How to backup my MiniDV tapes into DVD?

[bernong1]

Hi
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this. If it is not, my apologies. I've searched CS but could not find a similar thread.

I have several MiniDV tapes that I used between 2002 and 2005 with my Sony camcorder. My camcorder is no longer working. I'd like to transfer the contents of my MiniDV tapes onto DVDs and then I can back the DVD up onto hard disks.

I was at a photo store and they one store wanted to charge me S$35 per one hour tape, to rip the contents out and store onto DVD. When I asked what format will be used, they didn't know.

The second store I went to wanted to charge me S$55 per one hour tape. They said they can rip it and store onto DVD in formats that can be read by DVD players for TV or for PC viewing only. When I asked exactly what formats they are, they had no idea.

I'm looking for some advice on:

1. Is S$35/one hour tape reasonable?
2. What formats are normally stored on DVD after ripping the contents from the MiniDVD?
3. I would like to backup the DVD contents onto multiple hard disks.

Any advice?

Thanks
Bernard

 

[jaegersing]

I'm looking for some advice on:

1. Is S$35/one hour tape reasonable?
2. What formats are normally stored on DVD after ripping the contents from the MiniDVD?
3. I would like to backup the DVD contents onto multiple hard disks.

1. You can probably get cheaper, maybe down to $20 or so per hour, but it's not outrageous depending on how much effort is involved.

2. If you want to maintain full quality for editing, you would save it as DV format AVI files. This is around 13GB per hour, so one miniDV tape will fill 3 4.7GB DVDs. May even go up to 4 DVDs if the tape is full.

If you just want high quality files for viewing, you can convert to DVD format MPEG2 files. And you have the further choice of burning these as DVD data discs or video DVD (VOB files). You can get up to 90/120 minutes per DVD, without too much degradation.

3. I find the easiest archive medium is a mirror RAID hard disk, where the files are backed up automatically. You will get slightly more reliable backups by saving to multiple separate drives, but it is a fair amount of effort to manage this. I'm not organised enough to use multiple drives for archiving, that's why I use RAID.

BTW, how many tapes do you need to convert? If you have a lot, you could save money by buying a new minDV camcorder for around $200. Or get a second hand one, even cheaper. If it's just a few tapes, borrow a camcorder from a friend.

 

[bernong1]

Thanks jaegersing. This is very helpful.

I've got about 10 tapes in all. I'm not going to do any editing. Just to store it and viewing.

Your comments are very helpful. Appreciate it.

Bernard

1. You can probably get cheaper, maybe down to $20 or so per hour, but it's not outrageous depending on how much effort is involved.

2. If you want to maintain full quality for editing, you would save it as DV format AVI files. This is around 13GB per hour, so one miniDV tape will fill 3 4.7GB DVDs. May even go up to 4 DVDs if the tape is full.

If you just want high quality files for viewing, you can convert to DVD format MPEG2 files. And you have the further choice of burning these as DVD data discs or video DVD (VOB files). You can get up to 90/120 minutes per DVD, without too much degradation.

3. I find the easiest archive medium is a mirror RAID hard disk, where the files are backed up automatically. You will get slightly more reliable backups by saving to multiple separate drives, but it is a fair amount of effort to manage this. I'm not organised enough to use multiple drives for archiving, that's why I use RAID.

BTW, how many tapes do you need to convert? If you have a lot, you could save money by buying a new minDV camcorder for around $200. Or get a second hand one, even cheaper. If it's just a few tapes, borrow a camcorder from a friend.

 

[superbeng]

I think $35/tape is not unreasonable. But what I would do would be similar to what has already been suggested:

Save the $3500. Buy a miniDV camera. Digitise (transfer via firewire from camcorder to computer) the 10 tapes. This will be in real-time. Then save them as mpeg/avi/mp4 files that can fit as few DVDs as possible without being unwatcheable in terms of quality-loss.

Don't forget to label each clip or put a slate/superimposed title to correlate each clip to its tape source.

 

[jaegersing]

Another option is to use a DVD recorder to convert to MPEG2 directly from the analogue AV output of the cam. Just record all the tapes to the hard disk of the DVD recorder, and then burn as many DVDs as it takes. This is probably the simplest way to do it if you are not going to edit the files, but of course, it is only available if you have access to a DVD recorder and a videocam.

 

[bernong1]

Thanks superbeng. Good advice too.

Bernard

I think $35/tape is not unreasonable. But what I would do would be similar to what has already been suggested:

Save the $3500. Buy a miniDV camera. Digitise (transfer via firewire from camcorder to computer) the 10 tapes. This will be in real-time. Then save them as mpeg/avi/mp4 files that can fit as few DVDs as possible without being unwatcheable in terms of quality-loss.

Don't forget to label each clip or put a slate/superimposed title to correlate each clip to its tape source.

 

[bernong1]

Thanks jaegersing. I'll think about this one. As I travel quite a bit, I don't have that much time. I may just go and get the photo store to do it as it is one time. I can then rip it from the DVD and store it in my multiple hard disks as backup.

