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Is it easy to get a video from a mini-dv to my computer?

I know that unlike mini-dvd’s, hard drives, and flash memory camcorders, mini-dv camcorders record to tape and use a compression other than mp3. However, I previously learned that the video quality is much better. So, how do you get the mini-dv video to save to your computer as an mp3? Do you press play on the camcorder and then it sends the video to your computer via usb or firewire? If that is how you do it, does the camcorder automatically convert it to an MP3 or do you then have to take an additional step of converting the video file to an MP3?

Most Mini DV cams have a fire wire port to transfer the video to your PC. You run the tape on the cam and the fire wire captures it. I believe most transfer in MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 format. Most video editing software will allow you to save it to most standard formats, should you need it to be different.

Some have a USB Port, but this only lets you capture video from the camera to the PC, much like a webcam does.

I hope this is helpful. Good Luck.

minidv vs. Hard Drive Camcorders!