OpenTube

How to convert VHS/MiniDV into MP4 Easily

Adeel Hussain

86,030 views

*VERY IMPORTANT* if your camera has a firewire port (google it) I HIGHLY recommend looking up a guide for using that instead, this is an old video. The reason is that you get the FULL ORIGINAL quality, and it will automatically split the recordings. Please, only do this as a last resort, the quality is that much better!! Preserve your memories properly, and make sure you make backups too!

I will make a follow-up video when I am able to get another adapter again as that is how I ended up doing the conversion myself, using a PCI to firewire card. If you're interested, let me know.

Turn old MiniDV/VHS into digital or record your retro games as an MP4 file for the cheap using macOS.
You'll need some sort of capture device, I found that these knock-offs are good enough so here are some:
Amazon Links:
UK - https://amzn.to/2Jc0qxH
USA - https://goo.gl/JFMABe

20 Comments

@adeelhussain7092 Creator 5 years ago Pinned

*VERY IMPORTANT* if your camera has a firewire port (google it) I HIGHLY recommend looking up a guide for using that instead, this is an old video that I might just remove, it's not great. The reason is that you get the FULL ORIGINAL quality, and it will automatically split the recordings. Please, only do this as a last resort, the quality is that much better!!

@IAmKye 2 years ago

Great tutorial and awesome music choice, thanks :)

@hanson_pyro 4 years ago

Just found my family’s recorder from before I was even born, and glad I found this video to help them convert the footage. I’m also going to use the recorder to film some dope car footage so this video will come in very helpful thanks!

@tromboneJTS 5 years ago

Handbrake is a fantastic 👏 program!

@zomalfa4363 5 years ago

This can't be as good as the set up that uses the four adapters and connects to the small port. I mean the fire wire and all that.

@Alice-xb1nk 4 years ago

Hello! I am wanting to digitalise my tapes and pretty sure I have the same camcorder as the one in your video. I am not techy at all and wonder if you have done a camcorder conversion video using the FireWire method so I know what to buy to did it onto my mac? Thanks

@goatmen7996 5 years ago

i like to use the sony dcr pc110 from the year 2000

@analogdigitalstereomono4582 5 years ago (edited)

I hope you realize transferring DV video over analog ports is much harder and much more quality reduced than just plugging it in to your PC through the IEEE 1394 port into a thunderbolt connector into your Macintosh. I have read the description, but seriously.

@tvtruck5350 4 years ago

Will Loose Quality using a analog cables to convert. fire-wire it's ideal.

@Sk3z99 3 years ago

How is the quality? I found a converters that cost from $10 to $200

@jenniferrydel7705 4 years ago

I have a new windows 10 laptop and a old Panasonic Camcorder with mini DV tapes I want to convert to files. Is MP4 the best? I really want to use FireWire to transfer to preserve quality, but don’t know what technology is available now. I don’t have the option to add a card to my new laptop. Can you give me details on my option to connect the camcorder to my computer to transfer the videos ?

@TheEmeraldBeast135 3 years ago

is the mini dvd tape re-usable?

@agustinbadt 2 years ago

BRO i do the exact same but obs shows a black screen instead of the recording. Please help

@ivsolution5522 8 years ago

I dont understand. What cables/adapters do i need to transfer to my mac?

@aylahardingz6908 5 years ago

I can't find my camcorder under the camera option please help!

@gitapatel7949 6 years ago

Hi , I'm. Trying to
transfers my old Panasonic mini DV camera tape to computer PC(non Mac) or cloud. Any suggestions?

@Krivcsa 5 years ago (edited)

my device of choice is a camcorder, it does not have the yellow, white etc. places. How did you connect it with the jack to the computer?

Ok I figured it out. My question is : is it working with windows 10?