Leave them on the miniDV tape. This would be the least compressed, original video footage. When you encode or compress them, you are discarding video data and reducing the video quality. Yes, 60 minutes of standard definition video uses 12-14 gig of computer hard drive space - which you have learned. (For what it is worth, HDV format high definition video uses 44 gig per 63 minutes of video imported to the computer.) This - is one of the many reasons the professionals continue to use miniDV tape. Cheap long-term, archive, storage... store the tapes in a cool, dry place. There are several suggestions about how to handle these tapes sprinkled around the web.
An alternative would be to import them at highest quality - generally as DV or HDV format into a RAID1 or better hard drive array. The reason you need RAID1 is this is a multi-hard drive format. The hard drives are mirrored so both have the same data. Since hard drives are electromechanical, they can break. The chances of both breaking at the same time are slim - one breaks, the other has the data. Replace the broken drive, the data from the operational drive is copied over... There are several NAS (Networked Attached Storage) systems for home and small office that can do this. Check the NetGear ReadyNAS Duo, Buffalo LinkStation systems, D-Link DNS-321 enclosure (you need to add the drives), Promise 2-bay RAID system (you need to add the drives) - there are several others.
Most large companies do not use hard disc drives for data archival - back up, yes - that is for short term... but not archive. Digital tape continues to be a fine long term storage media.
As for miniDV tape "going away"... they same was said for VHS about 15 years ago, as I recall. Yet, today, I can walk into a CVS or Fry's Electronics - among many other brick/mortar retailers and online - and find VHS tapes and players available.
Since the professionals continue to use primarily miniDV tape based gear, it will be around for many years.
Somehow, consumers are convinced that hard drive and flash memory storage is somehow "better" than digital tape. And in this context, they are not. And no, I do not recommend investing in a BluRay burner for the purpose of archiving video. Optical media has its own share of problems - but a single BluRay disc at 25 gig would be more than enough space to write non-compressed video from a full miniDV tape.
Perhaps you can ask the same question in 5-10 years and maybe there will be a more viable alternative. At this point, I cannot suggest one that is "better" than the original source miniDV tape.
Hello all.
I have a Sony mini dv, DCR HC62 along with some mini dvs from past camcorders. In the next couple of years I would like to change camcorder formats, maybe solid state so I would like to get all of my mini dvs changed into soft copy, video files. I don?t care what format, I just want them to be high quality. Once my camcorder goes, these files will be all that I have since I will not be able to play the mini dvs any longer. I am, however, having a hell of time getting this done. The files that I have from the Firewire download via MS Movie Maker are uncompressed and HUGE 10-12 gigs each, so big, I cannot even play them. So, I need to do something about encoding them or getting them in some other format. A friend suggested that I use WINFF to do this but all of the final videos don?t look as nice as my original video. They are very grainy. I have tried every possible video format for the final file but none look as nice as original from the camcorder. All of this leaves me at a total loss on how to proceed. I need to get these videos in the best possible format but in their current state I cannot even play them on my computer due to the current file size. I have a duo core 2, Win Vista 32 with 4 gigs of ram. With this in mind I have the following questions.
1.What is the best way for me to proceed, what is the best way/format for me to download (maybe not just convert) these videos so as to keep my current quality but reduce the size.
2.What program is best/cheapest to get this done, I am really not looking to edit these videos.
3.At this point, am I just better off seeing how much someone would charge me to get this done? I have been out of work for awhile and have more time than money but I need to get this done.
4.Any other input that would be helpful
5.Last thing, any thoughts about the mini dv format going away
Thanks in advance for your assistance.

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