How to transfer video from a MiniDV camcorder to a computer via USB 

Couple of questions: 1. Does the USB transfer cable also power the camcorder without a battery? If not, what cable do I need to power it without using a battery? 2. Does Windows basically see it as a webcam/video source? If so, I should be able to use OBS to record the tape, correct?

@@bubbleboy821 No, it does not power it via USB. The power supply voltage is 9.3 V, but 9 V should work as well. I don't use OBS, so cannot tell for sure whether it will work.

@@ConsumerDVThank you for the reply! Will any old 9.3V power supply work (also what about amps)? And where does it plug in, the port labeled "DV" underneath the USB? I'm only able to find the battery chargers online that explicitly mention they work with this camera.

@@bubbleboy821 Hold on, I am giving you wrong info, which I thought I remembered correctly. It should be actually 7.2 V from a battery pack, and 7.9 V if a power adapter is used I believe? Funny, I've never used this camcorder with a power adapter, it seems the only way to power it from an adapter is to use one with a plastic connector panel that clicks into the place of the battery. The dongle ID is K2GJ2DZ00018. As for batteries, I am using packs from newer HD camcorders, VBG130/260, they fit (but the GS500 batteries do not fit HD camcorders, huh). I have some third party packs rated 7.4 V, they work too. 9.3 V is for 2006-2010 HD camcorders, and these work with 9 V. Some of them have a round barrel connector, other have a special connector. I apologize for the confusion.

@@ConsumerDV No way, you found it! I've been looking for that adapter all day. I couldn't believe the only way to plug it in is through the battery connection. Also, looks like the only person selling this part is on eBay for $99.99... of course! Thank you for your help. Subscribed

Yeah, it works great on Windows 10 using Movie Maker!

​@@ConsumerDVDoes it suppose to work also with Premiere Pro? (Or they disabled their capture capabilities with new versions of Premiere?)

@@eladbari si que funciona con premiere, probado w11 con PV-GS500, todo correcto

Buy the Panasonic gs320, it's 3ccp with great colours

update?

@@sl5311 I found a HDD camcorder, Sony SR52E, and bought it. Back then there weren't many Panasonics to buy in my country :(

@@Gumcol How is it working, are you able to transfer tapes to your computer?

@@sl5311 yes, with Sony PlayMemories app even on windows 11. But be aware that they no longer support this app and old cana - newwst version does not recognize camera. You have to download older one and it works flawless :)

I am glad this video was useful for you! Really appreciate your comment.

Thanks! I use VirtualDub2 for Windows, you can see it in this video if you skip to 3:50 mark: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XzY1Vo1occc.html I usually use built-in Yadif deinterlacer or MSU deinterlacer, which is slightly better but much slower than Yadif. The best free deinterlacer is QTGMC, you run in a script, to run the script you need a runtime environment, and VirtualDub can function as such runtime environment as well.

I know about the firewire400-800-thunderbolt2-thunderbult3 solution, but haven't tried it myself. @ScottSchramm has done a lot of research on the issue. You sure can capture off a DV camcorder through an analog connection, although SVideo would be preferable to composite, but not all DV camcorders can SVideo output. Transferring DV digitally provides the best quality all other things being equal, SVideo is almost as good, composite is the worst, but still quite watchable. Regarding capturing to Mac, I am not an authority here, as I use Windows. Supposedly, you should be able to use Mac as many of analog-to-digital converters have Mac-compatible software. I don't know whether good free software exists for Mac. I apologize I cannot not help much.

It should work. Try this: put the camcorder in Play mode (not in PC mode). Select USB FUNCTION -> MOTION DV, it should be either in BASIC or ADVANCED menu. On Windows, verify that in System Settings -> Privacy -> App Permissions -> Camera is enabled for desktop apps. Hope it helps! I This is a frequent question, I will put it in the description.

It all depends on what you have. What model of the camcorder do you have? Are you sure it can send video over USB? A suitable cable may have been provided with the camcorder.

I have never used Mac for working with video. Supposedly, it should work out of the box, but... I have a 1999 DV camcorder that my Windows machine cannot not recognize via Firewire. Windows automatically finds and installs appropriate driver for newer models (despite that some people say Firewire devices do not need custom drivers). The DS65 seems pretty old. I don't know how compatible those early Firewire machines were with computers. Really cannot help you here, sorry :(

Why would not you connect the camcorder to the TV with a composite cable? (unless, of course, your TV does not have a composite input). The first software, you mean, the Movie Maker? I need to check whether it can play video being captured in full screen, but I don't think it can. But you can capture a video first, then play it on a computer with a player of your choice.

Yes, it should work too. The camcorder has a Mini-B USB port and a 4-pin Firewire port.

Of course, you can use other software. Most commercial NLEs have capture module that allows to capture video from DV camcorders, it usually works with USB connection as well. WinDV, which one normally would use for Firewire connection, works with USB connection too. Put the camcorder in Play mode (not in PC mode). From ADVANCED menu select USB FUNCTION → MOTION DV. On Windows, verify that in System Settings → Privacy → App Permissions → Camera is enabled for desktop apps.

