Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Mini DV tape to tape duplicating AND

Jun 30, 2006 11:59PM PDT

Two questions really prompted by difficulty in getting video from camcorder to PC. (2 day old cameral and 2 day old knowledge and user of same) Difficulty? no firewire connector in an expensive year old pooter, a big oversight on my part-thought it was on the case. the other difficulty finding a usb cable in a store locally-several Ofc Depots, Radio Shack, Staple etc with the mini connector for the camera.
In the interim-trying to find workaround, i.e. if a recorded tape mailed to someone with another cameral-will the tape play the vid satisfactorily? Or-can a tape be duplicated by a device available or perhaps by a computer shop or retailer?
Any suggestions appreciated til I get the "to PC" thing worked out
thank you and have a Happy 4th
Cameral is a Sony dcr hc26

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Either install, or have someone else install, a firewire
Jul 1, 2006 12:04AM PDT

card. That's a lot faster and cheaper than the alternatives you are mentioning. Forget USB. It won't work well for video capture.

- Collapse -
Mini DV tape to tape duplicating AND
Jul 1, 2006 8:32AM PDT

thank you-did price a firewire card and it was $89 b4 install, bit steep for the ss budget, so trying to go the USB route. Appreciate the fact the USB less than desirable for the capture. Too old and too ''thumby'' to do the install myself.

Thanks for taking the time and effort to respond

- Collapse -
firewire
Jul 1, 2006 9:19AM PDT

You can get a good firewire card for $20.
It installs in an open PCI slot, if you have one.

As for your original question....
Mini-dv camcorders are the same.
You can play back the tape on another camcorder.
You will not have any problems unless you recorded in LP. That may cause problems.
If you recorded in SP, you'll be fine.

- Collapse -
There is one caveate. Both camcorders must have
Jul 1, 2006 9:24AM PDT

correctly aligned heads. If one is off, it probably won't work very well.

- Collapse -
Mini DV tape to tape duplicating AND
Jul 1, 2006 10:13PM PDT

Thank you all for your responses.
Answers will allow sending the tapes to be played in another location til I can get the to PC thing worked out.
The $20 cost for the card certainly an eye-opener, will have to search for that, then convince myself these old knuckles can do the install.

Have a great day