Updated 9.2.2022

Why do y'all want to transfer mini-DV tapes to a computer? Yous desire to convert the analog format of the video content into a digital format like MP4.

This digital format volition be playable in devices that support digital video.

The digital video playback devices would include computers, smartphones, tablets, TV boxes, and HDTV, among others.

Alternatively, if you're the 'old school' type y'all may want to catechumen the captured footage to DVD. Yes, you can play back your precious memories through an HDMI DVD player to your HDTV.

Contents

  • 1 Is at that place a mini-DV Converter?
  • 2 Mini-DV Playback Device
    • 2.1 mini-DV to Digital Conversion Service
    • ii.2 Run a risk
    • 2.3 Price
    • two.4 Editing Flexibility
  • three Transfer mini-DV Tapes to Computer without a Camcorder : mini-DV Player
  • iv Convenience
  • 5 mini-DV Record Player Features
    • 5.1 Types of mini-DV Players
  • 6 mini-DV VCR/Role player/Deck Ideas
    • half-dozen.1 Sony GV-D900 Portable mini-DV Video Walkman
    • vi.2 Sony GV-D300 mini-DV VCR
    • 6.3 Sony GV-D1000 Portable mini-DV Video Walkman
    • six.4 Sony DSR-V10 mini-DV Player Recorder
  • 7 Panasonic AG-DV2000 mini-DV Thespian Recorder
  • viii JVC HR-DVS2U Mini-DV/S-VHS VCR Combo
    • eight.ane Analog Connections Available
  • nine Procedure to Transfer mini-DV Tapes to Calculator without a Camcorder
  • ten How to Transfer mini-DV tapes to Computer without Firewire
    • 10.1 Video Capture Device with DV in
    • 10.two Video Capture Device with AV in
    • x.3 Cheapest Option for Desktop Computers
  • 11 Transferring mini-DV Footage to Your Computer
  • 12 mini-DV Capture Software Issue in Windows x

Is there a mini-DV Converter?

You may be wondering whether there's a hardware mini-DV converter out there. A converter with USB ports where you but pop in your mini-DV record and plug in your flash drive or external hd and it automatically outputs your mini-DV tape content to digital through a USB port.

Such a converter isn't bachelor to convert mini-DV tapes to digital. If you want to convert mini-DV to digital y'all would take to do it with a mini-DV playback device.

That device must and then exist continued to a computer through a capture device to convert your mini-DV tape to digital.

Mini-DV Playback Device

Since you tin't pop in a mini-DV tape into a computer or a mini-DV converter and play it directly from at that place, you would need a mini-DV playback device.

The all-time mini-DV device available to yous, as you would have already known is your mini-DV camcorder.

But what if you don't have a mini-DV video camera at hand or are saddled with a faulty unit?

mini-DV to Digital Conversion Service

The obvious solution is to apply a mini-DV tape to digital conversion service in your neighborhood.

2 things may be holding you back from resorting to such an option.

Gamble

Start, you may not want to trust your precious family memories with a third political party.

The tape to digital conversion may non be a stone'southward throw away from your house. You may demand to courier your mini-DV record(south) to the conversion service.

This is a chance you might not want to take. As reliable as courier services are, annihilation may happen. Your tape may become missing or end up damaged.

You lot would not mind this with any other replaceable item. Non with a tape containing irreplaceable precious family memories, specially if it's the only copy you have.

If y'all don't want to take the risk and end up losing precious memories and have some cash to spare, go the DIY road.

Cost

Even if you lot make up one's mind to use a tape to digital conversion service, the toll is a cistron to consider.

If yous're converting a cassette or two, so it would save you the hassle of setting upward the equipment to catechumen mini-DV to digital.

What if yous accept accumulated dozens or hundreds of tapes over the years? It only wouldn't be economic to accept them all converted to digital through a professional conversion service.

Editing Flexibility

A record to digital conversion service specializes in making carbon copies of your tapes in a digital format. They'll like information technology if you want to catechumen your record wholesale without any tinkering.

What if you want to remove redundant footage – camera shakes, bad lighting, 'useless' footage captured when your video camera was accidentally turned on?

The service tin do the editing for you lot. At extra cost, of grade. And you would accept to sit downward and guide them. That's a time expense.

You can save avert all of the in a higher place if you lot go the DIY route every bit explained beneath.

Transfer mini-DV Tapes to Reckoner without a Camcorder : mini-DV Histrion

Many may non fancy ownership a mini-DV camcorder because they won't be shooting with it. You have a smartphone, or even a DSLR or an HD camcorder that fares much better.

