Mini DV tapes provide for a high quality recording, but they are not easily played in home theaters or compatible with DVD players. Converting a mini DV tape into a DVD provides for a greater compatibility since mostly everyone has a DVD player, and can be nearly automated using a computer and software conversion program. The mini DV tape will be turned into a digital file, and then burned onto a DVD disc so that it can be played on a DVD player.
Instructions
1. Download and install the DVD Burning Xpress program to the computer's desktop. Restart the computer.
2. Put the mini DV tape into the DV camcorder. Attach the Firewire cable to the Firewire output of the DV camcorder. Attach the other end of the Firewire cable to the Firewire input of the computer. Switch the playback mode on the DV camcorder to "VCR." Turn on the DV camcorder.
3. Run the DVD Burning Xpress program. Click on the "DV capture" button on the main screen. Press the Play button on the "DV capture" screen to start mini DV tape in the DV camcorder playing. Press the "Start Capture" button on the "DV capture" screen to start recording the video and audio from the mini DV tape to the computer's hard drive.
4. Press the "Stop Capture" button when the mini DV tape has finished playing. Wait as the digital file is saved. Press the "OK" button to close the dialogue box that will appear. Press the Stop button to stop the DV camcorder.
5. Turn the DV camcorder off and remove the Firewire cable connected to the DV camcorder and to the computer. Insert a black, recordable DVD disc into the DVD recordable drive.
6. Click on the "Burn Video to DVD Disc" button in the main window of DVD Burning Xpress. Select "NTSC" in the window that now appears.
7. Click on the "Burn now" button to make a DVD from the video files that were shot on the mini DV tape. Press the "OK" button on the window that appears to tell you that the burning of the DVD is done.
8. Quit the DVD Burning Xpress program and eject the DVD disc. Archive or delete the video files that were used to make the DVD.
Tags: mini tape, Burning Xpress, Burning Xpress program, Firewire cable, Xpress program
