Basic import to computer

[Dash1]

looking for Fool proof, eror free way to capture mini DV's into my 64bit win7 PC.

Is there a reason to look beyond the built ins in the AVI Editors like premire ?
Any easy to use freewere ?

[filmboss80]

WinDV has been reported to work with Win 7 / 64bit. It has always been the simplest, most stable way to capture DV in the past.

[Dash1]

A tool that isn't touched since 2003 ?

[edDV]

A tool that isn't touched since 2003 ?

It works. DV-AVI file is bit identical to camcorder tape data.

The capture programs in editors do the same thing but add features that you can set wrong. Keep it simple.

[Nelson37]

There is a very good reason that tool is often recommended.

But, since you know what you should have so much better, you are welcome to find something else.

[usually_quiet]

A tool that isn't touched since 2003 ?

DV has been superseded by other formats for new cameras, so there is not much incentive to develop new free tools for capturing it, especially when this old one still works well. The user interface is simple and there is some documentation for it available at the developer's website http://windv.mourek.cz/ Just mouse over the various items in the interactive screenshot and you will see a tooltip text which explains them.

[edDV]

Also Papa John's tutorial on WinDV.
http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/PapaJohn/61/WinDV.aspx

[ledishis]

Reasons for passing by Adobe Premiere is I cannot find any resellers in my area. How much is it the retail version?

If you cannot use it, the solution is to use container files for DV-materials. I`m no guru in DV-editing but you could search a freeware format as mkv, or use avi2.0-openDML container format from MS. For these I hear we need 2 use codecs (Panasonic DV codec), and download and do right clicks and watch out for blu .

[Dash1]

You must be right. thank you

[edDV]

DV is normally in an AVI container on Windows platforms although some applications will accept Quicktime. Pro software exchange is tending to the MXF SMPTE container but this is not common at consumer level. I say keep to avi containers for applications generally discussed here.

As said above, WinDV accepts the DV stream directly and buffers it into a DV-AVI file. WinDV is mostly a user interface over DirectShow. It doesn't modify the stream. The result is bit by bit identical to the data on tape.

Use of DV codecs in programs like Virtualdub will decode DV to RGB or YCbCr. I see no reason to do that if you intend to edit in Premiere. Premiere edits DV directly. BTW the Panasonic DV codec should be avoided especially for camcorder source. It will clip whites above 235. Most consumer camcorders put considerable white detail above 235. If you must use a DV codec, use the Cedocida DV codec that gives full control of gray scale.