How to transfer video from computer to miniDV tape?

nuyezhae · 23rd April 2008

Hello everyone,

I need to transfer a 7-min edited video from my computer (iMac running Leopard) to a miniDV tape (using SONY HDR-HC3) for a project. Truth be told, I'm pretty new to videography and I'm having trouble finding information on how to do the transfer.

Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance!

- nuyezhae

chanxj · 23rd April 2008

Use a firewire cable, plug in to laptop then camcorder. Go to ur editing software and choose something like print to tape or something like that.

khtee · 23rd April 2008

connect the camcorder with firewire cable to the PC. Use Abobe premiere or Pinnacle Studio.
There is a option to play and preview to your Camcorder. Just start the record in the camcorder will do.

takethree · 23rd April 2008

Be aware that most minidv camcorders in Singapore only have firewire out and not firewire in. This means you can only capture from camcorder to PC and not the other way around. Usually those which have both in and out are more expensive but you really have to check with the camcorder model first. Even within the same camcorder model can have different firewire options.

nuyezhae · 23rd April 2008

To chanxj, khtee, and takethree,

Thanks for your suggestions and advice. Based on these info, I did a little more web digging.

As mentioned before, I'm still new to videography and has yet to acquire professional video editing softwares such as Adobe Premiere, Pinnacle Studio, or Final Cut Pro. Hence, for my project, I did my editing in iMovie '08, since it came pre-installed with my iMac. And I've just learnt today (after some googling) that Apple had dropped the 'export to videocam' feature from this latest version of iMovie. So, to work around the situation, I'll have to:

1. Export a full-quality movie of the edited video in iMovie '08
2. Download and install iMovie HD 6 (the previous version of iMovie)
3. Import the full-quality movie into iMovie HD 6
4. Export to videocam with firewire connection, using iMovie HD 6

Just sharing my findings here, hopefully it'll be useful to others who might come to similar situation.

takethree · 24th April 2008

Originally Posted by nuyezhae

To chanxj, khtee, and takethree,

Thanks for your suggestions and advice. Based on these info, I did a little more web digging.

As mentioned before, I'm still new to videography and has yet to acquire professional video editing softwares such as Adobe Premiere, Pinnacle Studio, or Final Cut Pro. Hence, for my project, I did my editing in iMovie '08, since it came pre-installed with my iMac. And I've just learnt today (after some googling) that Apple had dropped the 'export to videocam' feature from this latest version of iMovie. So, to work around the situation, I'll have to:

1. Export a full-quality movie of the edited video in iMovie '08
2. Download and install iMovie HD 6 (the previous version of iMovie)
3. Import the full-quality movie into iMovie HD 6
4. Export to videocam with firewire connection, using iMovie HD 6

Just sharing my findings here, hopefully it'll be useful to others who might come to similar situation.

Let us know how it goes.

A little googling on your camcorder model shows that this doesn't have firewire input so no.4 may not be possible. But then again different regions have different firewire options even within the same model so better to check your camcorder manual.

nuyezhae · 26th April 2008

Hi takethree,

Thanks for the advice. Fortunately, my camera has a 'copy from VCR' capability using Firewire, which means data input to camera is possible. I've just did an export to miniDV and the video quality is similar from what I can see. The only issue to note is that iMovie HD had to re-encode the movie before sending the data to the miniDV.

I'm just glad my movie is only 7-mins long, otherwise, it would had been really frustrating.

23rd April 2008	#1
nuyezhae New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3	How to transfer video from computer to miniDV tape? Hello everyone, I need to transfer a 7-min edited video from my computer (iMac running Leopard) to a miniDV tape (using SONY HDR-HC3) for a project. Truth be told, I'm pretty new to videography and I'm having trouble finding information on how to do the transfer. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance! - nuyezhae

23rd April 2008	#2
chanxj Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Singapore...... Posts: 598	Re: How to transfer video from computer to miniDV tape? Use a firewire cable, plug in to laptop then camcorder. Go to ur editing software and choose something like print to tape or something like that. __________________ Chanxj my blog @ http://sgsnap.com

23rd April 2008	#3
khtee Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 218	Re: How to transfer video from computer to miniDV tape? connect the camcorder with firewire cable to the PC. Use Abobe premiere or Pinnacle Studio. There is a option to play and preview to your Camcorder. Just start the record in the camcorder will do.

23rd April 2008	#4
takethree Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 355	Re: How to transfer video from computer to miniDV tape? Be aware that most minidv camcorders in Singapore only have firewire out and not firewire in. This means you can only capture from camcorder to PC and not the other way around. Usually those which have both in and out are more expensive but you really have to check with the camcorder model first. Even within the same camcorder model can have different firewire options.

23rd April 2008	#5
nuyezhae New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3	Re: How to transfer video from computer to miniDV tape? To chanxj, khtee, and takethree, Thanks for your suggestions and advice. Based on these info, I did a little more web digging. As mentioned before, I'm still new to videography and has yet to acquire professional video editing softwares such as Adobe Premiere, Pinnacle Studio, or Final Cut Pro. Hence, for my project, I did my editing in iMovie '08, since it came pre-installed with my iMac. And I've just learnt today (after some googling) that Apple had dropped the 'export to videocam' feature from this latest version of iMovie. So, to work around the situation, I'll have to: 1. Export a full-quality movie of the edited video in iMovie '08 2. Download and install iMovie HD 6 (the previous version of iMovie) 3. Import the full-quality movie into iMovie HD 6 4. Export to videocam with firewire connection, using iMovie HD 6 Just sharing my findings here, hopefully it'll be useful to others who might come to similar situation.

26th April 2008	#7
nuyezhae New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3	Re: How to transfer video from computer to miniDV tape? Hi takethree, Thanks for the advice. Fortunately, my camera has a 'copy from VCR' capability using Firewire, which means data input to camera is possible. I've just did an export to miniDV and the video quality is similar from what I can see. The only issue to note is that iMovie HD had to re-encode the movie before sending the data to the miniDV. I'm just glad my movie is only 7-mins long, otherwise, it would had been really frustrating.