Capture MiniDV via Firewire to 2016 MacBookPro (USB-C)

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
July 14, 2017
2 replies
886 views

Hi all.

Whilst this could be argued to be a hardware question since I could capture to a variety of programmes, I'm going to be using Premiere so asking for your experiences and the hardware I need here. If any has successfully done this, it'll be someone on here

I have a client who needs me to capture some old MiniDV tapes (yeah I know, step back in time but hey, it happens!).

I have a fully pimped late 2016 MacBook Pro with USB-C. I have the A1790 adapter to use thunderbolt peripherals from previous Macs and the camera is a Sony DCR-HC30E sporting an IEEE-1394 4 pin Firewire as commonly found on domestic camcorders 10 to 15 years ago.

Has anyone had success capturing MiniDV to the latest MBP via Firewire through USB-C? Did you use the Apple A1790 adapter with some form of cable conversion from IEEE-1394 firewire? I'm trying to avoid trying two dozen options and pulling my hair out for a fortnight before giving up and borrowing an old PC to do it!

Any help appreciated.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Stan Jones

Community Expert

I also believe it will not work. I would "ask a friend."

Let us know how you handle this in the end.

jimbo_hippoAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks all. As I suspected. I'll either hunt down an older machine with Firewire or go the s-video capture device route. I know this may sound like sacrilege to video guys but these tapes are holiday and family tapes. I would suspect that with a decent capture setup (I've done plenty before) and the somewhat 'amateur' approach to the tapes, there'll be nobody noticing any slight aberrations or questioning the quality. When done right, capture devices can be ok. I worked with media servers for a decade or two where we did video input in realtime and on lower spec models, the capture device was very 'consumer' so I think I can tackle this that way.