Do you have old 8 mm or Super 8 film reels that contain family memories or other sentimental film(s)? Just finding a device that can play either format can be challenging, but we have a solution. KPL’s Grace Schmidt Room of Local History now has a Wolverine MovieMaker Pro available for public use. This simple device scans 8 mm and Super 8 films frame-by-frame and converts them into digital movies (without sound). Reel-to-reel 8mm and Super 8 films degrade over time, so this device helps you preserve memories that may not survive in their original format.
How does the Wolverine MovieMaker Pro work? As the device feeds film through, each individual frame is captured. When the process is complete, a video file assembled from each frame is saved on an SD card.
More detailed instructions are available when you borrow it, but the basic instructions are as follows:
- Plug in the power adapter.
- Insert a SD/SDHC memory card, maximum 32 GB.
- Turn on the MovieMaker Pro device with the power button on the grey central control panel.
- Clean the Light Table. A brush and a blower bulb are provided.
- Mount the reels and film.
- Adjust the frame of the picture
- Record
- After the film reel has been entirely transferred to the right reel, press the Enter button to finish recording
- Rewind, after removing the film from the Light Table and swapping the two reels
A short clip (2:25) outlining these steps can be viewed here.
Does that sound simple? It is!
There are however a few things to note:
- The Wolverine MovieMaker does not record sound. It was rare for Super 8 film and especially rare for 8 mm film to have sound, but you can at least determine if it is present on any reel if there is a magnetic strip along the same side as the sprocket holes.
- The conversion of 8 mm or Super 8 film is a time-consuming process. For digitization, make sure you allot at least one hour per (7 inch) reel. Additional time will be required for larger reels.
- The Wolverine MovieMaker requires a standard SD/SDHC card to record any film. We provide an SD card that film can be saved to, but we recommend that you bring your own storage device, or use a cloud storage service such as Google Drive, to take the file(s) with you. Note that a single reel may produce a MP4 video file with a file size of around 1 GB, so please ensure that your preferred storage method has enough capacity for your project.
As mentioned, detailed instructions that are easy to follow are provided when you borrow the Wolverine. However, GSR staff are always available to offer assistance if needed.
If you’re ready to book an appointment to use the Wolverine, or if you’d like more information, please contact GSR staff at 519-743-0271 extension 212 or email gsr@kpl.org.
Scott Clark, GSR Senior Library Assistant