Converting transferred camcorder digital tape DV files

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Converting transferred camcorder digital tape DV files

I recently connected a digital tape camcorder with a firewire cable to my iBook to transfer the tapes digitally to iMovie. Everything seems to have worked, but I wanted to know the best way to convert the resulting DV files that it made. They are very large and I know I can just use a video converter, but is that the best thing to do? I also know I could use iMovie’s own options to convert to MOV, but I tried that and it took a very long time to convert a short video. Also, if I control-click on the clips in iMovie, it shows the original date taken that was from the camcorder, which is extremely useful, but is there a way to transfer that to the converted video natively through iMovie? I know I could just manually change the “Media created” of the converted video, and if that’s the only way, that’s fine, but just wondering. It seems like the date taken would have to be in the DV file somewhere, but I can’t find it when just checking the properties/info of it. By the way I’m using iMovie 6 (I think). Thanks.

iBook

Posted on Feb 19, 2021 6:36 PM

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Answer 1

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Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Feb 20, 2021 9:01 AM in response to Blumber

iMovie 6 was designed to work with DV files, so there would be no reason to convert them at the editing level. DV files are very uncompressed, thus good for editing, but are somewhat large in file size. The easiest way to convert them to a more compressed format is simply to export them out of iMovie 6 using the Expert Settings option. There will be numerous formats from which you can choose. I would select Mp4 rather than .mov because Mp4 is one of the most compatible viewing formats on the market.

Otherwise, you can use the free download, Handbrake to convert the files to H.264, Mp4/AAC.

You can get Handbrake here:

https://handbrake.fr/

A simple way to do it is to Option-drag the clip to your desktop open Handbrake and do a File/Open Source. Navigate to your video and choose it as the source from the resulting screen. Then do File/Start Encoding. Wait a couple of minutes for the conversion to complete. Then save and import the converted clip into iMovie.

As soon as you export or convert a clip you are creating a new clip and it will take on the date of export or conversion as the new creation date.

-- Rich

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Answer 2

Feb 20, 2021 9:36 AM in response to Blumber

As Rich has said there is no need to convert the .dv files for editing.

The only way you are going to save any space after converting your files is either trash the original .dv files or transfer them to another drive.

The .dv files that your iMovie 6 is capturing is an exact copy of what is on the tape, i.e. it is original quality and you won't improve on that. If you convert the .dv files then you may see some reduction in quality . You could do a test before spending too much time on conversion only to decide to not use them because of reduced quality.

It would be a shame to trash your original ( best ) quality .dv files after conversion when it is not really necessary to convert them for editing . Those .dv files can be used in all versions of iMovie from 6 to 10 without the need to convert.

Think twice before going ahead with converting the files . As you said the original files have "original date" that you won't preserve if you convert.

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Answer 3

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Feb 20, 2021 10:16 AM in response to Blumber

I found a .dv file on my Mac and opened it in QuickTimePlayer version 10.5 on my Mac. Then I exported the file to my desktop. It exported as a .mov file. So that would be the easiest way to convert your .dv files.

I don't know about QuickTimePlayer on Windows. I would do the process on the iBook. Try a test clip. It is very easy to do.

-- Rich

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Answer 4

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Feb 20, 2021 9:09 AM in response to Blumber

It should work. Make a duplicate of one of your DV files to preserve the original and convert the duplicate with Handbrake.

I'm not sure, but you may be able to open the DV file with QuickTimePlayer and export it out as a .mov file. I don't have a DV file to test at the moment.

-- Rich

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Answer 5

Blumber Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2021 9:05 AM in response to Rich839

Thanks, I have HandBrake on my other laptop with Windows, and I moved the iMovie project folders to a USB drive and I think I will probably convert them through handbrake on that computer. I hope it all works out.

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Answer 6

Blumber Author

Level 1

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Feb 20, 2021 9:25 AM in response to Rich839

Do you mean QuickTime on the iBook, or on Windows? Or does it matter? If I remember right, one time when I tried to install QuickTime on my Windows laptop, it didn’t work, but maybe by now it could’ve changed, otherwise I might could try it on the iBook.

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Answer 7

Blumber Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2021 11:11 AM in response to thesurreyfriends

Ok, but the reason I’ve been wanting to convert them is to view them on my iPhone and share them with others in shared albums and such, so far I’ve converted some to mp4 with Handbrake, and they seem to be working well, I am planning to keep the DV files as well, the mp4s are a lot smaller, so the addition of space being taken up besides the DV files isn’t much extra. Hopefully I can get them all converted correctly, I’ve been taking screenshots of each clips info in iMovie where it shows the date taken, then I edit the “Media created” on the converted video on my Windows laptop, and then upload the converted file with the correct date to iCloud Photos so I can view it on my iPhone. Thanks for the reply.

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Answer 8

Blumber Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2021 9:24 AM in response to Rich839

Thanks, I will probably try that too.

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Answer 9

Feb 20, 2021 12:06 PM in response to Blumber

OK , that makes good sense .

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Converting transferred camcorder digital tape DV files

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