaa8989 not that I have seen

[@distributiontechvivomediaa8989]

@@TylerCaseyProd Atomos makes some nice monitor-recorders but none of them have analog inputs. Only digital inputs (HDMI and SDI).

[@SyncroScales]

Music used?

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@SyncroScales everything from epidemic sounds

[@DRACOFURY]

I absolutely hate miniDV Like FireWire to USB don't work you gotta get 4 cables to get the footage 😤 drives me nuts

[@TylerCaseyProd]

That is exactly why I didn't do it lol Glad someone had this experience!

[@DRACOFURY]

@@TylerCaseyProd I'm gonna sell it I like HI8 anyway... 😒

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@DRACOFURY keep it and use a capture card or get a powerplay

[@DRACOFURY]

@@TylerCaseyProd yea I feel you... But I made some some magic with my sony handycams... That grimy 90's feel like a heavens gate recruit videos or a skateboard 🛹 mixtape. The capture card does make sense 😌

[@DRACOFURY]

@@TylerCaseyProd *Mini DVR* is it legit

[@calvinferniza9564]

Im about to go check my moms basement right now I know she’s got a camera in there

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@calvinferniza9564 do it lmk what you find 📹

[@KILLGRADY]

firewire is the only way to go with mini dv!! composite defeats the purpose

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@KILLGRADY what if the tape decks broken

[@BruiserZombyZone]

Man, the Powerplay would be perfect if not for the jiggle.... I can't stand it. Somehow the iRecord didn't have the jiggle, I wonder what the deal is...?

[@Chifftie]

🐐🐐🐐

[@TylerCaseyProd]

@@Chifftie u the goat

[@16andbraindead]

tapeless is dumb, if you're gonna embrace the retro aestethic embrace the retro technology. tapes are just better than sd cards in camcorders mainly because none of them have SDHC or SDXC technology so you're capped at 2gb. Nasty.

[@16andbraindead]

fyi you get better quality and more recording time out of tapes than 2gb sd cards, only sort of "plus" is that it allows photos.