MiniDV is a popular media format for many tape-based camcorders.
Transferring a MiniDV footage to the computer requires the actual camera used for recording the video or a compatible tape deck connected to the computer. It is also possible to transfer the footage to another tape by using two cameras connected to each other with one used as player and the other as recorder. Another option to transfer the footage to another tape without using two cameras, is to use the digitized video file to transfer the footage from the computer to the destination tape.
Instructions
Footage from MiniDV Tape to the Computer
1. Connect the MiniDV camera to the computer using a FireWire or USB cable. For MiniDV cameras, it is also possible to use an S-video or RCA cable. However, this will require a video capture device where you connect the camera, while the device gets connected to the computer via USB or FireWire cable.
2. Insert the MiniDV tape containing the footage intended for transfer to the computer.
3. Turn on the camera, then switch its program button to "VCR" mode. Cue your MiniDV tape from the start.
4. Open your computer's video-editing program. Go to the "File" menu and select the "Capture" button. Wait for the "Capture Window" to appear.
5. Click the "Start," "Record" or any other button referring to the digitizing of the footage from the camera to the computer.
6. Click your camera's "Play" button to start the real-time recording from the tape to the computer.
7. Press your camera's "Stop" button once the playback is finished. Soon after, press the "Stop" button in your "Capture Window." Some video-editing programs only require pressing the "Esc" button to end the "Capture" process.
MiniDV Tape to Another Tape
8. Connect the MiniDV camera, which will serve as your playback device, with the other camera, which will serve as your recording device. This other camera may be another MiniDV camera or a Digital8, Hi8 or Video8 camera. Take note that each format requires a compatible tape to be used. Connect the two cameras in a variety of ways. A camera typically uses the popular ports such as FireWire, USB, RCA and S-video.
9. Insert your source MiniDV tape in your MiniDV camera, then insert your blank tape in the other camera. This may be another MiniDV tape or a Digital8, Hi8 or Video8 tape.
10. Turn on your cameras and put them both in "VCR" mode, then cue the tapes in both cameras.
11. Press the "Record" button in your recording camera device, then press the "Play" button in your playback camera device.
12. Wait for the real-time recording to finish, then press the "Stop" buttons in both your recording and playback camera devices.
Computer to MiniDV Tape
13. Connect your MiniDV camera to the computer using a FireWire, USB, S-video or RCA cable. After which, insert a blank MiniDV tape where you can transfer the digitized video file from the computer to your camera.
14. Put the MiniDV camera in "VCR" mode, then cue the blank MiniDV tape for the recording.
15. Open the video file in your video-editing program. Click the "File" menu, then choose the "Record to Tape" button or any similar option that refers to the copying of the file from the computer to the tape. Wait for the "Record Window" to appear.
16. Click the "Record" button in your MiniDV camera, then click the "Start" button in your computer's "Record Window." The name of this button may slightly vary depending on the video-editing program used.
17.Wait until the real-time recording of the video file from the computer to the tape finishes.
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