HW/SW Solution for Transferring miniDV Recordings?

Playground
#1

This question is not exactly Channels related, but I suspect there are people on this forum who have done this sort of thing successfully.

What I'm looking for is a hardware/software recommendation for transferring miniDV tapes from my old Canon camcorder to a video file of some kind on my computer. The ultimate goal is to get something that I can import into Channels. I've put this off long enough, and I'm worried it might already be too late, since modern computers and OSs stopped support for IEE1394/Firewire a while ago.

The only digital out from the camcorder is FireWire 4-pin. I already have the 4-pin to 6-pin firewire cable that came with the camcorder.

I've done a bunch of Googling, and I think my best chance of success is to acquire a desktop Windows 7 era PC (cheap/used), drop in a Firewire PCIe card (which you can still buy new for $20) and transfer the recordings using Windows Movie Maker.

Any experience with this from the Channels community?

#2

The pisser is I had a Mac Mini with firewire port on it which I replaced 3-4 years ago. Should've done the transfers while I still had that machine.

#3

I've used a MiniDV Tape adapter to VHS cartridge such as this one:
https://www.amazon.com/camcorders-VHS-My-Needle-Store/dp/B0CN9SMTB6/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I1r1BUZwZRkJMiHJtymma9RVJS-r0z_4J805vliRKpfYU2S2rOoZKBfhQ0lxkQLAVQLvKxR3kRt8xQxyN3mUk74A8ZMb7E0_QwsQUsqh3nxYO8xViuS5JmYzk8x3Vozyok_MQBqQkWp4m8BYYeNmxWRj0BJCoehGMmTe0_sRig_54aaJBmFQD7NzuhJAFNJqFBfKRhAjjLFYk7W5yunSfcEODcQ7Sk9ISDafefPeGEg.VhiLOY4jyUCr4wMqNi7qIgUR-myJKTO3Pk-Iz1I2jSw&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini+dv+cassette+adapter&qid=1762352861&sr=8-1
Then all you need is a working VHS tape deck with HDMI output and an HDMI to USB capture device.

#4

That couldn't be further from the digital approach @VTTom is trying to reach. And is VERY analog :rofl:

Is this a thing?

@VTTom Your best bet with modern hardware may end up just being an analog encoder and playing it back from the camcorder itself. What kind of outputs did those have? You would want to use the best one it has, which is likely S-Video.

I think your idea of just acquiring old hardware that DOES support firewire is the best and most fun, lol. There's no reason that stuff won't work, because back then computers were computers!

I'm curious what sort of format the videos come out as, when transferred that way. Are they just mpeg-1 TS files?

#5

miniDV is a digital format. VHS is analog. What you suggest is not possible.

The link you shared a VHS-C to VHS cassette adapter.

#6

I do intend to playback from the camcorder I still have. Just trying to figure out the hardware/software chain between camcorder to channels.

I did a quick Google and the native codec for video over firewire is "DV". Whatever that is. So I'm probably looking at transcoding it to something that Channels can handle.

I did a quick search of eBay and I can get a 2012 Mac Mini, the last one with a firewire port, for well < $100.

I think I scrounge the thrift stores in my area for a used win7 desktop PC that can take a PCIe Firewire card.

#7

Also, I'm pretty sure you can't really capture Firewire video directly to a file. You have to go through a video authoring program like Movie Maker, iMovie, etc. So I'll choose the codec when I export to a file.

#8

You might actually have better luck with a windows PC if you can find the capture software (:pirate_flag:).

An old mini is going to basically just use old iMovie, which who knows how it captures from firewire. The software options on macOS back then were slim because no one bothered to compete with iLife.

Basically, with windows, you'll have more software options. But good luck finding a box with firewire. That was rare. Almost no pre-built computers came with it. It'd have to of been an add on card.

Yeah, just take your DV and -> HEVC and you should be golden.

I'm curious to follow your adventure as I have a few tapes from the 90s (who knows if they still work). But I don't have a camcorder to output them from.

#9

Hoping to pick up a Win7 PC and drop one of these cards into it...

https://www.amazon.com/LinksTek-FireWire-400-6Pin-Port-Include-PCIE-1394A/dp/B07Q2G79QG

#10

might be win10/11 compatible with this driver:

#11

I currently use that in an old Win 7 PC and WinDV to capture the digital stream. Works great.
Using an old Sony DCR-TRV530 and TRV320.

#12

I use an Intelix Digi-Scal-S Converter. It takes a S-Video/Composite/Component or VGA input and converts it to HDMI out. Then you can record the HDMI on anything you want to make your file.

#13

I did as you describe for my even older analog camcorder. But this is a digital camcorder, so I'd like to find an all-digital solution. Also, I have the FireWire cable for the camcorder, but not the funky dongle needed to get the analog composite video out.

#14

Your weakest link may be your old Cannon Camcorder. The playback needs to be stable enough to give you a solid digital output when you're planning to capture it. I've found that it's more practical to use a playback deck that can lock to external sync for more stable digital conversions & transfers.

#15

Yeah, I looked at miniDV decks on eBay. Still pretty pricey. Figured I’d try the camcorder first before shelling out for a miniDV deck.

#16

Yes, used video gear is really pricy these days. I guess you need to weigh the amount of money you'd need to spend for equipment against how many tapes you want to transfer. Sometimes it's not worth making the investment in the equipment yourself if you can find someone who is willing to do the transfers for a reasonable price.

#17

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