Trying to Convert old DV Mini Tapes to Digital

[themeercat]

Hello,

I am attempting to convert some old family tapes from DV Mini to Digital, the camera is a Sony Mini DV Digital Handycam, trying to put on a laptop running Windows 10 (MSI GL62 6QF 1089UK), I don't currently have a firewire cable or any kit other than the camcorder itsself, prepared to order the kit I need (ideally on the cheaper side). Any and all advice much appreciated,

Cheers,

Jack

 

[The Original Ralph]

i'd try monoprice.com for the cable - best pricing and always good quality https://www.monoprice.com/search/index?keyword=dv+mini+cables

oddly enough, their pricing is sometimes better on amazon as on amazon it includes shipping

it's been so long since i used my DV tape camcorder, i don't even remember what format it recorded in

 

[themeercat]

i'd try monoprice.com for the cable - best pricing and always good quality https://www.monoprice.com/search/index?keyword=dv+mini+cables

oddly enough, their pricing is sometimes better on amazon as on amazon it includes shipping

it's been so long since i used my DV tape camcorder, i don't even remember what format it recorded in

i'd try monoprice.com for the cable - best pricing and always good quality https://www.monoprice.com/search/index?keyword=dv+mini+cables

oddly enough, their pricing is sometimes better on amazon as on amazon it includes shipping

it's been so long since i used my DV tape camcorder, i don't even remember what format it recorded in

Hey Ralph,

Thanks for your response,

Although the camcorder has a firewire port- my laptop does not, is there a solution to this?

Cheers,

Jack

 

[The Original Ralph]

firewire to usb connectors are fairly common

here's one:
https://www.amazon.com/Chenyang-Firewire-iLink-Adapter-DCR-TRV75E/dp/B00VHUME42?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffsb-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00VHUME42

 

[The Original Ralph]

just remembered, iirc, some of the firewire connections were six pin - the one i linked to is a 4 pin

take a look at your firewire connection on the camera before ordering the cable

 

[Alabalcho]

FireWire itself is digital connection, and with proper hardware and software the video would land in "raw" form onto the computer. I have the feeling that above USB-to-Firewire cable will allow for "streaming", not for "downloading".

If you can find an older laptop - most of brand ones had FireWire interface on them integrated. A desktop with PCI FireWire card is another option.

The other important piece you'd need is a video capture application which "knows" about FireWire cameras. In XP (and probably Vista) days, "Movie Maker" was the tool to do that, but I don't think current versions support capturing.