lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

I own a 3rd-gen MacBook Pro (Dec 2013 vintage) and have some video clips, ranging from seconds to just over an hour, in the formats above, that I want to transfer IN DIGITAL FORM to my Magnavox DVD-Recorder, which has its own Hard Disk Drive and analog inputs along with a single DIGITAL input, a 4-pin Firewire (aka DV) port.

I have successfully employed this DV port to transfer several mini-DV tapes from my Canon Camcorder and then created DVD-R copies of them. I also own the requisite Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire 800 9-pin adapter as well as a Firewire 800 9-pin to 400 4-pin cable.

The REASON I wish to transfer the aforementioned files on my laptop over to my DVD-Recorder is that I find it easier to consolidate them and then create DVD copies.

My internet searches have been abysmal failures. Including EXPORT in the keyword phrase results in 'How to IMPORT ...' I thank you for your insights and solutions.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Couldn't you simply use an external hard drive that plugs into your USB port on the laptop? There are many different types of external hard drives to consider. You can get SSD, normal platter type hard drives in various sizes that require external power and some that draw power from the USB port. Some that are USB2, USB3 and USB3.1 and USB3.1 Type C version 2. All kinds of choices out there.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

I appreciate your trying to help, but you’re missing the point of my question, jeep_daddy.

If you answer the following question, I believe you’ll understand why: What can a DVD-recording device, which has a built-in HD, do that NONE of your suggestions can?

Why, make DVDs. That is the reason I specified "DVD-recording device" in my question. Does that make sense?

Thank you.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I guess I misunderstood your problem and probably still do so I'll let someone else chime in. Maybe they can help you.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I don't have an Apple Laptop and am not that familiar with them. And I don't know what it takes to use the Firewire Port to transfer the files.

But what I am wondering is if you can find an adapter for your MacBook Pro that converts to Composite A/V. If this is a possibility, then all you have to do is play the files on the MacBook Pro and record them on the Magnavox DVD Recorder.

I do have some experience with playing MP4 and MOV files on a DVD Player. This requires a DVD player that knows how to play these files. Some do. Many don't. Also AVI is a popular format that some DVD players will also play.

Another problem I encounter involved making MP4 DVD's. I can burn DVDs from my Windows Laptop and they play fine on a DVD Player capable of playing MP4 files or AVI files. But when someone I knew burned a DVD on an Apple Laptop, the DVD refused to play on the same DVD Player. Haven't figured out why this is the case yet.

I do have a Western Digital TV Live which I have connected to two hard drives which are full of videos that are in mostly AVI format. My grandchildren watch their favorite shows on the TV from these when they visit. The hard drives can connect to my PC when I want to store something else on them, and then they don't need a PC to work with the TV. Roku also makes boxes like this.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Thanks for trying, JimH123, as I've read some of your helpful posts to others' questions before. But my philosophy, or should I write approach, to solving a problem is a step-wise process.

Before I look at alternatives, such as using an inferior analog transfer process or using my Mac to organize video clips and then make DVDs from them, I endeavor to find a solution to what I consider to be the most expedient process.

That's why I ask what I ask. As you can see from what words of your response I put in boldface type, it doesn't appear that you can help me with this particular problem at this time. However, I might need to contemplate your analog idea sometime later.

Thank you.

therwol Loc: USA

I'm trying to figure out exactly what you're asking. I too have captured digital video from tape through Firewire. I made both .avi and MP4 files from my tapes to see which looked better to me before deciding to capture them as .avi. I used Windows Live Movie Maker (no longer available) to burn the files to DVD-R. I'm sure there are many alternatives now. Load the files into a burner and go. You may not be able to mix file types on one DVD, but I don't really know. I'm way past this now.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

I sincerely thank you for your post. Based on what you wrote, you were employing some sort of PC. Do you currently use an Apple computer?

