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Re: High-8 video



Over the years, Hi8 has been an extremely difficult format from a
preservation perspective. There are many reasons for this,  but most of the
problems relate primarily to the very high density of information on a tape
that is very small, thin, and fragile.  In fact even today Hi8 has one of
the highest recording densities of ANY format per unit area - and many newer
formats actually have lower density per unit area - the industry learned a
bit from some of the Hi8 problems. It is rare for us not to get an inquiry
on a weekly basis from people that have Hi8 problems - often relating to
their tapes not being able to be played back properly.

There are other sub-issues relating to Evaporated Metal tape that is often
used for Hi8 as opposed to Metal Particle tape. Evaporated Metal (ME) tape
has had all sorts of problems relating to the thickness of the magnetic
coating and it's ability (or lack thereof) to resist abrasion that is a
normal function of playing a tape back.

Finally, my personal opinion is that Hi8 is very high up on the "endangered
species" list of current videotape formats. A replacement format for the
consumer market - Digital 8 - has been in the market for a while now, but
more importantly the DV format has a very large market penetration is the
same price/performance space that Hi8 used to be in. Some current Digital 8
models have the capability to play back a Hi8 tape (note - NOT RECORD - only
play back) so I really don't see Hi8 being around for a long time. And it
won't be missed much - as I mentioned above it was always a trouble format,
but in all fairness it was capable of making very nice pictures for a format
that was relatively inexpensive and small at the time of its introduction
(1989).

My advice - if considering this collection I would include in the budget an
IMMEDIATE plan to transfer the Hi8 tapes to another format - probably
BetacamSP or perhaps BetacamSP AS WELL AS a Digital Videotape Format. If you
cannot afford this then I would seriously consider not taking the
collection. IF it is not preserved it has a slim chance of survival.

jim

Jim Lindner
VidiPax - The Magnetic Media Restoration Company

Minister of Preservation and Access
VP General Manager VidiPax Division -
Loudeye Technologies
450 West 31 Street
New York, N.Y.  10001
212-563-1999 ext. 102

www.vidipax.com
Moderator: AV Media Matters Listserve

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU]On
> Behalf Of Tara E Zachary
> Sent: Monday, October 23, 2000 4:53 PM
> To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject: High-8 video
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> We're looking at taking a collection that has quite a large component of
> High-8 video.  I am interested to know what other repositories have done
> with this format as far as access and preservation/migration.
>
> Many thanks!
>
> Tara E. Zachary
> Assistant Curator for Manuscripts
> Special Collections, LSU Libraries
> Baton Rouge, LA   70803
> www.lib.lsu.edu/special
> 225-388-6546
>
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
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> Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>
>

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

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      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
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Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
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Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>