If that'southward so, get a mini-DV tape thespian or mini-DV deck. Or many prefer to telephone call it a mini-DV VCR.

If y'all're familiar with VHS VCRs, y'all go the thought of what a mini-DV video cassette recorder is.

Sony GV-D1000 Portable MiniDV Video Walkman

A mini-DV tape role player is by far the best manner to transfer mini-DV tapes to digital via a estimator.

Information technology has all the functionalities of a mini-DV camcorder merely with added convenience and easy operability equally yous'll learn below.

Yous may not have heard most a mini-DV VCR, much less seen one. That's because a mini-DV record player is not something commonly found fifty-fifty during the mini-DV heyday.

For one, the MSRP (Manufacturer'south Suggested Retail Price) was extremely steep.

Have for example the Sony DHR-m mini- DV VCR Player Recorder deck. It cost a whopping $4200 when it was released.

These days, still, you could get a refurbished mini-DV record deck for a fraction of the cost online.

A mini-DV deck or tape histrion looks very much like a VHS record player. While you may play VHS-C tapes (with an adapter) with a VHS VCR, yous can only play mini-DV tapes with a mini-DV deck.

mini-DV player

Mini-DV players are no longer in production. Notwithstanding, if you really want to transfer mini-DV tapes to a computer without a camcorder, you could look for a unit within your budget. A practiced number of them are available at Amazon.

There are other mini-DV playback options too – DVCAM and DVCPRO. Sony's DVCAM camcorders and DVCAM VCRs will also play back (but non record on) mini-DV tapes.

Similarly, Panasonic's DVCPRO tape players volition play mini-DV tapes and you tin employ them to transfer mini-DV tapes to a reckoner without a camcorder.

Convenience

If you've used a VCR player, you would know how user-friendly it is to pop in a tape or eject it from the VCR.

You enjoy the same convenience with a mini-DV record deck. All you would have to practice is pop in your mini-DV tapes and play, rewind or fast forward them.

If you lot have used a mini-DV camcorder to do this, you know how inconvenient this is.

You have to contend with tiny most-sunken play/rewind buttons or a pint-sized remote control.

Loading and ejecting tapes isn't that user-friendly with camcorders. Most requite upwardly converting their mini-DV tapes to digital after a few attempts.

Compare this to a mini-DV VCR which is made for the sole purpose of playing back mini-DV tapes. They're robust machines designed to handle continuous playing of mini-DV tapes.

A mini-DV camcorder's primary purpose, on the other manus, is to record video and is not really designed to play dorsum long hours of tape.

With the ease and convenience of using a mini-DV tape deck, yous'll be spurred to convert more mini-DV tapes to digital through your computer than you would with a camcorder.

If you're actually serious about converting your mini-DV tapes before they become unusable through mold set on, get a dedicated mini- DV record player.

That said, hither are some mini-DV VCR/player/deck best purchase ideas you may desire to consider to transfer mini-DV tapes to a computer without a camcorder.

mini-DV Tape Player Features

Types of mini-DV Players

There are two types of mini-DV players, the deck, meaty, and the walkman type.

The deck type looks very much like a VCR or DVD player. The meaty blazon is much smaller.

And then at that place's the walkman which has a congenital-in LCD screen powered by Active Matrix technology.

The size and weight of a mini-DV video walkman make it suitable for you to take along with yous when traveling.

Only in case you desire to bring along your mini-DV tapes to share with family members during your holidays.

mini-DV VCR/Actor/Deck Ideas

Here'due south a selection of the best mini DV camcorders for record transfer to your computer.

Sony GV-D900 Portable mini-DV Video Walkman

With the Sony GV-D900 you lot not only get to transfer mini-DV tapes to your computer with a camcorder, but you as well get to view your precious mini-DV tapes without having to connect the device to a TV.

This mini-DV video walkman would be user-friendly if you want to take your tapes elsewhere for a family viewing session.

Sony GV-D900 Portable DV Video Walkman

Information technology comes with a v.5-inch color active matrix LCD screen. This mini-DV VCR supports playback and recording in SP (Standard Play) and LP (Long Play) modes.

It is compatible with any mini-DV record and comes with an iLINK DV connexion, otherwise known as IEEE 1394 or Firewire (4-pin ) (explained below).

Other features supported include frame accelerate, all the same/slow-movement display, and time code.

