Expert: Alessandro Machi - 10/2/2007

Question
Is it possible to make a copy of a Mini-DV using two Mini-DV camcorders?  Will the quality be poor?  What would be an average price for to have a copy made by a professional?  I need to make about 20 copies...thanks.
  Tim

Answer
Hi Tim, if your two camcorders both have a firewire connection port you should be able to make a firewire digital clone from your edit master tape.

Most people claim there is no loss in quality at all when using the firewire cable to make copies, however I have also heard that there actually is a minimal generational loss but one that you probably won't notice.

I would make a firewire clone from your edit master tape, than use that clone tape to make your copies, assuming you want to make them yourself.  If the length of your program master is more than 5-10 minutes, I would suggest you find a duplicator to do it for you. I would not use a DVD copy you are the owner of to make the tape copies from. However, you could use a DVD master copy of material you are the owner of to make other DVD's. DVD to DVD can be virtually lossless, whereas DVD to tape just means you have re-encoded a heavily compressed DVD codec back onto a much less compressed format.

One to one copying is highly inefficient as you are using two machines to make one copy.  If the duplicator can make 10 copies at a time, they are in essence using the playback deck twice to make 20 copies, whereas it would take you 20 playbacks to make 20 copies, in essence a much more inefficient method that also wears out your cameras.

I don't recommend using cameras to make copies since all you are doing is hastening the day when the camera breaks down when you are in the middle of a once in a lifetime videotaping moment.