Awesome! I am glad it works.

The operating manual is the best place to start. Your camcorder does not seem to have a USB port.

Were you able to find a solution. I have the same problem with my Canon elura 100. Show up as Microsoft DV and VCR. Can't import any videos.

There is no "finished" or "unfinished" tape. It is not a file, nor it needs finalization like a DVD. You can transfer as much or as little as you want. Yes, you can reuse magnetic tape again.

Just a simple Firewire cable, 4 pins on one end for the camcorder and either 4 or 6 or even 9 pins on the other end depending on your card. I have a cheap card with VIA chipset, works fine for me.

Hi, I don't think it can transfer video over USB. The "Getting to know your camcorder" chapter reads, "You can transfer still images to a PC using the USB interface without an add-on card". The same chapter says that both moving and still images can be transferred to a PC by using IEEE 1394 a.k.a. Firewire port. The operating manual does not specify which version of USB the camcorder supports. You need at least USB 2 High Speed to transfer DV video without recompression, I don't think it is capable of it. You should use Firewire/DV port for uploading video to a computer.

Same! will this work?

Firewire is the standard protocol for transferring DV video, but *some* DV camcorders can transfer DV video over USB as well, and this was the point of this video. If your computer has a Firewire port, just use Firewire.

I don't think I'll be able to help here. This is not a DV camcorder. I suggest starting with the owner's manual.

Funny I did not think about this before. I just tried WinDV, it could not find my Panasonic GS500, but it has been hit or miss lately. Then I tried ScenalizerLive, and it worked perfectly! I did not expect it to work. Thanks for the tip!

@@ConsumerDV That's great. But just for clarity... You were able to capture lossless DV using Scenalyzer on Windows 10, without having to install the Panasonic USB driver or any other drivers/software ? And checking the DV AVI files with MediaInfo shows that they really are DV data?

I am using Win7, but I have a Win10 laptop, I will test it and report back. In the meantime, this is what I am getting from Win7, I don't remember whether I needed to install a special USB driver for the camcorder. If anything, Windows downloaded it automatically. Interesting that "commercial format" is reported as DVCPRO, despite that the GS500 is a consumer camcorder, and DV25/4:1:1 is a consumer format. Codec ID is Sony probably because I have Sony DV codec installed by Sony Vegas. General Format : AVI Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave Format_Commercial_IfAny : DVCPRO File size : 68.5 MiB Duration : 18s 886ms Overall bit rate : 30.4 Mbps TAPE : sclive TCOD : 11423745667 TCDO : 11612267333 VMAJ : 4 VMIN : 0 STAT : 0 -1 3500.000000 1 DTIM : 27111835 3340451840 Video ID : 0 Format : DV Format_Commercial_IfAny : DVCPRO Codec ID : dvsd Codec ID/Hint : Sony Duration : 18s 886ms Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 24.4 Mbps Width : 720 pixels Height : 480 pixels Display aspect ratio : 4:3 Frame rate mode : Constant Frame rate : 29.970 fps Standard : NTSC Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:1:1 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Interlaced Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 2.357 Stream size : 64.8 MiB (94%) Encoding settings : wb mode= / white balance= / fcm=auto focus Audio Format : PCM Format settings, Endianness : Little Format settings, Sign : Unsigned Codec ID : 1 Codec ID/Hint : Microsoft Duration : 18s 886ms Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 1 536 Kbps Channel(s) : 2 channels Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz Bit depth : 16 bits Stream size : 3.46 MiB (5%) Interleave, duration : 497 ms (14.89 video frames)

@@ConsumerDV Not sure why it would say DVCPRO, perhaps something to do with how sclive constructs the AVI header. The codec dvsd seems prety conclusive that it is DV data. WOuld be great to hear how you get on with Windows 10 - I seem to remember reading somwehere that some UVC functions had been added to Windows 10 and 11 but can't remember where now! Would be interesting if it worked on Windows 10 without having to try installing an ancient Panasonic USB driver.

@@portmeirrion I can confirm that no drivers are required for DV over USB in Win 10 or 11. I have a GS25 and a GS300 and both appear in WinDV and Scenalyzer as a "Video Edit" device. In my recent experience WinDV is quite flaky in Win 10 and 11, so Scenalyzer is the go-to transfer software for this.

Yeah, it is the same rate, but sadly it does not recognize HDV. On the other hand, despite that it does not show anything onscreen, maybe it still sends it over wire as is? I haven't tried it, so cannot neither confirm nor deny whether it is possible.

@@ConsumerDV thx! thats intersting to try... it would be ultimate good if panasonic could this!

The first time I tested this with Vegas I was getting both video and audio. After I installed a PCI A/V card, I am getting video only. Luckily, other tools like Windows Movie Maker and WinDV work fine. The encoding is the same, it comes directly from tape, so it does not matter which tool you use.

@@ConsumerDV Thanks for the reply. So the problem seems to be with the software. Someone else suggested MotionDV Studio, which is created by Panasonic. I downloaded that and it apparently works with 64-bit Windows 11, even though it was created in 2007 and was supposedly designed for Windows Vista. I have been able to capture both video and audio through USB with it. Thank you again.

