Duplicate MiniDV Tapes

[ebonovic]

What is the easiest method to duplicate a MiniDV Tape?

We where just at a wedding, and 4 of us had MiniDV Cameras.
I want to get a copy of each of their tapes, to splice and dice into a wedding video for them.

So I would like to make a copy of the MiniDV tape (for archive purposes, in case I fubar the captured file on the hard drive).

I have a Sony TRV20... One of my friends has a 1 month old 3CC Sony MiniDV camera (not sure on the model number).

Can I simply hook up a 4pin-4pin firewire cable between them?
Or is there some other trick to it.

Thanks

[dipstick]

I've never tried it, but hooking up a 4 pin to 4 pin firewire should work.

I would just capture each tape to your HDD using your DV cam. Edit it the way you want, then either get the video on to a DVD or Export back to tape. Make copies for everybody.

[ebonovic]

The eventual output will be DVD and/or DiVX download;

But for the original source tapes, I wanted to quickly dup them so I can get them back to their owners.

I will hopefully know later tonight, if the 4pin-4pin solution will work.