Community Newsletter: Q&A: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it
- 9/18/08 9:21 AM
Why not use a external hard drive..
by PECONET - 9/6/08 4:18 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Use a external hdd for this just for your movies and this will be your second back up as well. With this it will be easier to swap between the two computers, so as to edit the movies on your laptop. When all done with editing you can then burn to DVD disk.
Hope all goes well.
Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.
If this info is useful, please give a thumbs up. Thanks
What connectivity do the computers have?
by dknapp - 9/6/08 4:26 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You don't mention a home network, but that is really the best way to go about moving the files. Get yourself an inexpensive 5-port switch that can handle at least 100 MB connections, a couple of lengths of CAT 5e LAN cable, plug it all in, run the home network wizard on both PCs, make a share on the XP that you can read from the laptop and copy like crazy. A slighty less complicated alternative is a big USB external drive. However, your old desktop probably has only USB 1.1 ports, so the file copying will go a bit slower. It is also likely to be more expensive than the switch/cables but you can also use it for backups.
Good luck
Re: Mini DV Transfer
by Captainq33 - 9/6/08 4:37 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Alex - your desktop or laptop will need to have a FireWire port in order to transfer the footage. Sony refers to the firewire port as i-Link in most cases - but it's the same thing. A majority of the camcorders have a 4-Pin FireWire port, but the PC has a 6-Pin, so you'll need that cable. This was probably included in the box as well if you still have it. If not, Markertek Video Supply (markertek.com) is a great source for stuff like this. I've dealt with them for a long time. It's not just another box house or online retailer.
The camcorder may have come with some basic software to recognize and maybe even edit the footage. You might also need to consider hard drive space. Video footage will eat up hard drive space rapidly. It is unlikely that you'll be able to go from camera straight to DVD. Mini DV is not the MPEG format needed for DVD. That's where your computer will have to transfer the file format from one to the next.
An easy, low cost down and dirty solution for this would be buy Quick Time Pro for $29.99
transfering analog tape footage
by 4ironman - 9/6/08 5:07 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use AVerMedia DVD EZMaker to do the job. Connect to VCR and to CPU - it does the rest. Has editing software which works good also.
Transfer VHS Video data to DVD media...
by mvtofino - 9/15/08 12:50 AM In reply to: transfering analog tape footage by 4ironman4ironman:
I read your post regarding the transfer of analog tape footage to DVD, and was hoping you could provide me a little more detail.
My objective is a little different than Digital Video to DVD as was the original question in that thread. I have a number of VHS video tapes that I would like to convert to an appropriate format for transferring to DVD media. I have a lot of hardware/software at present, but will likely have to purchase a little of both to do the job.
I have a fast desktop with a dual core processor running at 4.2 Mhz and 1 Gb Ram, with two quality hard drives (Western Digitals: 160 Gb ATA @ 5,400 RPM and a 500 Gb SATA2 @ 7,200 RPM) and an ATi Wonder Pro TV & Capture card running Windows XP Home Edition SP3. While I have no movie editing experience, I have a high computer IQ having built PCs for 15 years and made a living writing complex financial application software. I run literally hundreds of different software programs and have plenty of experience with graphics editing & utilities as well as CAD etc., and doubt I will have any problems learning it. I presently own a complete suite of video editing programs, but haven't run any of them as yet due to a lack of time.
Unfortunately, I do not know a fast and efficient way to transfer the video data from the VHS player directly to the PC's hard drive, and may be stuck with RCA, Composite or Coaxial cables.
I also own a reasonably fast laptop with a dual core processor @ 2.9 Mhz and 1 Gb RAM, but it only has an 80 Gb hard drive which is not enough space for anything of a video nature. It has a Firewire port, but I doubt iyt will be of much help in this task.
I would sure appreciate any thoughts or comments you might have about how I should proceed. It's the VHS to PC connection that concerns me and if I have to invest in some dedicated hardware to make it happen, so be it. I'll just have to insist on an increase in my weekly allowance from "She who must be obeyed!"
Thanks in advance for your reply...
JT
mvtofino@hotmail.com
use firewire to record
by medialover - 9/6/08 6:15 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
any miniDV camcorder should have a firewire (firewire = IEEE 1394 cable) port, as should a pc or mac. you can then hook it up and record with windows movie maker or something like that. firewire is better quality (as good as you're going to get) than recording the video out. then edit to your heart's content. then you can burn to dvd (note that no dvd was needed to transfer the video to pc) with dvd burning software, which you can find online. if you want a basic free open-source one, avi2dvd is the one (not to be confused with shareware 'dvd2avi'); export in avi format from movie maker or whatever and use avi2dvd to burn it.
Lots on Mini DV 's ready to edit and burnfrom camcorder.
by hoofbreath - 9/6/08 6:55 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The best question yet. I want to know the answer to that more than you do..............Please help. Is it just Nero, or better and easier. I've had my camera 6 months and all is on Mini DV waiting for the easy way to do this.
Video editing 101
by Jamonit2008 - 9/6/08 6:59 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Alex - I use video editing for my projects I shoot with a MiniDV cam.
You will need an interface to transfer the footage you shot with your camera to connect to your PC. There several low-cost solutions to several expensive devices. Pinaccle offers many items that will do the task in 1-2-3 step process. Affordable & easy to set-up and maintain too.
