Can You Record MINI DV tapes to VHS using the DVX100 Pass-through Feature?
- Thread starter Reelkid
- Start date
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
Yes you can. I have done it many times.
You can also connect a VCR to the DVX via the A/V connectors (red/white/yellow RCA), then connect the camera to a computer via firewire, and use the camera as a pass-through to record from VHS directly to your computer's hard drive, if you have the proper video recording software.
You can also connect a VCR to the DVX via the A/V connectors (red/white/yellow RCA), then connect the camera to a computer via firewire, and use the camera as a pass-through to record from VHS directly to your computer's hard drive, if you have the proper video recording software.
Well, you don't just need the software, you need a firewire port, and those are hard to come by these days.
Barry_Green
Moderator
As David said, getting a firewire port is no easy task, if you don't have one already.
You can get a card for a desktop computer, but if you're using a laptop, there's awfully slim pickings out there.
If you're an Apple user, it may be a tad easier. There's a Thunderbolt 3 adapter out there from OWC, it's a dock that has multiple ports and one of them is a firewire port. If you have a Thunderbolt 2-equipped Mac instead, they also made a dock for that.
Apple makes a Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapter, if your computer has a Thunderbolt 2 port. A tad convoluted; if you had a new Thunderbolt 3/USB-C mac, you'd be looking at having to use a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, then the Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapter (which converts to FW800), then finally a FW800 to FW400 adapter or cable to the DVX. I have one of the Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapters around here somewhere, if you decide that's the way you need to go I'd be glad to sell it to you, just send a PM.
If your Windows computer has a USB-C port, don't go thinking you can use the Apple adapters, because Thunderbolt 3 isn't USB-C; it's "Thunderbolt" in a USB-C shape, with USB-C added, but USB-C doesn't have Thunderbolt protocol, so the Apple Thunderbolt 3 adapter is very likely not going to work on a Windows USB-C computer, even if the cable fits in the port.
For a Windows user, either get a firewire card for your desktop computer, or the best solution for a laptop user is probably to buy some manky old laptop off ebay that still has a firewire port on it, and use that for capturing.
You can get a card for a desktop computer, but if you're using a laptop, there's awfully slim pickings out there.
If you're an Apple user, it may be a tad easier. There's a Thunderbolt 3 adapter out there from OWC, it's a dock that has multiple ports and one of them is a firewire port. If you have a Thunderbolt 2-equipped Mac instead, they also made a dock for that.
Apple makes a Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapter, if your computer has a Thunderbolt 2 port. A tad convoluted; if you had a new Thunderbolt 3/USB-C mac, you'd be looking at having to use a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, then the Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapter (which converts to FW800), then finally a FW800 to FW400 adapter or cable to the DVX. I have one of the Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapters around here somewhere, if you decide that's the way you need to go I'd be glad to sell it to you, just send a PM.
If your Windows computer has a USB-C port, don't go thinking you can use the Apple adapters, because Thunderbolt 3 isn't USB-C; it's "Thunderbolt" in a USB-C shape, with USB-C added, but USB-C doesn't have Thunderbolt protocol, so the Apple Thunderbolt 3 adapter is very likely not going to work on a Windows USB-C computer, even if the cable fits in the port.
For a Windows user, either get a firewire card for your desktop computer, or the best solution for a laptop user is probably to buy some manky old laptop off ebay that still has a firewire port on it, and use that for capturing.
