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Digital8 (or D8) is a consumer digital videotape format introduced in 1999 by Sony. The Digital8 format is a combination of the older Hi8 tape transport with the DV codec. Digital8 equipment uses the same videocassettes as analog Hi8 equipment, but differs in that the audio/video signal is encoded digitally (using the industry-standard DV codec). Since Digital8 uses the DV codec, it has identical audio and video specifications.

To facilitate digital recording on existing Hi8 videocassettes the video head drum spins 2.5x faster. For both NTSC and PAL Digital8 equipment, a standard-length 120-minute NTSC or 90-minute PAL Hi8 cassette will store 60 minutes of Digital8 video on standard play or 90 minutes on long play. Contrary to popular belief, the Digital8 format is not technically inferior to miniDV; both are identical at the bitstream level. From a user standpoint, Digital8 is DV (or rather, equivalent to and compatible with consumer miniDV.) At an application level (for example, in a 1394/Firewire link), a Digital8 camcorder appears and behaves exactly like a Mini DV camcorder. Digital8 and Mini DV use different, non-interchangeable cassette media, with Digital8 cassettes being the physically larger of the two. The two formats may also use different media formulations. The maximum recording time for Digital8 is 135 minutes, respectively, using D-90 tapes. These extra-thin, extra-long tapes are rare and expensive. In addition, Digital8 uses tape at 29mm per second; more like the higher-end DVCAM (28mm/s) and DVCPRO (34mm/s). MiniDV uses tape at 19mm/s. According to Sony’s press release of January 7, 1999, for the MiniDV format one frame is recorded onto 10.0 tracks, with the Digital8 format one frame’s worth of information is recorded vertically onto 25 tracks. The use of this recording method enables digital images to be recorded on a Hi8 tape. The future of the Digital8 format though is in question as Sony, the format’s original backer, is the only company still producing Digital8 equipment, and currently Sony has no plans to develop new Digital8 cameras.

With Digital8 technology fading, it is time to collect your tapes and bring them to us at Montreal Home Movies. Our team of experts has a wealth of experience working with a variety of digital formats. We specialize primarily in Digital8 to DVD transfers. To learn how we do this, please see our Remastering section. We will transfer everything on your Digital8 tape to DVD and we are capable of providing additional options.

At Montreal Home Movies, we can provide professional editing services and personal menu, graphics and chapter customization for your Digital8 to DVD transfers. We can even transfer your Digital8 video into other formats. For all additional options, please see our export section.

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