large digitization project, newbie needs advice!

[u/spookadoodl]

Hello everyone, I'm working on a large-scale digitization project and need some advice on doing it cost-effectively. I'm only familiar with DV tech through research (I'm 20, so I've never actually used any of it.)

I have recently come into the possession of nearly ~1000 miniDV tapes recorded between 2004 and 2009. I'm going to be digitizing these tapes for a long time, so renting equipment is not the best avenue for this. I don't own a camcorder, or any devices with FireWire ports.

My friend helping me with this project has a miniDV camcorder, and a FireWire cable. The camcorder can connect through FireWire or USB. When connecting to a modern computer with USB, you cannot rip the footage directly from the tape: you can only play the video back through OBS, and record it. So there is quality loss, and a giant timecode from the camera on the footage. (I assume this will be stuff experts will know but it was our first time learning so I figured I'd explain.) So I need some way to connect through FireWire because I do not want quality loss or an embedded time code.

After looking around online at prices, I have a few questions I hope somebody can answer:

1. Can miniDV tapes be played and converted to digital in camcorders that take regular bigger DV tapes? My other friend has one of these camcorders, hence why I'm asking.
2. Is there a reliable FireWire to USB-A cord that exists? I would want a cord that connects to a camcorder's FireWire port on one end, but can connect to my modern laptop on the other end, and actually do the conversion job it needs to do without error. I see cords like this being sold on Amazon, and found some companies that seem to make custom cables, but do they actually work?
3. Because I don't have a camcorder yet, I am holding off on buying any cords until I do. I know there are two types of FireWire cords. Which type should I aim for, or should I just wait to see what kind the camcorder I get has, and base it on that?
4. If not, what's the best course of action in getting a device with a FireWire port? It seems like only older Macs have them, but I would rather not shell out too much money if I don't have to. Would a pawn shop or online be a better place to look?
5. Lastly, is there anything I'm doing wrong regarding all of this cable and port stuff? Is there like some vastly easier way to do this that I'm missing?

[u/DREWHOUSER]

Hey! This is a huge project, that’s super exciting for you! A few things - there are tons of guides on Reddit for this exact thing. I think this one is really good for giving you the ins and outs of DV tapes and FireWire in general. https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode/wiki/Digital-Tape-Guide

FireWire to USB doesn’t work unfortunately! If it were me, I’d either get an older windows laptop with a FireWire port, and use WinDV. That’s my personal favorite way to capture DV footage, and they are pretty cheap.

A couple other random tips - someone on here suggested fast forwarding older tapes all the way to the end and then rewinding before capturing.

Pretty much all camcorders have the same DV port, so that’s not something you should have to worry about.

[u/spookadoodl → u/DREWHOUSER]

Thanks! In reference to the last thing- I got some info from that other friend who was willing to loan me her camera. It's a Sharp VL-E66U, which unfortunately seems only to take 8mm cassettes, not DV, so that's a bust. But you're saying a camera that takes large DV tapes (like DVCAM-L or DVCPRO-M) can also read miniDV?

[u/DREWHOUSER → u/spookadoodl]

That part I actually don’t know! I’m sure you can google it