How to Convert a MiniDV to a DVD

Most personal video cameras record footage to miniature tapes called MiniDVs. These tapes are efficient and handy for storing footage, however, in order to move the footage to a DVD, your footage will need to be encoded on the computer with editing software.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• MiniDV video camera
• MiniDV tapes
• USB or firewire camera-to-computer cable
• Video editing software
• Computer with DVD burning capability

Importing your video

1. Select and open a video-editing program to use on your DVD-making computer. Most newer computers come preloaded with basic video software--Macs with iMovie, and PCs with Windows Movie Maker. You can also choose a third-party program such as Adobe Premiere, or Final Cut.

2. Load the miniDV tape you want to turn into a DVD into your video camera. Rewind the tape to the beginning (or the point at which you want to begin using footage for a DVD) and turn the camera off.

3. Plug your video camera into your computer's USB or firewire port using the proper connecting cable. Turn the camera's power on, and switch it from recording mode into playback mode.

4. Use your editing program of choice to "import" your video. Importing is a process wherein footage on a miniDV tape is recorded directly onto your hard drive. Nearly all video-editing programs are able to import footage--you should find the function under the "File" or "Add" menus, or directly in the graphic interface.

5. When you have imported all of the footage you want for your DVD, turn off and unplug the camera. Save your editing file to the hard drive.

Burning a DVD

6. If you want to, edit your footage using your editing program. If you do not want to edit, or have finished editing, save your work.

7. Search your program for an "Export" or "Make DVD" function. Different editing programs refer to this process with different names, but you can usually find one or the other under the "File" menu. (For example, "Export Movie" can be found under the "File" menu of Adobe Premiere.)

8. If your program has a "Make DVD" button or menu option--such as that found in iMovie--follow the on-screen instructions to burn your DVD.

9. If you do not have a function to make a DVD directly, use the "Export" option to create an AVI file--a movie file with .avi as the extension.

10. When you have created your AVI file, open your DVD-burning program of choice, such as Nero or Windows DVD maker. Load the AVI file into the program and insert a blank DVD into your optical drive. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your DVD.

Tips & Warnings

• Movie files can be very large. Make sure you have at least 20 gigabytes of free space on your hard drive before importing longer movies, and consider deleting the footage from your computer when you have finished your DVD.

References

• Microsoft guide to burning DVDs

Resources

• How to burn non-AVI files to DVD

[poorashell]

on 8/24/2009 I want to transfer my old 8MM mini tapes and my Mini DV tapes to DVD format. My problem is that I don't have the cameras anymore. Is there hardware I can buy that will enable me to achieve this task at home? I'm also thinking about going into business doing this if I can find out what it takes.

Thanks,
E