how can I copy video files from mini dv cassette?

DV cassette is old Analog technology.

There is ways to get that video onto your Computer as videos files.

1. TV tuner card.

This is a PCI card that you install into you computer to record video from AV jacks and Anntenna.

2. There is a USB alternative for there AV input, but it does not have a TV tuner built-in..

3. Use a DVD recorder to write the files directly onto DVD.

With these 3 methods you have to have a comcorder to play the tape and output it into an AV cable..

Now for buying a new camcorder i would sugest to buy one with build-in Flash Memory. Thats the newest way to capture video. Also don't go for cheap camcorders they might be HD but have poor lenses.

Good luck.

DV cassette is NOT old Analog technology. It is digital as digital can be.

If you only have the one cassette to capture, it may be more economical to have it processed by a commercial "video transfer" company. You can Google these companies for your area. It would be helpful for them to know how you recorded the video, which recorder you used and what the format was.

If you give them a portable drive they will be able to supply that back to you in nearly any file format that is suitable for you to use on your computer.

Robt is right, DV is a digital format, (it stands for "Digital Video").

If you did what Angus said, that would degrade the quality.

You can either pay for a company to do it, or ask one of your friends if they have a DVD recorder for their TV that has a DV input, (it looks like a tiny square with a bent in top).

Too unhealthy. I feel most effective the CIA or FBI have the technology to recuperate whatever like this. Do you know there's a way to protect your cartridges from this kind of accident? There's a crimson slider on one side of the cartridge. Sliding it into the "lock" position certainly prevents the digicam from going into document mode.

You need a MiniDV tape camcorder in order to play and transfer that tapes content to your computer

This camera could do the trick - http://www.canon.ca/inetCA/products?m=gp&pid=1017#... Find a Canon dealer and see what they can do for you.

Then you need a Firewire that will hook to the IEEE1394 port in your computer. What you do have that port. Not to worry, whether you own a Laptop or tower, they make cards and expansion devices that give you that port.

For a laptop - http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/startech-st...

For tower - http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.as...