While y'all may not use them, it's expert to know that they come with an alphabetize titler, audio dubbing in 12-bit mode, and audio recording in 12-bit and 16-scrap modes.

 Check out the Sony GV-D900 Portable mini-DV Video Walkman.

Sony GV-D300 mini-DV VCR

This is a ii rotary-head Helical scanning system mini-DV VCR first released in 1998.

Information technology supports SP and LP playback and recording speeds.

Sony GV-D300 mini-DV VCR

To ensure quality video playback a fourth dimension base correction feature is included.

Audio dubbing way is available.

Connections available include IEEE 1394 Firewire or i.LINK.

If for some reason yous can't employ the IEEE 1394 connection, in that location's the South-Video Input/Output together with Composite in/out, not to mention a mic input.

2 Sony GV-D300 mini-DV VCR specs

Sony's LaserLink is available if you're looking for a wireless connexion.

You can also view your mini-DV tapes on the v.five-inch LCD screen (TFT active matrix) without having to connect the unit of measurement to a Boob tube set.

Conveniently place this mini-DV walkman on your lap equally you recline on your sofa and travel downward memory lane.

GV-D300 boasts a width of v.nine inches, depth of 5.5 inches and a height of 2 inches. It weighs 1.3 lbs (0.5kg).

Accept a closer look at how the unit works.

Check out the Sony GV-D300 mini-DV Video Walkman.

Sony GV-D1000 Portable mini-DV Video Walkman

This unit comes with a congenital-in four-inch color LCD monitor. On top of that, y'all've Memory Stick support.

The memory stick feature allows you to capture however images from your tapes at a resolution of 640 x 480. This tin can be washed through an analog connexion or from digital video capture.

Sony GV-D1000 Portable MiniDV Video Walkman

It allows y'all to later download the images to your computer and email or print them. It was much-historic feature years back but outdated at present.

The retention stick as well works with the MPEG flick retention fashion. It allows y'all to tape compressed MPEG-one video with audio to a memory stick. Once more this may non exist of much use to you at present.

Likewise, you can edit up to twenty scenes with the mini-DV VCR. Useful during the days before computer video editing.

In that location'due south a USB port that allows you to stream video over the Internet. This will non exist of much use in this age of YouTube.

With the Firewire i.LINK connexion you can transfer lossless digital video to your computer every bit explained in the Firewire section beneath. This is what yous'll exist buying the mini-DV thespian for.

Cheque out the Sony GV-D1000 Portable mini-DV Video Walkman that tin assist you transfer mini-DV tapes to your reckoner without a camcorder.

Sony DSR-V10 mini-DV Actor Recorder

This mini-DV portable video walkman has specs very much like the above 2 models.

However, this model supports the playback of not simply mini-DV simply DVCAM.

During its heyday, it was used for field editing and its 5.5-inch LCD display gives you lot a proficient viewing experience.

What would interest you is the i.LINK (DV terminal) IEEE1394 connection. It will allow you to connect the mini-DV player to your estimator with a Firewire cable and transfer video footage from the record to your hard disk.

Cheque out the Sony DSR-V10 mini-DV Player Recorder.

Panasonic AG-DV2000 mini-DV Player Recorder

While Sony manufactured most of the record-based mini-DV record deck converters, Panasonic jumped into the fray besides with its offerings.

The Panasonic AG- DV2000 was offered as a mini-DV editing deck, to prosumers and hardcore hobbyists.

Panasonic AG-DV2000 mini-DV Player Recorder

Priced at $2,995, when first released in 1999, it comes with the insert editing feature through its built-in edit controller to edit mini-DV and DVCPRO tapes.

The fold-out edit command panel tin can be detached and used separately.

There's a jog/shuttle wheel that allows for precise control when advancing the tape field by field.

Input ports on the edit control panel include composite video, S-video, stereo sound, and IEEE 1394, non to mention a Panasonic five-pin (Control-Chiliad) edit control port.

Video and sound output ports include ii S-video, 2 composite video, and an IEEE 1394 port, including 2 sets of stereo audio output ports.

Cheque out the Panasonic AG-DV2000 mini-DV Player Recorder.

JVC Hour-DVS2U Mini-DV/S-VHS VCR Combo

This VCR does not only play back VHS and S-VHS but likewise mini-DV tapes. You lot tin can connect the video out betoken to a video capture device.

This, mini-DV record player too comes with DV In/Out supporting 4-pin IEEE1394 to capture lossless video from a mini-DV tape.

Analog video out ports are available. S-Video is the best resolution you can get with this mini-DV/S-VHS VCR philharmonic.

