Hi8 Videotape Views

• Electronics

Digital8 is the more recent 8 mm videotape format. It retains the same physical cassette shell as its HI 8 predecessors, and can even record onto Hi8 videocassettes. But, the format of video is recorded and stored on the tape itself is digital DV format and therefore quite different from the analog Video8 and Hi8. Some Digital8 cam corders support Video8 and Hi8 with analog sound for playback only, but this is not required by the Digital8 specification and not supported by most Digital 8 cameras apart from one Sony model that can play HI8 as well as digital video.

Just like other VCR videocassette recorder systems, Video8 and Hi8 use a helical-scan rotating head-drum to read/write video to the magnetic tape. The drum rotates at high speed 1 1/2 to 2 rotational spins per picture frame, about 1500 or 3000 rpm for PAL while the tape is pulled along the drum's path. Because the tape and drum are oriented at a slight angle, the recording tracks are recorded as parallel diagonal stripes on the HI8 videotape.

To counter the introduction of the Super-VHS format, Sony introduced Video Hi8 short for high-band Video8. Like SVHS, Hi8 used improved recorder electronics and metal coated tapes to increase video quality. In both systems, a higher-grade videotape and better recording-heads allowed the luminance-carrier to perform at a higher frequency, increasing luminance bandwidth. Both Hi8 and SVHS were rated at a luminance resolution of 420 horizontal TV/lines 560x480 in today's digital terms, a vast improvement over 240 lines and roughly equal to laser disc quality. Chroma resolution for both remained unchanged at approximately 30 lines horizontal. All Hi8 equipment supported recording and playback of both Hi8 and legacy Video8 recordings. Video8 equipment cannot play Hi8 videocassettes.

A Hi8 videotape is an analog video cassette used in video cameras. These tapes are about a quarter the size of a standard VHS tape, although the quality is only marginally better. To record with the tape you need it in perfect working order. If the metallic tape is crumpled, dirty or stuck inside the interior of the case, you may not be able to use the Hi8 videotape in your camera.