What's the best Software to digitize MiniDV?

[TobiDarius]

Hello everyone,
I just startet to digitize some old MiniDV Tapes via a MiniDV Camera and a FireWire Capturecard in an old WinXP Computer.
Even after hours of search, I can't find a software I'm looking for.

I need to have a real-time Audio-Playback and a real-time Video-Preview in such a size, that I can see possible artifacts while capturing. A HUGE BONUS would be the ability to control the Camera (Play, Pause, Rewind) via the software.

I can't find a software that can do all of these things. The Software I allready tested are:
- Scenalyzer 3.5 (can't detect my camere + no Camera-Control + no Audio-Playback + no Video-Preview)
- Scenalyzer 4 (no Audio-Playback + issues with Video-Preview/no image)
- WinDV (no Camera-control + no Audio-Playback)
- STOIK Capture (no Audio-Playback + a really tiny Video-Preview!)
- VirtualDub (no Camera-Control while recording + no Audio-Playback)
- MovieMaker (no Camera-Control + no Audio-Playback + no Video-Preview)
- OBS (won't work on WinXP + no Camera-Control)

Does anyone have an idea what software could do all the mentioned points?

I got Tapes that are in a bad condition, so I have to stop every few Minutes and re-capture some parts to cut them together later. It would be possible to capture the tape perfectly at the first try.

(of course I cleaned the camera)

Thanks a lot

[latreche34]

miniDV tapes are already digital, you can say transfer miniDV. Sclive is the best I've used so far and can do all what you want, Your problems are driver/OS related not software related.

[aramkolt]

I get why you want to see live previews to look for errors, but the camera will simultaneously allow monitoring of audio and video via the analog outputs. Having the computer preview and audio going could theoretically cause capture issues which may be why some of the different apps do not allow accurate or functional previews.

A single large screen and computer speakers that doesn't use any processing power and can be as large/loud as you want is something worth factoring in. I don't know how common previews cause issues in miniDV as I haven't done as much testing with that since the capture is much more straightforward than say VHS. In VHS, audio or video previews have caused capture issues for some users, which is something you may not want to chance. You should get no stuttering at all with the direct analog output monitoring, so that's probably a more accurate picture of whether glitches are occurring in realtime.

Another thing to consider in terms of controls is that Sony MiniDV cameras can use optional wired controller protocol called LANC. The most full featured one I believe is the Sony RM-95 which will also show timecode information on the remote itself. Technically, any command is possible over LANC including shutting the camera off or turning it on, ejecting the tape, advancing single frames, and even ones that don't have buttons on the camera. If it isn't a common command, you'll probably need to make your own controller out of an Arduino or similar which is probably beyond most people here including myself for now. Almost all miniDV cameras also have very inexpensive IR remotes available as well.

I've recently been interested in LANC for automation purposes so that you could start a tape playing for capture, leave it unattended, and then have the player and capture device stop once a certain period time after video stops, or to have the tape play for a pre-determined period of time before the camera and capture both stop. Not particularly good here since you are having frequent glitches that do require live monitoring and frequent start/stops/recaptures.

[TobiDarius]

Nice, I didn't know I can output analog and digital at the same time.
I just connected Cinch-Cables to my other CaptureCard and can now see and hear the signal via OBS on another computer, while getting the digital FireWire-Signal via my XP-Computer.
Thanks a lot!

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TobiDarius

to my other CaptureCard and can now see and hear the signal via OBS

You should never use OBS for capturing videotapes. Wrong software, it substantially lowers the quality.