Thanks again.

Bernard

Another option is to use a DVD recorder to convert to MPEG2 directly from the analogue AV output of the cam. Just record all the tapes to the hard disk of the DVD recorder, and then burn as many DVDs as it takes. This is probably the simplest way to do it if you are not going to edit the files, but of course, it is only available if you have access to a DVD recorder and a videocam.

 

[superbeng]

Then what I would do is:

1. have a spare external HD (500GB should be enough) ready
2. find a friend who has a DV camera (and does video editing for a living or hobby) to just help digitise the 10 tapes and transfer the clips (probably .mov files) to the external HD provided

Just agree on a fair sum for this service exchanged... Then I can just use the ext. HD to playback the files, transfer/archive it, use it for editing, burn it to DVD, whatever...

 

[ricohflex]

1394 Firewire cards are cheap.
$15 at Bizgram.
$32 (NEC chipset) at MultiTech.
I bought the $32 card.
Works like a dream right from the start. Plug in and it works first time, every time. No bugs, no hassles.
The whole thing is so standardised that a DV video camera will auto detect when you connect PC with Firewire cable. The rest is simple.
Because it is tape, 1 hour of playback will take 1 hour to send to your PC.
No big deal. Just leave it and watch TV until finished.
Then send next tape.
Got lots of cheap video software if you don't like the free Movie Maker.

It is so simple to transfer DV to PC using 1394 that it is easier to do than reading this short message.

when you ask something, sometimes you don't get answers. People clam up.
Why are some video forums unresponsive and unhelpful?
Because of MONEY.
Knowledge is $.
If the video biz makes the consumers think that it is very difficult, very complex, almost impossible to do, must cost Thousands of $ each time you want a little task done, then they can continue to charge high prices.... for taking the video, sending the video to PC to DVD, editing the video, etc....

They have seen what autofocus, autometering film cameras and eventually digital still cameras have done to the livelihoods of still photographers who used to make a killing. Many consumers learned that they could do it themselves.

If you agreed to give the job to the shop. It is unlikely they will be the ones who do it for you. Although without scientific proof, my guess is that it will go through a series of sub-sub-sub-contracting until finally the sub-sub-sub-contractor or person who does it for you gets paid a small fraction of the $3,500 that you would be paying the shop. Say, for example, $350.
The rest get their middle-man cuts along the way. With the first introducer getting the biggest cut of all.
So sometimes the consumer pays a sum e.g. $3,500 expecting $3,500 quality but he gets $350 quality.
It does happen in other industries too.

 

[BESTFOTO]

come to me and u pay me in ringgit so much cheaper..... lots of tape lower the charges... lets say one hour dv tape is RM30. transfet to hard disc (u supply) or burn to dvd...cool raj in ipoh 012-5887719. terms CASH. GOD BLESS YOU MANY MANY

 

[BESTFOTO]

Mini dv tapes soon will be passed out......action is recording direct to hard disc drive or card.....save time time is money raj singh 012-5887719

 

[BESTFOTO]

Mini dv tapes soon will be passed out......action is recording direct to hard disc drive or card.....save time time is money raj singh 012-5887719

 

[Ansel]

Some DVD recorders, even harddisk recorders, the kinds you use to record TV programmes, may sometimes have a firewire or 1394 input terminal. Just connect the video cam to the recorder via firewire/1394/iLink, press record on the recorder and it will automatically plays the tape and records the video onto a new DVD. I used it to digitally record all my DV tapes to DVD. It creates a normal playable Video DVD with menus, etc that can be played on any DVD player. Simple, straighforward, cheap. If you want multi copies of the DVD, just use your computer to copy them.

 

[Pinoy]

Save the $3500. Buy a miniDV camera. Digitise (transfer via firewire from camcorder to computer) the 10 tapes. This will be in real-time. Then save them as mpeg/avi/mp4 files that can fit as few DVDs as possible without being unwatcheable in terms of quality-loss.

Agree. In my case, I had an out-of-warranty Panasonic GS50 with spoilt firewire/usb ports. Sent it to Panasonic and was quoted S$300++ for repair & replacement. No go.

Bought a second hand Panasonic GS55 @ S$130 recently just so I could transfer my MiniDV contents to Hard Disk and/or DVD. Suggest you try the same route...

:Later,

 

[bernong1]

Thanks so much guys. Appreciate the comments.

My video cam has intermittent problems with power, so I may not be able to charge it. I'll probably look into getting a second hand video cam and do the transfer.

Once again, thanks for all your comments/feedback and suggestions. Appreciate it.

Bernard

Agree. In my case, I had an out-of-warranty Panasonic GS50 with spoilt firewire/usb ports. Sent it to Panasonic and was quoted S$300++ for repair & replacement. No go.

Bought a second hand Panasonic GS55 @ S$130 recently just so I could transfer my MiniDV contents to Hard Disk and/or DVD. Suggest you try the same route...

:Later,