Sony 8mm Formats

Sony 8mm Formats

This doc goes over Video8, Hi8 and its transition/phase out format Digital8.

For Digital8 and DV25 capture read Digital Tape Guide.

Sony 8mm Capture Diagrams

Warning

• Not all 3.5mm TRSS to A/V or L/R/CVBS/GND cables are correct pinout for Sony camcorders, or use standard pinout headphone output ports.

• Always check that video is not being sent on the audio connection cable this will cause issues with both standard capture and FM RF capture.

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Overview

Conventional Capture Workflow

FM RF Capture Workflow

Combined

Sony 8mm RF Capture

8mm formats multiplex there signals into one path meaning Video/HiFi are on the same test point modulated together making your archives a nice simple 1 file per tape using a single capture device such as a CX Card or DomesDayDuplicator.

RF Capture via Jig

Jig Setup (Camcorder/Portable Players)

Simply visually check your pin amount and buy the correct jig with the links below.

Jigs (Unpopulated) / Jigs (With 2.54mm pins) / Flex Cable 0.5mm Pitch / DuPont to BNC Type 2 USB Power Adapter / Type 1 USB Power Adapter

Check the service manual to see what pins have the RF signal. Like any RF tap a 10uf capacitor (ceramic) may be required in-line to get a workable signal depending on setup and device. Some users on the DD86 Discord have had some trouble with getting good output from the newer Sony camcorders, so what input impendence values are optimal are not quite ironed out yet for the long list of non-tested devices.

What is a Jig?

It is 2 things a flex ribbon cable, and a basic PCB that breaks out the connection points to large test probe points or standard header pins which are not practical to install internally on such small camcorder devices.

The Pitch is the space of the flex ribbon cables contacts, Sony use a 0.5mm pitch on there test point ports.

(With a calliper can measure pitch and length and easily replace most flex cables in devices such as VCRs)

On most Sony Digital8 camcorders that support backwards playback, at the battery area, there is a rubber grommet or screw down plate once removed this exposes the Jig connection point for testing this is normally 16/18/20 pin ribbon connectors with a 0.5mm pitch, readily available and generic breakout boards exist so this is the go-to method for capturing Video8/High8 tape formats, decks however have 2.54mm header pins.

LANC Control

Build your own control interface!

Thanks to Novgorod's Arduino LANC to USB we have a software replacement for LANC decks.

Video8

Tape Format	Resolution	Tape Speed	TV System	RF Capture Support	Video Decoding Support	HiFi Audio Decoding Support
Sony Video8	280 Lines	SP/LP	625 PAL	Yes	Yes*	Yes*
Sony Video8	280 Lines	SP/LP	525 NTSC	Yes	Yes*	Yes

HI8

Tape Format	Resolution	Tape Speed	TV System	RF Capture Support	Video Decoding Support	HiFi Audio Decoding Support
Sony Hi8	415 Lines	SP/LP	625 PAL	Yes	Yes*	Yes*
Sony Hi8	415 Lines	SP/LP	525 NTSC	Yes	Yes*	Yes

*HiFi Audio decoding needs refinement. *Video8 decoding is near native, Hi8 decoding is still being refined.

Digital8

Format	Sub Sampling	Resolution	Frame Rate	Bitrate	Audio	Date Code	Timecode	Interface	Analogue Outputs	Cross Support
DV25 NTSC	4:1:1 8-bit	720x480	i29.97	25-30mbps	PCM 12/16-Bit	Yes	Sub-Code	FireWire	525-Line NTSC 3.58	PAL
DV25 PAL	4:2:0 8-bit	720x576	i25	25-30mbps	PCM 12/16-Bit	Yes	Sub-Code	FireWire	625-Line PAL	NTSC 4.43 / PAL60

Most but not all Digital8 camcorders had backwards playback support for Video8 & Hi8 and could digitise them to a DV25 stream internally that it outputs via FireWire which it natively uses for recording or more ideally as those formats are analogue you capture via via S-Video & AV breakout cables.

Note

Hi8 Tapes with RCTC data will be automatically converted into standard ancillary DV timecode with DV25 conversion/capture within a Digital8 device.

Warning

Ensure never to "hot plug" FireWire if doing duel capture this can damage equipment, if detection issues then turn camcorder off, then on again, but only plug/unplug live firewire with the playback device off.