@@laichoonchan6749 so this USB 2.0 high speed IS équivalent to firewire for video transfer?

Yes, it is equivalent to Firewire when used in "Motion DV" mode. If you set USB to "Webcam" mode, it will be lower resolution and frame rate.

I tried connecting my Panasonic DV camcorder to a 3rd generation Macbook Pro via USB, and it did not work. The computer did not recognize a device connected to USB, Finder did not show it, iMovie did not offer to import from it. Connecting the camcorder to a Windows computer was markedly different: Windows Movie Maker as well as other applications recognized an A/V device connected to USB and offered to import from it. I don't know whether additional drivers for Mac are needed, but even the old user manuals mention capturing video over USB only in relation to Windows. YMMV.

What do you mean, "USB to mini"? Are you trying to use USB to transfer video? I don't think it is possible. The operating manual reads, "Transfer takes for about 30 to 50 seconds for every 1 second of the Motion image when using USB connection," and "The maximum capture time is approximately 30 seconds." It seems the camcorder has a built-in buffer which reads video off tape, then sends it over USB at much slower speed. I believe the camcorder only supports USB 1.0 I think your best bet is Firewire. But, this may not work as well. Some people out there say that replacing Windows Firewire driver with an old one helps, I haven't done this. I suggest searching on a forum like doom9 or videohelp for details.

Verify that System Settings -> Privacy -> App Permissions -> Camera is enabled for desktop apps.

Hey, have you found a workaround?

Not exactly. USB 2.0 can be both standard speed (12 Mbps) and High Speed (480 Mbps), you need High Speed. Also, you need the camcorder to support UVC. Some Sony camcorders have the same feature. I had big hopes for JVC, but the model I got is not good enough for full-size transfer. I believe UVC was adopted in 2003, so I would look models 2004 and onwards. Then again, I think most brands stopped offering MiniDV camcorders starting from 2007, and I don't know whether there are HDV camcorders that have the same capability. So, 2004 through 2006 is the best bet, IMO.

@@ConsumerDV got it Thanks a lot

Check with the operating manual. Ideally it should explicitly mention such capability, maybe it mentions USB2 High Speed mode and/or UVC. If not, then the standard way of uploading DV on a computer is via Firewire. Firewire expansion cards are cheap.

Do not use PC Mode, use regular Play mode.

It can be used as a webcam and also seems capable of sending motion pictures off tape, but you may need proprietary software, DV Studio. It does not support USB 2.0 High Speed, so the bitrate is limited to 12 Mbit/s. At best, it re-encodes video to something like 320×240 @ 15 fps. It cannot send full uncompressed DV over USB. Use Firewire instead.

If your computer has the 1394/Firewire/DV/iLink port, then you should just use it. It is the standard interface for DV and HDV. Many software tools can import over Firewire, including Microsoft Movie Maker, Sony Vegas, etc. Also small free tools like WinDV and ScenalyzerLive.

@@ConsumerDV Thanks, will try that out and let you know

I have never used a DVD-based camcorder. Have you closed the session and finalized the disc?

@@ConsumerDV yep, but it still not viewing in my laptop, but what do you think if i remove the disc, will the other laptop can read just the sd card? (like using dvd camcorder to open the files on my sd card thing)

Not until you repair it. Safeguard mode indicates a problem with the tape transport. The camcorder switches to safeguard mode to prevent further damage.

There are no USB to DV cables. The user manual says the camcorder can do USB 2.0 High Speed and can be connected via USB in streaming mode to "view camcorder video", so there is a chance ir can send video off tape via USB.

@@ConsumerDV well, i would call the cable in your thumbnail usb to dv. anyway, i got one.

MiniDV is digital. Your camcorder cannot send full-resolution DV video over USB. It can only send Motion JPEG clips having 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 resolution. To capture video from tape you need to go the Firewire route.

@@ConsumerDV Awesome, thanks! You got a vid on that by any chance?

@@R00Y No, I figured it was simple enough: connect the Firewire cable, run the capture program (WinDV, ScenalyzerLive, or a capture module from most NLEs), play the tape, get the bits from tape to computer into a file, job done. But quite a few people have been asking about it, so maybe I will make one.

It is a regular USB cable, Type A on one end, and Mini-B on another. I am using this method to transfer from tape. Some Panasonic camcorders support it, also supposedly some JVC and Sony camcorders too, but I did not have much luck with JVC, and O do not have a Sony MiniDV camcorder to verify it.

Awesome! I did not test ScenalyzerLive and WinDV in this video because I thought they would not work with USB, but looks like they do. Thanks for the info!

@@ConsumerDV thanks for the instructions. Just followed what you had in the description and it worked!

Page 7 of the user manual for the PV-GS29/PV-GS39/PV-GS59 reads: USB Jack: PV-GS29: No | *PV-GS39: Yes (Full-Speed)* | PV-GS59: Yes (High-Speed) Full-Speed is 12 Mbit/s, High-Speed is 480 Mbit/s, DV is 29 Mbit/s. So indeed, the GS39 does not have enough throughput for DV at full quality. Interesting that the manual later reads, "[USB FUNCTION] (PV-GS59 Only)", so I think you used it in WEB CAM mode, not in tape transfer mode.

