newbie question in dv video decoder

[pcuser82]

I have dv video in a video cassette(runs for nearly 1/2 hr).I am trying to transfer it to pc,mine is ubuntu based,pentium 4 system
Using firewire I can bring the footage to my pc.
I am not much aware of interlaced/progressive video.
I heard interlaced video can't be viewed in crt/lcd monitors.
I think dv video is interlaced(as per spec in cassette)

my question is
1.how can i bring the video footage to my pc as dv file.
2.how can i view/play the dv file,if i somehow bring the file to my pc
3.I heard ffmpeg,mplayer,libdv can decode dv files,can ffmpeg decode and play interlaced dv files on a pc (or) i need to convert interlaced video to progressive before decoding using ffmpeg,for display in pc?

[redwudz]

1) Use a Linux compatible transfer program and your FireWire connection. A half hour video will use about 6GB hard drive space.

2) Try VLC. You can choose a deinterlacer filter with it. DV is interlaced.

3) I wouldn't deinterlace the DV, especially if you plan to view it on a TV, which accepts interlaced video. If you plan to convert it to Xvid or similar AVI type format, then you can deinterlace. If you plan to convert to DVD, don't deinterlace. If you use a PC software player that understands and correctly displays interlaced video, no need to convert it for viewing on a PC.

And welcome to our forums.

[pcuser82]

thanks