I have still and video recorded on my mini tape that I want to get on my Dell PC. I have a firewire but no firewire port on my tower. What else do I need. Help!

To transfer the recordings from your Samsung SC D353 Mini DV tape to your computer, you'll need to follow these steps:

1. Connect the camcorder to your computer: Use a FireWire (also called IEEE 1394) cable to connect your Samsung SC D353 Mini DV camcorder to your computer. Most computers have a FireWire port, but if yours doesn't, you can purchase a FireWire adapter card.
2. Turn on the camcorder: Turn on your Samsung camcorder and set it to VCR mode.
3. Open the video capture software: On your computer, open the video capture software that came with your operating system (e.g. Windows Movie Maker, iMovie on Mac) or a third-party video capture software (e.g. Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro) that supports Mini DV tape.
4. Start recording: In the video capture software, select the option to capture video from a DV device. Click the Record button in the software and then press Play on the camcorder to begin playing the Mini DV tape. The video should be captured and recorded onto your computer.
5. Save the video: Once the video has been captured, you can edit it if necessary and then save it to your computer in the desired format.

Note: If you do not have the original video capture software, it is recommended that you search and download compatible software before beginning the transfer process. Additionally, make sure your computer has enough storage to store the transferred files.

Welcome to FixYa!

Copying from TAPE to PC requires 4 things. The video cam where the TAPE will be played, a FIREWIRE compatible cable, a FIREWIRE card installed on your computer and a SOFTWARE that supports a firewire device that would record the video.

Unlike Digital Videos that you can just copy and paste the video file from the video cam to the computer, the tape to pc transfer is more of recording the video in from the video cam by playing it in real time while the computer is recording it.

This is a sample of a FIREWIRE card that is installed inside a computer.
An external USB version of this is also available.



This is a sample of a FIREWIRE cable.



Windows MOVIE MAKER is an example of a software that can be used to record the videos. It supports FIREWIRE devices.

Here's a sample video.



Thank you for using FixYa!

Jas247

Hello,

as far as I know, you can only save photos on the SD card.
You can capture the video from the tape to your PC via Firewire interface, connect the Firewire cable to the DV connector on your camera and your computer's firewire port and capture it with a program called WinDV.
About the DVD recorder, often it it the case with them that you have to 'finalize' the DVD before it can be read on a PC/Mac

You apparently have a Firewire (DV) cable.

This type of camera usually downloads better with a Firewire connection. Some mini-DV cameras only use the USB connection (if they have one) for stills and can only download video by Firewire. This is because you have to play the tape into the computer, not just copy a file. The way it works on my computer, the camera is controlled by the computer software through the Firewire cable.

Most PCs have a USB port, but no Firewire port. Macs often have a Firewire port but may not have USB. As your Dell Windows PC did not come with this interface, you need to fit an add-on Firewire interface card to the internal expansion bus (PCI). This will come with a driver for the card. You can buy one of these cheaply on eBay or Amazon.

You don't say what make/model your camera is. Most tape based camcorders (mini-dv) usually download better with a Firewire (DV) connection. Some mini-DV cameras only use the USB connection for stills (if they have one) and can only download video by Firewire. This is because you have to play the tape into the computer, not just copy a file.

Most PCs have a USB port, but no Firewire port. Macs often have a Firewire port but may not have USB.

Suitable Firewire (DV) cables can easily be found on Amazon or eBay. You will need the kind with a small (four pin) connector at one end and a larger (six pin) connector at the other.

To download from the tape (not the memory card) you need a firewire cable, and a computer that has firewire compatibility. Most laptops have this, but desktops may require a firewire card to be installed.

Was the tape your trying to import recorded on the camera you are trying to import from? I've noticed that sometimes the tape I recorded on my old Panasonic won't show up on my GL2. It's like it's a blank tape, but I know it's not, as I have it labeled. Stick it back into the panasonic and it plays fine.

if its not a digital camcorder you will need a converter like a dazzle .a box with a usb cabel and three input sockets video and audio left and right .if it is digital you may have to buy a lead with a mini dv plug on one end and firewire on the other.has your pc got firewire ports?mind you the other way is copy the tape on a dvd recorder then load it on your pc...all the best good luck

Try downloading Sweetmovielife

The USB port on the camera is to download still pics from the Camera's SD Card to your computer. USB connector is not for video downloading.

For video downloading you have to use FireWire port. Your computer must have a FireWire port too. You will need some sort of video downloading software - like Microsoft's MovieMaker. There are some free software to download videos from mini dv camcorders to computer. It takes 1Hr to download 1Hr tape - you have to play it all to record it all.

3yrs ago when I purchased this cam, I did not have FireWire port in my computer. I searched online a lot and found a way to download video using USB - it was tough, complicated. It was possible, but quality was too bad and too many dropped frames.

If you do not have firewire port, google for FireWire PCI Card, should be <$10. You have to install it inside your PC. Also search for FireWire cable ($10+/-) that will match BOTH camera and PC ports.

Thank you.