@@ConsumerDV wow thank you for the most thorough answer I’ve ever received on RU-vid!

​@@ConsumerDV I'm confused. How does your PC knows if to capture the full res of the camcorder feed? This control should be set on the camcorder. You wanna say the user mis used the camcorder while capturing and it's obvious if he set it to webcam capture or MiniDV capture?

@@eladbari The camcorder will send full-res DV if it supports USB 2.0 High Speed. I don't know the details of how the UVC protocol works, but in operation is very much similar as DV over Firewire. I can even use the same capture tools.

@@ConsumerDV I checked sample footage of the Panasonic GS500 and it looks too "new". Feels like HD footage but it's not :) So I wonder about other models which feel more 90's in their look, yet, have this USB 2.0 technology for video capture

If your Panasonic camcorder supports transferring DV video over USB, put the camcorder in Play mode (not in PC mode). Select USB FUNCTION → MOTION DV, it should be either in BASIC or ADVANCED menu. In Windows, verify that System Settings → Privacy → App Permissions → Camera is enabled for desktop apps.

The NV-GS27 cannot transfer DV video over USB. You need USB 2.0 High Speed + UVC, and instead you have only USB 2.0 Full Speed. Panasonic's 2006 video camera booklet lists four MiniDV models: GS27, GS180, GS300, GS500 and reads: "Transfer data to a PC at high speed too USB 2.0 (HS Mode) and Video Class* Compatibility. USB 2.0 compatibility lets you upload DV data to a PC at high-speed over a single USB cable. Video Class compatibility allows real-time transfer of DV moving picture data over the same USB cable. *Video Class is a standard format that allows the real-time transfer of moving picture data over a USB cable. GS27: USB 2.0 (FS Mode)". You should use Firewire instead.

No, it will not. The GS-70 does not have USB 2.0 High Speed mode, the best it can do over USB is a webcam mode with 160×120 pixel frame.

Try the following: switch the camcorder in Play mode (not in PC mode). Select USB FUNCTION → MOTION DV, it should be either in BASIC or ADVANCED menu. In Windows control panel, verify that System Settings → Privacy → App Permissions → Camera is enabled for desktop apps. I was able to capture video from my Panasonic GS500 MiniDV camcorder via USB using Windows 7 and Windows 10. I have not tried Windows 11 though.

@@ConsumerDV THANK YOU!! After a lot of trys, it worked!! Do you happen to know if its possible to use this camera as a 'web cam'? Like, capture the video feed directly from the usb in OBS or something like this? I've tried the AV out method, but or I got the wrong cable or AV port of mt camera is broken; I'm trying to figure out a work around.

I'm having the same issues with a canon zr70! Not sure where to go from here

The operating manual for the TRV16 instructs to install the custom USB driver and to use Pixela ImageMixer, but let's hope that with modern Windows you can use standard Windows tools and drivers, so instead of (4) you can try using something like Windows Movie Maker or even WinDV. Viewing images recorded on a tape: (1) Turn on your computer and allow Windows to load. (2) Connect the AC power adaptor, and insert a tape into your camcorder. (3) Set the POWER switch to PLAYER. Select USB STREAM in to ON in the menu settings. (4) Select “Start” → “Program” → “PIXELA” → “ImageMixer” → “PIXELA ImageMixer Ver.1.0 for Sony”.

I don't think that the ZR70 can transfer DV video over USB. It can only transfer content from a memory card.

thanks for your help!@@ConsumerDV

I haven't tried doing it on Mac. Since you already have got the camcorder and a Mac, maybe you can try and report back :) Also, you can try the hack with converting Firewire into Thunderbolt.

@@ConsumerDV I got a cable, tried it and didn't work. And the Firewire to Thunderbolt adaptor seems to be unavailable in all stores. Gonna have to try and get an old pc or mac with thunderbolt just for it

Or maybe I didn't tried it enough, because I only tried with softwares I have here which is Final Cut and QuickTime Player, maybe if I get a different software who knows

This camcorder is capable of transferring video over USB. Not sure about Mac though. I am on Windows. The camcorder's user manual does not mention Mac... :(

​@@ConsumerDVshould it be equivalent in quality with firewire transfer?

@@mokhleslajmi8095 Yes, it is equivalent to Firewire transfer - same digital data, just a different interface. Make sure to set "USB Function" to "Motion DV".

The GS9 does not support USB 2.0 High Speed (480 Mbit/s), it only supports Standard Speed (12 Mbit/s). Its USB port is for transferring still images off a memory card, for using the camcorder as a webcam, and for capturing "your favourite scene on a tape to your personal computer as a still image". So, it cannot send full-res video over USB. Use Firewire. If your computer does not have Firewire port, you can capture via composite, but the quality will be lower compared to transferring digital data.

@@ConsumerDV thank you for your response. What’s is a composite by the way. And yes the camera has a viewfinder so I can sort of navigate the menu. What do I need to do in the menu? I don’t think my computer has a FireWire port though.

