AVForums

Our philosophy in our forums, reviews, podcasts and feature videos is to promote audio and visual excellence by gathering and sharing the best information and resources available.

Help

To begin please visit our help section »

Not a Member Yet?

It only takes a minute to start enjoying the benefits of AVForums membership, and it's free!

Member Log in

Mini DV Capture

Post Reply
Old 17-06-2008, 9:21 PM   #1
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Experience Points:
2,909, Level: 12
Points: 2,909, Level: 12 Points: 2,909, Level: 12 Points: 2,909, Level: 12
Activity: 0.3%
Activity: 0.3% Activity: 0.3% Activity: 0.3%
Thanks: Gave 1, Got 0
Posts: 46
Mini DV Capture

I have a Canon MD101 Mini DV Camcorder which I have had for a year and collected a massive 1.5hrs of footage. I'm not sure the best way to get this onto DVD. I was considering buying a Home DVD Recorder with a Firewire connector so I can burn whilst playing back. I also have a fairly new PC running Vista Business with Firewire and a DVD buner (Nero software).

Q) What would I need in terms of Capture/Editing software if any to use my PC to capture.

Is there any mileage in buying a Recorder?

Many Thanks
  Quote
Old 17-06-2008, 10:05 PM   #2
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hillingdon /Hayes, Middx
Experience Points:
47,154, Level: 53
Points: 47,154, Level: 53 Points: 47,154, Level: 53 Points: 47,154, Level: 53
Activity: 2.7%
Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7%
Thanks: Gave 1,052, Got 2,970
Posts: 19,311
Re: Mini DV Capture

Quote:
Originally Posted by moblies View Post
I have a Canon MD101 Mini DV Camcorder which I have had for a year and collected a massive 1.5hrs of footage. I'm not sure the best way to get this onto DVD. I was considering buying a Home DVD Recorder with a Firewire connector so I can burn whilst playing back. I also have a fairly new PC running Vista Business with Firewire and a DVD buner (Nero software).
Quote:
Q) What would I need in terms of Capture/Editing software if any to use my PC to capture.
If you have the full version of Nero it can help you capture edit and turn to DVD ( Nero Vision 5)
Otherwise Windows ( Movie maker) which comes with Vista is also capable if fairly lean
There are any no of Software with varying levels of ease of use and features depending on how much you want to transform your footage..
Do a search on "software" on here
Quote:
Is there any mileage in buying a Recorder?
For either method you need a firewire cable and interface at the other end . A settop with firewire should be "standard" (for you)
One would hope the PC has onboard firewire as well, it isnt always present

The advantage of a Recorder is that it is a fairly easy way to end up with a DVD especially where little or no editing is required. Conversion from DV AVI on the tape to mpeg2 ( for DVD video is done in real time)
The DVD video will have a Basic menu but if you dont mind that .. they are worth the money
If you get one with a HDD you can even recird forn camcorder via firewire to HDD do some trimming before commiting to DVD disc

With a PC you download ( capture) in real time, with 1 tape using up 13Gb of HDD space, Edit and then allow time for encidong to DVD video.
The advantage ( for the "hassle of PC) is control over the output and ( if you like) some pride of achievement if the DVD video turns out "polished" rather than "so so"
The whole process from shooting the footage, editing and maing the DVD can be a creative process with use of stlls, transitions appoprite music ect to Jazz things up.. .Editing can be as basic as simply trimming off unsuitable footage, to using the footage to tell a story different to the order in which you shot the scences
That is the creative aspect
Otherwise simply recording to a settop recorder is just as valid a way to get a DVD from tape and may folk have a settop recorder and PC based editing setup using the appropriate one as desired
As such there is no "best way" but whether by PC or settop , as youve rightly suggested ,firewire is the way to go
  Quote
Old 18-06-2008, 2:06 PM   #3
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Experience Points:
2,909, Level: 12
Points: 2,909, Level: 12 Points: 2,909, Level: 12 Points: 2,909, Level: 12
Activity: 0.3%
Activity: 0.3% Activity: 0.3% Activity: 0.3%
Thanks: Gave 1, Got 0
Posts: 46
Re: Mini DV Capture

Thanks for that, may try the PC approach first.
  Quote
Post Reply

Powered by  
 Latest popular product prices
Kodak PlaySport Zx5 
7 prices from
 £79.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Sony DCR-SX45E 
3 prices from
 £189.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Toshiba Camileo H30 
1 price
 £107.00 Click to show/hide the offers

Panasonic SDR-S70 
7 prices from
 £116.00 Click to show/hide the offers

Panasonic HX-DC1 
7 prices from
 £123.95 Click to show/hide the offers

Samsung SMX-F50BN 
4 prices from
 £119.99 Click to show/hide the offers

JVC GZ-HM30 
7 prices from
 £144.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Sony DCR-SX21E 
2 prices from
 £149.99 Click to show/hide the offers

 Updated February 10th at 7:30pm. Prices include delivery.


Thread information and display options
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off