What I am asking about is an Apple Operating System and/or software issue, as it has to do with enabling the output of various file formats in FireWire format (aka DV aka IEEE 1394). So unless you are versed in Mac OSX and/or the programs included with an Apple laptop/desktop at time of purchase (I believe this is called "iLife",) I can understand why you’re having difficulty giving me an answer.

therwol Loc: USA

I do not own a Mac, however I think I have something useful to say. IEEE 1394 is not a format. It's a data transfer protocol. It has two characteristics that made it possible to use Firewire to capture digital video from tape. It is bidirectional and allows for a variable transfer rate. The second is essential for capturing video streaming from tape. Basically when you transfer from tape, you are sending a bit stream to your computer. The capture software is converting it to a format that you choose, usually .avi or MP4.

MP4 is highly compressed by lossy compression, and it is not possible to uncompress it to the original state. Data has been discarded. .avi is captured/converted without compression, which accounts for the huge file sizes.

If you want the original uncompressed video and you are starting with .MP4, .mov, or Quicktime video, you are out of luck.

Not only that, if you take uncompressed video and burn it to a DVD, the software that you use to burn the DVD will compress the video.

If you want to simply "play" your video through a Firewire port to capture it with a dedicated video recorder, I can't help with that. That would involve software that would convert it to some kind of bitstream, and on the other end, the DVD recorder would convert it to the standard DVD format, which is compressed.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Thank you, therwol! Indeed, you do have something useful to express!

With respect to my diction, I stand corrected. I was using the term format generically, but you’re quite right, Firewire is a data transfer protocol. Whether these isolated video clips I have are compressed or not is entirely moot. I have what I have, and that is it.

Your response is yet one more suggesting that the solution to my problem is the acquisition of 3rd party software. I guess I'm still a bit stubborn on this point. MacBook Pros (MBP) used to have a dedicated Firewire port built into them and for my generation MBP, an adapter was/is readily available for its two built-in mini-display ports (I think that’s what they are called.) For what it’s worth, intuitively as it would seem to me, if a computer has a port for a specific data transfer protocol, then does it not follow that this computer’s Operating System would come equipped with the necessary means of converting the popular formats into a bitstream compatible with said port?

If not, then I guess it must have been some sort of business decision not to provide such a conversion protocol either in the OS or complementary software the computer's manufacturer provides. To those reading this, please feel free, IF you are truly knowledgeable in such affairs specific to Apple, to address this matter.

therwol Loc: USA

I will tell you what I would do. I'd stitch the files together in a video editor, save it in whatever format you desire, and then burn the big file to DVD. You may have to put together like file types separately. An alternative would be to burn the files one at a time to DVD-RW, finalize it, and then copy to DVD-R.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Right, BUT at this time I am specifically trying to avoid doing that.

therwol Loc: USA

I just want you to know that I made a sincere effort to Google what you want to do. No matter how you phrase it, the results come up pertaining to transferring digital video from tape to computer. This is the sort of thing that a computer science major or otherwise hacker might program for fun, but it would have no commercial value, especially since Firewire is becoming extinct.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Well, therwol, I do appreciate your searching on my behalf. Alas, your last sentence had the makings of greatness until you added the tag about Firewire becoming extinct.

Of course Firewire is becoming extinct! BUT what I believe would be of value is if the commonly-employed Search Engines of the English language were to have the means to selectively disable portions of their fuzzy logic, e.g. search for 'export out from a Mac via Firewire' BUT NOT include 'import to a Mac via Firewire'.

Perhaps I'm just ignorant of such options on Google?

Regardless, this topic is not yet closed but I thank you for trying, therwol.

therwol Loc: USA

Google has become ridiculous in the past several years. Searches have multiple ads come up as the top results. Results often bear no connection to the search parameters. A lot of useless information comes up that you have to sort through, and good luck if you find what you're looking for. Then there is the issue that they're tracking everything you look for, and you see ads for related things showing up when you open your web browser. I don't know, but keep looking. If I dare make a suggestion, use another search engine.