If you want to copy: MakeMKV for BluRays are perfect.
For MiniDV you can use any MiniDV camcorder, they have a digital video out (probably FireWire) then import with a video editor on PC. An old Macbook/Pro is the best with the built-in port and iMove.
I was hoping for some simple option to put the minidv in a reader that would let me download its content to a mac. I don't a camera anymore and finding an old mac and camera is what I was trying to avoid.
What do you mean? All three of those are already digital, no conversion needed. Or do you mean you just want to copy them to some other storage medium?
"Digital" has become this weird overloaded term with a second meaning that means "no physical media". You see it mostly in videogames, "bought digitally" means buying it from Steam or another online store as a download, as opposed to a physical disk.
Obviously you're right and and literally every commercial* videogame ever released is digital in the sense that it's binary information, and the movies that person was talking about were already digital on Blu Ray.
You can kind of justify it as literally correct if you infer the context of "digital" referring to the method of transferral, rather than the method of information storage - I.e when I bought a game disk from a shop, the game was transferred to me physically on a disk, but when I bought one from Steam it was transferred digitally. Doesn't really apply as much for this situation tho.
(*I almost said every videogame ever made, but I suppose Tennis For Two and some other experimental games ran on analogue computers)
I'm currently in the same position regarding 8mm digital8. After researching, I believe the best way to digitize these is to obtain a compatible used camcorder with a DV/Firewire port, then install a DV/Firewire PCI card to stream and record the video to your PC.
You’re right.
But even better than trying to get a compatible PCI card, find an older MacBook Pro that has built in FireWire ports and use something like iMovie to direct rip the DV content.
Unfortunately, it has to be done in real-time even though it’s digital data. I haven’t heard anyone use a high speed tape drive for them but it would be theoretically possible.
Also, that setup is a pretty good way to digitize Hi8 analog tapes. And I think you can use some of the camcorders as analog to digital converters of an analog video stream (eg, an attached vcr).
Sounds daunting compared to my limited experience:
Friend brings over MiniDV camera and a tape, and asks if I can transfer it to a PC.
"I don't know, but we can try!"
It took longer to rummage through the cabling collection for the right FireWire cable than to get it working, plugged straight into the front of a Q6600 box running Windows Vista or 7, with whatever software Microsoft included by default.
Even the tape transport controls worked perfectly from the GUI on the PC.
It had two FireWire ports -- one on the sound card, and one on the motherboard. IIRC, the one on the motherboard was used for the front panel connector.
And maybe I'm old-fashioned, but the last thing I think when I need to connect up some old gear is "I have just the answer! I'll buy a whole 'nother laptop!"
I mean: They still make PCIe Firewire cards in factories every day -- or at least, they once made enough of them that plenty are still kicking around for not very much money.
And it may be 2025, but they definitely do still make desktop computers (with industry-standard expansion slots, even!) in factories every day.
There is a way to go from mini dv to thunderbolt. Apple made adapters for Firewire to Thunderbolt 2, and Thunderbolt 2 to 3. These can be chained to do what you want. See this video/channel for more details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT0oDYbqwwk
