Can I copy Mini DV to my computer

[Conan Kelly]

First of all, I have never worked with video on a computer. My brother got married recently in Montana and a couple people took video of it with their Mini DV cam-corders. I do not have a Mini DV cam-corder (and I'm in Phoenix, AZ). But I do have access to a Panasonic Mini DV VCR (AG-DV2000(?P?)). So, can I :

a.. Record from the AG-DV2000 to my laptop (Win XP Pro) using only FireWire to connect the two?
b.. If so, can I do it with software that is included with Windows/free software (Windows Media Player 9, Windows Movie Maker 5.1, QuickTime Player 6.4)?
c.. If so, what are suggested file types that I have access to with this software (.avi, MPEG2, MPEG4, etc...)?
d.. How many Bytes, KB, MB per minute is required (I have 1 hour of video)?
In the long run, I'd like to be able to get this burned onto a DVD that will play in household DVD players, but I don't have a DVD burner yet.

Any help anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated,

Thank you,

Conan Kelly

 

[Conan Kelly]

Also, do I need a driver for the AG-DV2000 installed on my computer?

Thanks again for all of the help,

Conan Kelly
First of all, I have never worked with video on a computer. My brother got married recently in Montana and a couple people took video of it with their Mini DV cam-corders. I do not have a Mini DV cam-corder (and I'm in Phoenix, AZ). But I do have access to a Panasonic Mini DV VCR (AG-DV2000(?P?)). So, can I :

a.. Record from the AG-DV2000 to my laptop (Win XP Pro) using only FireWire to connect the two?
b.. If so, can I do it with software that is included with Windows/free software (Windows Media Player 9, Windows Movie Maker 5.1, QuickTime Player 6.4)?
c.. If so, what are suggested file types that I have access to with this software (.avi, MPEG2, MPEG4, etc...)?
d.. How many Bytes, KB, MB per minute is required (I have 1 hour of video)?
In the long run, I'd like to be able to get this burned onto a DVD that will play in household DVD players, but I don't have a DVD burner yet.

Any help anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated,

Thank you,

Conan Kelly

 

[Graham Hughes, MVP Digital Media]

Driver, no should use generic windows drivers.
I'm not familiar with the panny model you list, but it should work ok, by
just connecting with the firewire lead
Use Movie maker to capture, you list 5.1, but this is the XP build, below
that it should say version 2?
Save it as a dv-avi, this will ensure virtual lossless capture, anything
else will reduce the quality, then if you do save to dvd, you'll need to
compress again and this will make it very poor.
Dv-avi is around 13gb per hour.
Does the panny record to mini-dv tape, if so when you have finished editing
send it back to tape and then re-import when you have a dvd burner.
For editing of 1 hour you'll need another say 20gb space, unless you export
direct from the timeline.

Graham
Also, do I need a driver for the AG-DV2000 installed on my computer?

Thanks again for all of the help,

Conan Kelly
First of all, I have never worked with video on a computer. My brother got
married recently in Montana and a couple people took video of it with their
Mini DV cam-corders. I do not have a Mini DV cam-corder (and I'm in
Phoenix, AZ). But I do have access to a Panasonic Mini DV VCR
(AG-DV2000(?P?)). So, can I :

Record from the AG-DV2000 to my laptop (Win XP Pro) using only FireWire to
connect the two?
If so, can I do it with software that is included with Windows/free software
(Windows Media Player 9, Windows Movie Maker 5.1, QuickTime Player 6.4)?
If so, what are suggested file types that I have access to with this
software (.avi, MPEG2, MPEG4, etc...)?
How many Bytes, KB, MB per minute is required (I have 1 hour of video)?
In the long run, I'd like to be able to get this burned onto a DVD that will
play in household DVD players, but I don't have a DVD burner yet.

Any help anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated,

Thank you,

Conan Kelly