WWW.Pinaccle.com
Transferring MiniDV footage to DVD
by diesel2029 - 9/6/08 7:04 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I actually did this last week. I think the easiest way is to use a program called Windows Movie maker (should come with most PCs having XP Pro). You can connect your camcorder to your laptop via USB or Firewire, run Windows Movie maker and click capture from video device. It has settings to edit and save video clips before burning to DVD. I have also used another program called InterVideo WinDVD Creator. I'm not sure if it also comes standard with many PCs. This program gives you various options for video capturing and editing (DVD direct to disc, DVD to hard drive). I believe one difference between the two programs is that with Windows Movie Maker you can create video clips to post on websites, run on Pocket PC handhelds, or create video CDs on CD-R or RWs (for shorter clips). Check your laptop if you have these programs and play around with the features, they should help you out.
read miniDV footage, edit and output to DVD
by tedtea - 9/6/08 7:32 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
hi Alex,
easiest way to transfer footage to the PC for editing,
is via Firewire.
These are then the software and hardware that you'll need -
1. Firewire port (aka 1394) on your PC
2. Firewire cable (note the ends from your DV cam to your PC)
3. Software such as Windows MovieMaker or Adobe Premiere.
Easiest FREE way to transfer/Edit files
by mrledbet - 9/6/08 7:37 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Since my son was born (he turns 1 next week) i've been copying and editing a lot of video. My wife has a JVC miniDV cam, and its got a firewire out on it. It also has a USB, but the firewire seems to be more stable for the transfer. with windows XP, I've been using windows movie maker. it comes with XPSP2, is easy to clip, organize, add fades and crossovers, as well as combining stills and videos with alternate audio and title screens.
Very simple to use and free.
As far as burning, you can use WMM to create and AVI file, which is readable by many recent DVD players, or even record to DVD VOB files for direct copy to a DVD for playing.
If you need help or walkthroughs with any of this stuff, of you want a more professional way to do it, visit www.videohelp.com, where they have about a million help guides for every form of video capture, editing and duplication.
Hope this helps!
If you're willing to spend a little money.
by Qwerty Cake - 9/6/08 7:44 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
By far, the easiest way to get video from any camcorder onto your computer and edit it is to buy the newest version of Adobe Premiere Elements. It's fairly cheap (The newest version is 7, and you can get it from Amazon for under $100). I really can't tell you more than that. Taking a two minute look at the instruction manual should have you well on your way to DVD goodness.
Mini-DVt to DVD
by Norm Runge - 9/6/08 7:46 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
A Macintosh with iMovie and iDVD is the best solution in the computer world, using Firewire input from the camera.
Try a stand-alone DVD recorder
by vwmark - 9/6/08 7:48 AM In reply to: Easiest way to transfer MiniDV footage to PC and edit it by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Alex, there are likely to be many ways to accomplish archiving your MiniDV tapes to DVD, which is absolutely necessary to preserve your memories, in this age of rapidly changing technology. With saving memories to DVD, you have the way to very rapidly make back-up copies, which can be stored away from the originals (such as in a safe deposit box, at work if possible, or a relative's house).
I do not bother to use a computer at all, because I have had difficulty with computers freezing when I have tried this. Certainly, a lot depends on the kind of computer and the specs, so this option is not out of the question.
However, for convenience, I like a FireWire cable between my Sony camera and a standalone Toshiba DVD recorder, which has a FireWire port on it. When doing so, the Toshiba recorder allows you to control the camera, by using the Toshiba remote control. You can make selections to allow you to determine how many hours to put onto the DVD, make titles. What you cannot do (or do very well) is edit. But who wants to take the extra time to edit? That's a lot of work if you have a lot of tapes.
Note that FireWire is becoming more and more scarce among DVD recorders, and so this option may not be available for owners of camcorders from other manufacturers. If DVD recorders have USB ports and the camcorders have USB ports, this could work, but I have not looked into this. Sony videotape camcorders I have worked with have FireWire ports. Thus, you would need a FireWire (also called iLink) cable, which can run about $30, but is worth it.
Other readers may have other methods, but trust me, this method above works for me and is effortless. Good luck on your efforts, and I commend you for making digital disc archives as soon as possible.
re- Try a stand-alone DVD recorder
by Bolonel Cogey - 9/13/08 4:23 PM In reply to: Try a stand-alone DVD recorder by vwmarkThis is the solution I opted for when trying to find a way to back up all my old analogue video8 tapes and still use it now I'm using a digicam.I was so fixated upon finding a computer solution to the problem that the obvious answer eluded me for weeks and I'm frankly surprised it took over 40 replies for someone to suggest it.
When you consider that a DVD recorder, particularly one with a hard drive and digital tuner is far more versatile than any piece of hardware you might add to your computer it's not hard to see which is the most cost effective option.
I've now backed up about 8 years worth of videos of my youngest kid growing up just before my decrepit old analogue sony handycam finally gave up the ghost.I haven't got round to editing any of them yet but at least they are safely archived on reliable media, one CRUCIAL recommendation though, make two copies of everything, one for watching and one to keep somewhere safe for the inevitable day when someone puts a scratch through your precious memories and renders them completely unplayable.
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