Caution

Digital8 uses DV25 a Lossy Compressed codec at NTSC 720x480i29.97 4:1:1 or PAL 720x576i25 4:2:0 witch is not ideal for analogue video.

The minimum archive standard for conventional analogue tape capture with no codec side artefacts is FFV1 8-bit 4:2:2 at 40-60mbps Lossless Compressed but ideally 10-bit 4:2:2 is used for initial capture.

Field Player/Recorders

List of models

Model	Type	TV System	User Manual	Service Manual	Video8 / Hi8 Support	Service Jig Point	Tapped & Tested
GV-D800	Digital 8	PAL	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
GV-D200	Digital 8	PAL	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
GV-A500	Hi8	NTSC	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes?	Unknown	None Documented
GV-500	Video8	NTSC	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Video8	Unknown	None Documented
EV-DT1	Video8	NTSC	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Video8	Unknown	None Documented
GV-8	Video8	PAL	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Video8	Unknown	None Documented

NTSC (29.97i)

Model	User Manual	Service Manual	Video8 / Hi8 Support	Service Jig Point	Tapped & Tested
DCR-TR7000	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV103	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV110	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV120	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV203	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV210	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV230	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV240	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV310	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV315	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV318	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	16pin 0.5mm Pitch	Yes 100uF Cap Added
DCR-TRV320	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV330	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV340	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV350	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV351	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV360	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV361	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV380	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV460	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV480	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV520	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV525	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV530	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV730	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV740	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV828	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV830	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV840	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	20pin 0.5mm Pitch	Yes Direct
DCR-TRV130	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV140	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV150	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV250	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV260	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV265	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Unknown	None Documented
DCR-TRV280	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Unknown	None Documented

PAL (25i)

These European camcorder models end with an “E”, the list below is backward compatible and can still playback Video8 and Hi8 PAL tapes originally recorded at 25 frames per second.

Again if you are outside the US these are the camcorders for you, and if you can find one of these in the US they should also work for you as they all have duel PAL/NTSC support like most later PAL analogue equipment which is not seen on MiniDV however.

Model	User Manual	Service Manual	Video8 / Hi8 Support	FireWire Interface	Service Jig Point	Tapped & Tested
DCR-TR7000E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes
DCR-TR7100E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes
DCR-TRV738E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes
DCR-TRV320E	User Manual	Not Indexed	Yes	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TRV330E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TRV340E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes
DCR-TRV460E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes
DCR-TRV461E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes
DCR-TRV238E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Yes	20pin 0.5mm Pitch	Yes Direct
DCR-TRV239E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes
DCR-TRV8000E	Indexed	Not Indexed	Yes	Yes	20pin 0.5mm Pitch	Yes 10uf Cap Added

Not confirmed.

Model	User Manual	Service Manual	Video8 / Hi8 Support	FireWire Interface	Service Jig Point	Tapped & Tested
DCR-TRV325E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Unknown	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TRV530E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Unknown	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TRV430E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Unknown	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TRV230E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Unknown	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TRV235E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Unknown	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TRV325E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	Unknown	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TVR250E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Yes	Known	No
DCR-TRV255E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Yes	Unknown	No
DCR-TRV265E	Not Indexed	Not Indexed	No	Yes		No

Dedicated Recorders/Players

Model / Format / Sound / PCM / DCF / Year / € / Drive Comments

Video 8 PAL

Model	Format Support	Sound Support	Year	Price EUR	Drive Type	Frank Hirsinger's Notes
CCD-V8	V8	o - -	1985	€1500	O	originally camcorder; complete VCR, however, with Timer-Tuner Unit TT-V8E
EV-C8	V8	o - -	1985-1986	€900	O	first mobile V8 VCR for CCD M8E or as VCR for Timer/Tuner TT-V8E
EV-P10	V8	o - -	1987-1988	€380	O	first V8 player (no record function!), designed for camcorder without playback option
EV-A300	V8	o (oo) + -	1986	€850	O	with optional PCM Processor (PCM-EV10E) capable of 1 Track PCM
EV-S700	V8	oo 6tr. -	1986	€1400	O	identical to EV-S600; rounded front panel
EV-S600	V8	oo 6Dr. -	1987	€1350	O	also marketed by Pioneer with some different functions and RC
EV-A200	V8	o - -	1987-1990	€800	O	the standard V8 VCR following the 300 model, after the first Multi PCM models were on the market
EV-S650	V8	oo 6tr. -	1988-1989	€1200	O	designed especially for DAV PCM recording and playback
EV-S850	V8	oo 6Tr. -	1987-1990	€1500	O	Sony's first model with Jog Shuttle
EV-S550	V8	oo st 1Tr. -	1990-1992	€1400	U	precursor of the 1000; marks the end of the 6 track DAV standard (5 year run...); built in camcorder power source
EV-C3	V8	o - -	1990-1993	€400	U	first handy VCR for cutting and editing videos with a camcorder
EV-C45	V8	st - -	1992-1994	€500	U	developed from the C3E, now with stereo sound

