How to convert mini DV format to digital format?

Question

I have a old JVC mini DV comcoder, it comes with JVC software. It can convert the video signal in to digital signal but the problem is the digital signal in VCD are not clear as played in the DV tape.

Anyone have solution for this??

Thanks... :)

Answer 1

You are mixing two things - analog AV output from your camera - good ONLY for watching the movie on tv directly by playing on cam.

And digital info stored on actual tape (miniDV tape does NOT contain videosignal like VHS tape, but "zeros and ones" as digital information about the video).

You need to transfer that info to the computer - directly losslessly  - you need firewire cable and firewire port on your comp - if you don't have,. buy combo card+cable for +- $20 on ebay or in you local computer store.

Then you connect your cam into firewire port .. NO DRIVERS needed - firewire drivers are part of both Windows XP and Vista.

Then you can use ANY capturing software such as windows movie maker, select your camera in from the list of videosources and play the tape - it will get transferred into your comp without quality loss. It is rteal time capture = takes one hour for one hour tape and it will be 12-13 GB file !! (Be sure to have enough space)

Then use the same software (windows movie maker) or ANY other videoconversion software like Ulead Video Studio etc... to make a DVD from that huge file. That will take anywhere from 2 to 7 hours depending on your computer.

Then you will get high quality DVD...

Have fun

johnny

Answer 2

You can go to http://convertersoft.net to download a converter.

I personally use ultimate DVD + Video converter suite.

It works very well

Answer 3

MiniDV *is* digital.  The problem is that VCD uses MPEG-1 compression, which is about as bad as it gets (unless it's done very well).  DVD burners are cheap these days, so if you haven't already got one, why not install one and use something like DVD Flick to make DVDs.  If that's not an option, look at making SVCDs rather than VCDs - the compression is higher quality, though still not great.  You can convert your footage to SVCD compliant MPEG-2 with Super and then burn the disk with Ashampoo-Burning-Studio-Free.

Before you burn anything, make sure you've edited your footage.  Go in with the mindset that you're going to pay people by the second to watch your video - cut out everything that's not essential to telling the story.  MPEG compression's bad at handling movement and lighting changes - keep those to a minimum.  If your camera work is very unsteady, have a look at using Virtualdub with the Deshaker plugin - it's not for the faint hearted, but it can make a big difference.