firewire video analog converter

[patwilson at mac.com]

Bob,

I've had good luck with the JVC  SR-VS30U. It has FireWire, SVHS, 
miniDV, and does what you want.

It will handle both miniDV and VHS tapes, a feature that could come in 
handy if you find some old VHS tapes that you want to digitize for your 
project.

Pat

> I'm just about to apply for a grant to make a "community video,"
> featuring inteviews with many people in our town capturing their
> perceptions of the town's past, present and future.  On the production
> side, I'll be doing much of the filming and editing.  Anticipating the
> need to download and view a lot of footage, I'd rather not use my Sony
> TRV900 for that and wonder if anyone can recommend a tape player for
> miniDV tapes that can use Firewire into my computer and, alternately,
> play directly into a TV set for preliminary viewing?