Hi8 PAL

Model	Format Support	Sound Support	Year	Price EUR	Drive Type	Frank Hirsinger's Notes
EV-S1000	V8 & Hi8	oo st 1Tr	1990-1994	€1500	U	probably the best selling Hi8 video cut VCR with PIP and separated pictures for input and output picture on one screen
EV-S880	V8 & Hi8	st - yes	1993-1994	€1100	U	developed from the 1000 with new designed circuit boards for mechanics and electronics
EV-C500	V8 & Hi8	st - -	1993-1998	€700	U	first handy hi8 VCR developed from the C45 (long time in the market)
EV-P25	V8	st - -	1994-1995	€380	U	inexpensive V8 player (no recorder!)
EV-P300	V8 & Hi8	st - -	1994-1995	€500	U	first inexpensive Hi8 player, developed from the P25
EV-C400	V8 & Hi8	st - -	1996-2000	€500	F	Hi8 VCR developed from the P series, however with the new F mechanics
EV-C2000	V8 & Hi8	st - yes	1995-2000	€900	F	cheap version of the 9000 model, however without the motor driven panel. Capable of viewing and recording the RTC Timecode
EV-S9000	V8 & Hi8	oost 1Tr. yes	1995-1999	€1750	F	last PCM VCR with digital pic. improvements like drop-out filter, digital comb filter; RTC ; Time Base Corrector
EV-T1	V8 & Hi8	VHS st - yes	1996-1997	€1650	F	Twin Recorder with Hi8 and VHS mechanics; very good picture due to DCF
SLV-T2000	V8 & Hi8	VHSst - -	1997-2001	€1000	F	Inexpensive successor of the EV-T1VC

Explanations:

o = HiFi Mono via FM head signal

oo = Stereo via PCM; Mono over FM head signal

st = Stereo sound over polarized FM head signal

PCM = Pulse Code Modulation. Here analogue signals are converted into binary signals. With this method, the carrier signal is in pulse form, the modulation signal is digital.

1Tr = 1 Audio Track.

6tr = 6 Audio Track.

RTC = Sony Re-Writable Consumer Timecode

DNR = Dynamic Noise Reduction = electronic noise reduction: The Dolby noise reduction system is well-known for audio cassette recorders.

DCF = Digital Comb Filter: Enables clean separation of interleaved colour and B/W signals. This prevents colour streaks and unsteady colour edges and enables crystal-clear and precise images.

PCM technology samples the analogue signal 8,000 times per second and converts it into an 8-bit signal, resulting in a sample every 125 µs. The resulting transmission speed is 64 kbit/s.
1 Track is the 1 track PCM method that uses an additional track to dub V8 tapes.

Sound recordings can also be made without a picture 6 track refers to the 6 track PCM process, which is only possible with DAV (Digital Audio Video) devices and enables 6 parallel tracks on one tape. Disadvantage: you can only listen to or record one track at a time. So no real multitrack method!

With the O-drive, the tape is wound counter clockwise around the head drum with a pin.

With the U drive, 2 pins loop the tape around the head drum from both sides and "write" a "U". The F drive is a further development of the U drive. It has a more stable capstan shaft and also offers the option of very fast tape rewinding of just 1 minute (90s cassette) without wrapping around the head drum (tape protection). Some other weaknesses of the U drive have also been skilfully improved!

References

Thanks to Bob Hennessey & Frank Hirsinger for there charts, materials and collected manuals.

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/355121-List-of-Sony-Handycam-Digital8-camcorders-with-analog-digital-passthru

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