@@Missmaggy101 Since it does not support sending video over USB, and your computer does not have Firewire, then composite is the only remaining choice. See the user manual, page 45, "Copying on an S-VHS (or a VHS) cassette". Instead of a VHS VCR you would use an analog-to-digital converter, something like this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-j3VMQMEOWko.html See this for my capturing workflow: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XzY1Vo1occc.html

You camcorder can use USB only to transfer from a MemoryStick. For capturing video from tape you should be able to use Firewire. If you cannot use Firewire, you can use an analog output: you camcorder has both SVideo and Composite.

@@ConsumerDV ok thanks

You connect the USB cable, and the prompt pops up “the directory name is invalid”? Frankly, not sure what is happening here.

There are no general-purpose Firewire-to-USB converters. You need to use the Firewire connection.

@@ConsumerDV Gotcha, would I use a IEEE 1394 DV to Firewire and then female firewire to USB cable in that case? ordering them on amazon now, if you have a suggestion i dont mind using your referral link if you got one

There are no general-purpose Firewire-to-USB converters. You need to have a Firewire port on your computer.

​@@ConsumerDV Thanks for the help man I managed to finally get it all running, you're awesome for letting people in on your knowledge man Last thing, is there an easy/convenient way to erase/overwrite a miniDV tape so I don't have to keep buying them after every hour its used?

Just record over your existing video, it will be overwritten unless you used the write-protect tab to prevent recording. You can use a demagnetizer to erase the whole tape at once if you don't want others to see what has been recorded on your tapes. But normally you just record over an existing recording.

It does not seem capable of this functionality. The operating manual says: For GR-DVL720/DVL520 Owners: If you are using the USB connection, set the VIDEO/ MEMORY switch to “MEMORY”. Only the still images stored on the memory card can be transferred to a PC.

@@ConsumerDV okay thank you so much

@@ConsumerDV do you think you can give me your contact it seems like im having a very specific problem on 2 of my camcorders and you seem very knowledgeable

I've been using different camcorders for almost two decades, but I don't know how to repair them. If you have a usage question, feel free to ask here.

For connection over USB, put the camcorder in Play mode (not in PC mode). Select USB FUNCTION -> MOTION DV, it should be either in BASIC or ADVANCED menu. On Windows, verify that in System Settings -> Privacy -> App Permissions -> Camera is enabled for desktop apps. Hope it helps!

@@ConsumerDV Yep! This got it working. Thanks for the speedy reply. Also- any idea how to fully erase a miniDV with the NV-GS300? I have digitalised the film and now want to clear it for re-use. Thanks!

Unless you are giving away the tape, you don't need to erase it. Just record over it. If you really want, you can record the complete tape start to end with the lens closed, some pros used to do this to "pre-stripe" a fresh tape with continuous timecode, but amateurs usually never have done this. If you are giving away your tape, you can degauss it.

@@ConsumerDVhow do you mean put the camcorder in play mode? Is this a setting on the camera? What if the display is not working but everything else works fine?

@@Missmaggy101 Does it have an eyepiece in addition to a flip-out monitor? If not, you'll need to output the video somehow to be able to navigate the menu. You may be able to see the menu if you output via composite, but I am not 100% sure.

FireWire a.k.a. iLINK a.k.a. IEEE-1394 is the standard digital link for DV camcorders. If you computer does not have a Firewire port, then as the last resort you can use analog output. SVideo is pretty good actually, if your camcorder has it. Otherwise, the lowest common denominator is the composite output. Basically, you capture in the same way as from a VHS or Hi8 camcorder. On the positive side, the picture still will look better than VHS and it will be steady without jitter or picture roll.

@@ConsumerDV Thanks for the fast response! Is it possible that my camcorder (Panasonic NV-GS120) only sends video signal through SVideo? I tried connecting it through A/V to a composite capture card device, it only reads the mic accurately, and a split second green glitch on the video sometimes when I changed the mode in the cam

It looks that the camcorder has a TRRS jack, they may have different wiring. Are you using the A/V cable that originally came with the camcorder? As long as ground is on the proper pin, you can juggle the RCA jacks to find where the video is and where each of the audio channels is. If the ground is incorrect, you need another cable. See this, for example: www.reddit.com/r/audio/comments/ukgcgl/curious_about_how_35mm_trrs_jacks_works_cant_get/ or img.radiokot.ru/files/105130/1itqcr7yb3.png You may want to search more for "TRRS pinout". Also double check the menu [TAPE PLAYBACK MENU]>>[AV IN/OUT]>>[AV JACK]>>[IN/OUT], make sure it is set to [OUT].

The quality is the same as long as the computer sees the camcorder and the software works. DV is DV.

Have you already tried the things I mentioned in the pinned comment?

Not all camcorders can transmit video over USB. If your camcorder supports sending video over USB, then in my experience you do not need a driver on a modern Windows machine. Verify that in Windows control panel, System Settings → Privacy → App Permissions → Camera is enabled for desktop apps.