If you too plan to digitize VHS tapes in addition to mini-DV tapes, check out the JVC HR-DVS2U Mini-DV/S-VHS VCR Combo.

Analog Connections Available

Ideally, you would want to use the Firewire connexion that comes with the higher up mini-DV players. However, if y'all tin't do so for some reason, and so yous can ever utilise the RCA (composite) or Southward-Video connections.

With S-Video, you can enjoy a better motion picture quality compared to an RCA or composite connection.

Procedure to Transfer mini-DV Tapes to Computer without a Camcorder

So, you've your mini-DV role player VCR deck. That'south only the first stride.

Side by side, you would need to connect the mini-DV player to your computer.

The best way to do it is through a Firewire connection. mini-DV players come with a Firewire (IEEE 1394) port.

Through it, you tin can transfer high-quality video to your computer on 1 condition.

Your reckoner, too, must accept a Firewire port.

Not all computers come up with Firewire ports. Most no newer computers are Firewire-ready in these days of Hard disk drive video. Unless you have an older figurer that comes equipped with a Firewire port, you would have to add this accessory.

If you're using a desktop model, you lot can buy a Firewire bill of fare and become it installed into your motherboard.

If you're using a laptop, so check to see if yous have a PCMCIA or Express Menu slot. About newer laptop models don't come up with either of these slots. Almost accept been replaced past memory card readers to support the latest HD cameras and camcorders.

How to Transfer mini-DV tapes to Computer without Firewire

This scenario refers to laptop computers that don't come with an expansion slot for a Firewire connection.

Video Capture Device with DV in

In that case, you would take to use a video capture device that comes with a Firewire port. Basically, this device will come with a DV in port and a USB out port.

You connect a Firewire cable from your mini-DV camcorder to the DV-in port of the video capture device. And so y'all connect a USB cable from the USB out port of the device to the USB port of your reckoner.

You want to take a look at the video below for detailed guidance.

Video Capture Device with AV in

External video capture devices with DV in are hard to come up by these days. If you tin can't discover one, then you would accept to settle for a video capture device with AV in.

Of form, yous won't become video quality every bit you lot would through a Firewire connexion. Still, yous tin can settle for DVD quality. For best results use the S-Video connection to capture video with RCA audio.

One such AV video capture device you can use with your mini-DV camcorder or player deck is the Meridian Dazzle DVD Recorder Hard disk.

Bank check out too the other All-time mini-DV AV Video Capture Devices.

Cheapest Option for Desktop Computers

The cheapest option is installing a Firewire card into your desktop computer.

Firewire cards are quite affordable with a price range of USD20 up.

Bank check out the Best FireWire Cards

If you're using Windows 8 or Windows 10, your system may accept bug getting the Firewire connectedness to piece of work.

Check out the video below for a possible driver solution.

Download the Firewire driver at the Edius site.

Once you have a Firewire port set up on your computer, you would need a Firewire cable to connect your mini-DV player to your computer to capture footage from the mini-DV tapes.

Check to come across what kind of Firewire cable your mini-DV thespian supports.

Here'southward what you do after you've inserted your mini-DV cassette and powered on your mini-DV player.

Launch your video editing software and see whether information technology can notice the video source from the mini-DV player.

If yous've made your connections correct. the software should be able to preview the video source.

You can then proceed to capture video through your video editing software.

DV capture in the AVI format in Windows would take upwards about 13GB of difficult disk infinite, for your information.

Visit this Firewire DV Capture Guide to learn more than.

mini-DV Capture Software Result in Windows ten

Capturing mini-DV footage to the figurer used to be a no-brainer. That was until Windows 10 made its advent.

With Windows 7 and earlier y'all just had to connect your camcorder to the Firewire port of your camcorder. Then utilise the built-in Windows Movie Maker to capture your mini-DV footage to the computer.

Windows Movie Maker has been removed from Windows 10, If your figurer is running on Windows 10, then you lot'll have a mini-DV capture software problem.

Most of the current batch of video editing programs don't support Firewire video capture, with HD video being the norm.

Unless you have an older computer running on Windows 7 or have an older video editing software that supports DV capture, y'all would have to look for an alternative solution.

Fret not, as a solution is at hand. There's a free programme chosen HDVsplit which supports Firewire capture. But first, yous must install the legacy Firewire commuter for Windows x or 8 as explained in the video to a higher place.

Do give HDVsplit a try if you're facing a mini-DV capture software issue.