How to convert mini dv tape to computer

[Mar@34]

Hi guys, im new to this so hope I'm posting in the right thread.
I have an old Samsung mini dv digital cam VP-D351 PAL, when I play the tape I can hear the sound but can't view the tape.

My question is firstly is there any way of fixing this, or is there anyway I can convert all my tapes to a computer.
I have a few tapes with loads of old memories and would love to view them.
Thank you.


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[Alwyn]

A couple of ideas:

- Is the screen actually working? Can you see any of the on-screen displays such as these:


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or is the screen blue?

- If not, try connecting it to the VCR via the AV cable.

If Yes, the video heads are probably very dirty. If you have a head-cleaning tape, run it in accordance with it's instructions.

In general, it's best to transfer MiniDV to your PC via a Firewire cable (it goes in that small rectangular socket at the top, in your first pic). But you need a Firewire socket on your PC, which is uncommon these days. It can be done using other methods though.

[Mar@34]

Screen is white noting else on it, I can hear sound perfectly.

Any specific firewall cable or socket? Will I get them on amazon.

Thanks for your help

[Alwyn]

Have a read of my notes on DV transfer here.

I would try playing a tape on the TV via the AV cable if you still have it because that will determine if the camcorder is stuffed or not. If you have to get another camcorder, the type you could get will make life very easy for you, obviating the need to open up your machine and install a Firewire card.

[Mar@34]

Thank you for your help. Will look for the av cable. Will look at your notes now thank you

[thecoalman]

Any specific firewall cable or socket?

The one on the camera is 4 pin, the one on the computer/firewire card is typically 6 pin but it could be 4 pin. Assuming 6 pin on the comouter you need 4 pin to 6 pin cable. The additional two pins are for carrying power and not required for transfer but you do need the right connector. It's just dummy connection on 6 pin side if the other side is 4 pin.

As already suggested try and get the video working before investing in cables and firewire card.

[Mar@34]

Ok thanks for all the advice. I have many tapes though so need to have a way to save them and store them on USB.
Thanks

[rgr]

Thank you for your help. Will look for the av cable. Will look at your notes now thank you

You need FireWire (IEEE 1994) anyway. AV cable produces a significantly worse image.
It might be quicker to find someone (old laptops had Firewire) and check with them.

[Mar@34]

I have an old laptop will check is it still working and see does it have firewire and go from there. Thank you

[Alwyn]

You need FireWire (IEEE 1994) anyway.

Not necessarily. That's why I suggested making sure the camcorder works first. If it doesn't, Mar34 can try to get a Panasonic that transfers DV over USB without needing to go down the FireWire path.

And nobody is suggesting use of the AV cable to transfer.

[thecoalman]

You need FireWire (IEEE 1994) anyway.

Mar34 can try to get a Panasonic that transfers DV over USB without needing to go down the FireWire path.

It should be noted most DV camcorders don't support DV over USB. The USB was for low resolution video if for example you wanted to use it as web cam or transferring still pictures/low resolution video from SD card. Even if it will stream the DV recorded video from tape over USB for most cams the output is going to be low quality, I think it's usually VCD compliant mpeg1 for a lot of them which isn't even remotely close to DV.

I'm sure this is not a problem now but back in the day any kind of transfer over USB was prone to dropped frames even for these external capture cards with much lower bitrate MPEG2. USB2 has the data rate but wasn't sustainable like firewire. Bottom line is if you can use firewire it's the way to go especially if you are using old hardware.

[Alwyn]

The USB was for low resolution video if for example you wanted to use it as web cam or transferring still pictures/low resolution video from SD card. Even if it will stream the DV recorded video from tape over USB for most cams the output is going to be low quality, I think it's usually VCD compliant mpeg1 for a lot of them which isn't even remotely close to DV.

No, wrong, no, wrong. On the known camcorders, it works flawlessly.

[lollo]

any kind of transfer over USB was prone to dropped frames ... USB2 has the data rate but wasn't sustainable like firewire. Bottom line is if you can use firewire it's the way to go especially if you are using old hardware.

Firewire does not generally create bus conflicts like not optimized usb captures, but through a proper USB2 path we capture hours of losslessly compressed video at ~60Mbps without dropping a single frame, even on old hardware.

[thecoalman]

No, wrong, no, wrong. On the known camcorders, it works flawlessly.

Perhaps for your configuration but that doesn't mean it will for everyone. As I noted this is probably not a problem on new hardware. If you have a camcorder that supports it then by all means give it a try before looking at firewire.

[Alwyn]

If you have a camcorder that supports it then by all means give it a try before looking at firewire.

What I said in the first place.

[johnmeyer]

Someone gave me an old 8mm camcorder that had a blank display, but mechanically still "played" the tapes (i.e., the transport still worked). He just wanted me to take it to our electronics recycling center, but I saw an opportunity to learn something by trying to fix it. Thanks to several YouTube videos I was able to zero in on some electrolytic capacitors (as usual). I replaced one and got the display working and could then see all the menu stuff, just like Alwyn described above. However, when I hit "play," the video playback was not in sync. I then opened it up again and replaced all the suspect capacitors (based on what was shown in a repair video for the exact same model). This time I got no joy (i.e., the picture was still tearing). I am now going to take it to recycling, although based on posts in this thread I think I'll use some 100% isopropyl alcohol and a chamois to clean the heads.

Since all of that work is probably not something you want to do, I would definitely proceed with what you are going to do: try to get the video on an external display. The easiest way to do that is skip the whole capture thing and simply find a monitor or display which can accept analog inputs and attach a composite video cable to the monitor. That will tell you if the problem is in the camcorder circuitry and/or the head, or if there is some other problem. If it is just a dead camera monitor you should still be able to finish your project without doing anything else.

[Santiago]

There are many services that can transfer your tapes to various formats.

[Santiago]

Try happyireland.com

[Mar@34]

Thanks I have a place near me that does it for €20 per tape, I got one done already but I have a few tapes. Thought it night be cheaper doing it myself.