@@ConsumerDV hi thanks a lot , after changing usb from dvc to web cam i could finally being able to Import live video from camera to pc , until this moment i have problem with sd card i tried 2 types of cards and did't work , it is good now finally i can have something to record with

The operating manual reads, "Using USB cable: it is possible to transfer _still images_ stored on a memory card to a PC." The specifications page says USB 1.1, which means 12 Mbit/s at best. Your camcorder cannot send video over USB, use Firewire.

The operating manual says that it supports USB streaming in MP4 format. MP4 is just a container, but it looks they want to say that this is not normal DV, which is usually stored on a computer either in AVI (for Windows) or MOV (for Mac) container. Someplace else they mention 320x240 files for moving pictures stored on a memory card. They also do not explicitly mention USB 2 High Speed capability or capability to transfer moving pictures from tape over USB. So, it looks like it cannot do this. At best, you can get 320x240 at 30 or even 15 fps encoded with something like H.264 or H.263 codec. In short, not full DV quality.

Same quality. Bytes are bytes. Well, to clarify: some camcorders send unmodified data off tape, they need USB 2 High Speed or better. Other camcorders send video over USB 1 or USB 2 Standard Speed, which is only 12 Mbit/s. In this case they reduce video to something like 320x240 or even 160x120 @ 15 fps, this is garbage. The Panasonic I have sends the data off the tape unmodified.

@@ConsumerDV thx! gs400 have this method too!

The operating manual says that the camcorder supports USB 2.0 and that USB can be used for "copying video and sound recorded on a tape to the computer", yay. The software supplied with the camcorder should include a custom USB driver and USB Streaming Tool for Windows. Sony did not provide any Mac software and specifically warns that copying pictures off a tape to a Mac computer is not possible via USB, one must use Firewire. I don't think the old driver will install, but let's hope that newer versions of Windows can recognize a device like yours using a generic USB driver. Don't forget to turn the camcorder on and set [USB STREAM] to "On" (p. 45 of the manual).

@@ConsumerDV I turned on USB streaming and my PC recognized it, it gave me a notification! But it still doesn't pop up on movie maker 😔

In Windows control panel, verify that System Settings → Privacy → App Permissions → Camera is enabled for desktop apps.

@@ConsumerDV Alright so I've been struggling with this for a while. I found the issue, my PC recognizes that I've plugged in a device, but it doesn't recognize the device as my camera it just says "Unknown Device". I tried searching for what you told me just now and I couldn't quite get to it.

Um, so have you fixed it? It works now? Or it still is shown as an unknown device? The privacy settings are for Win10/11. I mainly use Win7, so did not know this could be a problem.

What make and model is it? For one of the Panasonics listed in the description, switch the camcorder to Playback mode, not PC mode. Select USB FUNCTION -> MOTION DV, it should be either in BASIC or ADVANCED menu. Windows should set up the device automatically, on my Windows 10 it shows "DVC". Verify that in System Settings -> Privacy -> App Permissions -> Camera is enabled for desktop apps.

My vintage camcorder is sony DCR-IP210.

It supports USB-streaming but I can’t see my camcorder when I connect it with my computer.

MicroMV? It is not a DV camcorder. It can send video over USB, but looks like you need proprietary software. Sorry, I have never used a MicroMV camera.

@@ConsumerDV I see. Thank you for your help! Have a nice day 😀

Generic Firewire to USB conversion does not work, but sending DV video over USB does work for certain models. The GS250 is one of the models thst can do it. If buying the camcorder is expensive, maybe building a computer with a Firewire input would be cheaper. You can buy a refurbished desktop for $150 and add a Firewire card for $10-$20.

The camcorder has a Mini-B USB port and a 4-pin Firewire port.

@@ConsumerDV thank you!

hey, just got my camera and my pc doesn't seem to notice it, do I have to install a driver for it, if not, maybe you know what is causing the problem :/

Connect the cable, turn the camcorder on, set it to playback mode. For connection over USB, select USB FUNCTION -> MOTION DV, it should be either in BASIC or ADVANCED menu. Windows should set up the device automatically, on my Windows 10 it shows "DVC". Then you need software that is capable to capture video over USB. For Firewire, you may need a driver, but both my Win7 and Win10 were able to find a suitable driver automatically, so I did not need to set it up manually.

@@ConsumerDV thanks for such a quick answer! my pc sees the camera as DVC, bu nothing pops up in the windows movie maker

What is the camcorder brand/model and what is your computer OS?

It is a USB cable, Mini-B on the camcorder side, Standard-A on the computer side.

@@ConsumerDV thanks. Do you have a link? Can I buy something like that at Best Buy? And that will work to capture my Panasonic camera to my laptop with some kind of video software?

What model of the camcorder do you have? Are you sure it can send video over USB? A suitable cable should have been provided with the camcorder. Does your computer have full-size Type-A USB socket? Maybe you need a USB-C plug instead? It all depends on what you have. A cable similar to mine can be found here www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3896 or here www.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Charging-Transfer-Gold-Plated/dp/B00NH11N5A/

@@ConsumerDV omg thank you. I'm such an idiot. Yes that cable did come with the camera. Duh! Now I need to figure out software to capture the video. I appreciate you responding so quickly

@@ConsumerDV ok maybe that's not going to work. How would I know if that wire can move video from my camera to my computer? I have a Panasonic PV-GS9 camcorder

Regular DV video is 25 or 30 fps, interlaced. That is, 50 or 60 fields per second. When you capture over Firewire you get exactly what is recorded on tape. Then you deinterlace into 50p or 60p if you want to upload on RU-vid. Some camcorders can do 25 PsF or 30 PsF, you don't deinterlace these. Some camcorders like the DVX100 can do 24p.

