What is a DV file?
DV — Digital Video (tape camcorder)
Use the format DV
A concrete example
Prepare a lightweight copy of a DV file already transferred to the computer.
Useful checks
Converting a file does not digitize a tape. Check the interlacing and keep the original capture.
Choose a conversion
Keep the original and open the result in the software or on the device that will need to use it.
Your questions about this format
How to choose between MP4, WEBM, and MKV?
MP4 is suitable for many sharing purposes; WEBM is particularly intended for web playback. MKV may be better suited for content with multiple tracks. Look at the outputs offered for your file and test the result on the player you will actually use.
Can I extract only the audio from my video?
Yes, if MP3 is listed among the outputs of your source. Add the video, choose MP3, and start the conversion. The file must contain an audio track: a silent video cannot produce a sound recording.
Why am I being offered MKV for tracks and subtitles?
Not all outputs retain the same tracks. If the engine indicates that a MKV container is required, go back to the output selection and choose MKV instead of forcing a conversion that would remove elements. This output may fall under NoLimit.
How many videos can I convert for free?
The free offer allows one video per day, within the total quota of ten files and the limit of 100 MB per file. A batch of three files does not add three video rights: the video quota remains shared. A valid NoLimit access adjusts the limits according to the displayed offer.
What is it?
DV was the format used by digital tape camcorders throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Its defining trait: a fixed bitrate of roughly 25 megabits per second, regardless of what was being filmed.
One minute of DV footage always takes up about 200 MB, whether the scene is a blank wall or a fireworks display. This consistency, wasteful for storage, was essential for writing data to tape.
History & origin
The DV standard was adopted in 1995 by a consortium of manufacturers, and MiniDV camcorders became fixtures in both households and professional settings for more than a decade.
It faded away with the rise of memory cards, which made tape obsolete and allowed for variable bitrates.
Why it is useful
Consistent quality and light compression make it an excellent starting point for editing.
The format is thoroughly documented and supported by every editing program out there.
Limits & drawbacks
The file size is enormous relative to its resolution, which tops out at standard-definition television quality.
The image is interlaced, which produces unsightly combing artifacts on modern screens unless this is corrected during conversion.
Practical tips
Convert your DV footage to MP4 to preserve and share it: the file size will shrink to a tenth of the original.
Be sure to enable deinterlacing during conversion, or fast motion will show up as jagged, comb-like lines.
Convert your DV in seconds, on our secure servers in France.
Convert a DV