Mini DV Workflow

[Eric2453763950kw]

Hi,

I've been tasked with working on a documentary that was shot in 2006 on mini DV. I'm trying to figure out the best solution to log, digitize and edit in low res. When finished I'll need to upres. I'll be working on the latest Imac. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Many thanks!

[Ann Bens]

I recently edited some old dv footage.

Captured the lot to hdd.

Upscaled with Topaz

I left the footage 4:3 and put this in a 720p frame prores.

Dropped it in the timeline and edited away.

[Warren Heaton]

You’ll need the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter, attached to the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire800 adapter to patch from the current iMac to the Mini DV connector on your deck.

I am not in front of my M1 at the moment, but I am pretty sure that you’ll have to run Premiere Pro using Rosetta for the Capture option. 

[Michael Grenadier]

yeah, what Warren says...  It's not simple, but it does work.    One heads up, you'll need to be watching the digitize/capture process.  if you have a control track break (a section of tape without any signal between shots), the capture will usually stop.  Always been that way with miniDV if it wasn't shot properly unless of course you're running your signal thru a tbc before capture.    Once got into a bit of a wrangle with a dp cause if he checked tape he would always let the camera run a bit after the end of the shot before starting to shoot again.  I pointed out there was a button on the camera to park at the last frame of the video so there was continuous control track.  

[Eric2453763950kw]

So, I tried to do an import test in Premiere only to find out there is no support for DV anymore, only HDV

[Andy 1968]

If Premiere Pro does not work you can use iMovie as seen in the video link below. 

[Michael Grenadier]

And always test your complete workflow before spending hours capturing.