I tried on Mac High Sierra, neither iMovie nor OBS detected the camcorder. Sorry.

Does your VHS camcorder have a USB output? Interesting.

The operating instructions for the DCR-HC21, page 53 reads: "There are 2 ways to connect your camcorder to a computer. - USB cable - This method is good for copying video and sound recorded on a tape to the computer. - i.LINK cable (only for Windows user) This method is good for copying video and sound recorded on a tape. Image data is transferred in more clarity than with a USB cable." The last paragraph indicates to me that video can be transferred via USB with lower resolution than via Firewire. I guess 320x240 or even 160x120 and possibly a lower frame rate as well, say 15 fps. With the Panasonic GS500 and similar models, transferring via USB delivers full quality.

Unlike VHS and 8-mm camcorders that burn the date onto the video, DV timestamp is recorded separately. Depending on your NLE, you may be able to make it visible. Also, some professional DV camcorders allow to burn the date onto the video.

It looks like your camcorder can use USB for transferring still images only from a Memory Stick.

No, I don't think so.

It gives the quality identical to copying via Firewire if the camcorder supports USB 2.0 High Speed and advertises this type of video transfer from tape. Normally you would use Firewire to transfer MiniDV or Digital8 video.

Thanks@@ConsumerDV looking on Amazon not sure which firewire card to install on my laptop. Any suggestions.. Thanks

I don't think you can install a fill-size expansion card on a laptop. 15-20 years ago you would use a PC Card adapter, but these are not used anymore. Firewire cannot be converted into USB. You have these three options: 1. Get a camcorder that can send video over USB. 2. Get a computer that has Firewire port or accepts Firewire expansion cards. 3. Send video over analog connection, most camcorders have composite output, even HD ones, and many camcorders have SVideo output. Then you would use an external dongle to convert analog to digital and capture it over USB. Something like Diamond VC500 or an old Dazzle DVC100 or IOData GV2-USB.

I think some Sony camcorders can do it. I was excited about a JVC camcorder that I thought should work, but all I got was 160x120. No, I don't have a complete list of machines that capable to send DV over USB. Need to go model by model, read the specs, the operating manual, and experiment. Sorry.

@@ConsumerDV You only posted this 5 months ago, which is quite surprising how new this information is, as it's not available anywhere, I think. If only there was a keywords for this USB CAPTURE technology, so maybe it was possible to search on the web for fitting Sony / Canon models..but...there isn't :\

Indeed, and different manufacturers use different keywords. Some use "USB Streaming" for the transfer of video from tape, but others use this for the webcam mode, which is often low-res and low frame rate. "Certified USB" does not mean much, as 12 Mbps will get you nowhere. Referring to UVC would be more useful, but few manufacturers mention it. Also, there is disparity in Mac/Windows support, in some cases only one system is supported. So, yeah, it is hard to sift through it, and it is not 100% reliable until you've tried a particular camcorder. My Panasonic works. My JVC works in a low-quality mode. My Canon camcorder does not sent video over USB at all. And currently I don't have any Sony MiniDV camcorders. I have a Digital8 camcorder, which does not have a USB port at all - this makes it easy to figure out whether it supports USB streaming :)

@@ConsumerDV Yes, gotta say the Hi-8 look is quite inviting. Only problem for me is that those cameras are SO bulky. I'm just looking for a camcorder that can supply that real 90's look, and have it compact to carry with me. The Sony DCR-SX33 was great in compactness but: 1. It was maybe too compact and light, so footage was too shaky 2. footage felt a bit muddy 3. Maybe the only way to get the 90's look is a mini-DV tape, even if I sample it via an analog cable (analog to USB). Gotta say, though, I tried to compare an analog capture [capturing 1-to-1 via a cable, like actually recording to disk/HDD] vs. having digital files from the get go [the Sony DCR-SX33 records to SD card so it's convenient]- and I still didn't get which one performs worse. Sometimes I see one method lacking in "detail" and sometimes I see another method feeling too muddy and blotchy [in the shadows mostly]. I wonder which camcorder I should try next to actually advance in that journey to find the one I'm looking for. Real 90's look. Not HD. Not too blotchy. And compact.

I started writing a long reply, then I decided to make a video instead :) A short answer is that the look of the 1990s is the look of the CCD, which entails global shutter and occasional vertical saturation trail on bright objects.

same

Sony needs firewire. AFAIK only the Panasonic camcorders specified here will do full quality DV transfers to Movie Maker. I tried my Panasonic and that worked, even with the old version of Movie Maker included in the WindowsXP operating system.

Some people, who have not a single video on their YT channel, don't believe that USB can be used to transfer DV, even if Panasonic has advertised this feature in its booklets. Thanks for the test upload on your channel.

@@ConsumerDV I found the solution. If u use the windows 11, and u install movie maker on it, u need to change the driver, for example I used the Sony digital camera. And movie maker show me my handycam. I have the Sony DCR-HC23E and it’s working.

Interesting, thanks. I don't remember that I needed a custom USB driver for the Panasonic camcorder. Unless you actually use Firewire.

I don't think so, if only because its USB port does not provide enough speed. The spec reads, "USB 2.0 compliant (max. 12 Mbps)". DV video is about 29 Mbps.

@@ConsumerDV thank you. What would you suggest as a way to transfer video files off of the mini dv tapes? Will I need to install a proper FireWire PCIe card to my PC and use the proper FireWire cables? I just found our old DV recorder and I’m trying to save the files to share digitally. Thanks again.

Yes, Firewire is a standard protocol to transfer DV video. You need a Firewire expansion card if you computer does not have a Firewire port. Some camcorders require custom Firewire drivers, which puzzles me, after all standalone DV decks did not need drivers to connect with other DV equipment. Anyway, I saw my Windows machine searching for drivers online and installing them. The operating manual mentions digital dubbing but does not mention connecting to a PC: "Even if you use device equipped with DV Terminals (such as IEEE 1394), you may not be able to perform Digital Dubbing in some cases." One of my DV camcorders, a 1999 JVC GR-DVL9000, is not recognized by my PC when connected via Firewire, so YMMV, but worth a try. If Firewire won't work, you can use analog output, feeding it into a dongle like I-O Data GV-USB2, then into USB, then capture it with something like AmarecTV. The GS5 is equipped with SVideo output, which provides video quality comparable to digital if you capture it correctly.

@@ConsumerDV yes I can’t believe I totally overlooked the svideo port covered up at the front!!!!! 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ I’ve ordered a FireWire to usb to at least try and now I’m looking for an svideo which I know I had hundreds through the years but can’t find any now!

I am not familiar with a generic Firewire-USB converter that actually works (aside of a couple dedicated products by Pinnacle), but if yours works, please write back.

What camcorder model do you have?

I haven't tried. I don't use OBS.

No idea, I use Windows mostly. The good thing is I don't remember installing any drivers. So I suppose if your distro supports UVC, then it may work.

It looks like it can! It supports USB 2.0 High Speed mode, and "USB FUNCTION" menu has "MOTION DV" option. Try this: put the camcorder in Play mode (not in PC mode). Select USB FUNCTION → MOTION DV. On Windows, verify that in System Settings → Privacy → App Permissions → Camera is enabled for desktop apps. I would appreciate if you responded whether it worked for you, then I will add the camcorder in the "verified" list.

@@ConsumerDV thank you for your reply, appreciate it a lot, but i forgot to mention that i will use a macbook pro, do you think it will work?

I don't use Mac for capturing, sorry.

Some DV camcorders can take full advantage of USB 2.0 High Speed mode (480 Mbit/s) to send full resolution video, while other can only do 12 Mbit/s, so the most they can do is something like 160x120 or at best 320x240 @ 15 fps or something. In this case Firewire is the only solution. Apple was a big proponent of Firewire until it switched to Thunderbolt, and suddenly Firewire became unpopular. I am glad I kept my 2008 Windows desktop machine, it has the full assortment of inputs.

Not all DV and Digital8 camcorders with USB output are capable to output full-resolution video or any video at all. Some camcorders use USB only to transfer still pictures from a memory card. What does the user manual say? What is the model? I consider transferring video via USB as a perk, normally you would use Firewire for DV video.

I see. Should I use a FireWire cable with a FireWire-to-USB adapter, then?

There are no Firewire-to-USB adapters. There is Firewire-to-Thunderbolt adapter, although I've heard that it may not work on Macs with M chip, need to double-check.

My computer has no Thunderbolt port. Is there any way to adapt Thunderbolt to USB-A, or is it impossible to import the Mini-DV tapes to my computer?

I assume you are on Windows, as Macs have Thunderbolt either via a proprietary socket or USB-C. If you have a desktop machine, the easiest choice is to install a Firewire expansion card, you can buy it for less than $15. Or, buy a refurbished Windows desktop for less than $200 and install a Firewire expansion card. Or, find a camcorder that can send video over USB. Or, capture video over analog connection like from a VHS camcorder; for this you will need to use an analog-to-digital converter, which you will connect to USB. The video will be a little softer. See this video for the latter approach: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XzY1Vo1occc.html Do you mind sharing the model of your camcorder?

No, I do not. I don't know whether Sony DV camcorders have this option in the first place.

@@ConsumerDV yes they do im trying to get it to work rn

@@nsap_ by any chance did you get it work? and how if you did?

@@tristantanjuaquio3010i have same problem, did it work for u guys using usb?

Firewire expansion cards are cheap, unless you have a laptop ;)

@@ConsumerDVDAMN I forgot about those thanks!

Subtitles are available.

R you sure ? If you don"t understand his accent it means that your English is very pore ( Dose not matters if you r native or not )

I can and understand very well.

Have you watched the video?