hello I am wondering if there is a way to capture a mini dv tape in faster then real time to a hard drive. I have a client that wants to archive Past shows to put in to a video Ipod format. To knowledge there is no such device or software that can do such a thing. am I wrong? I would like to do this with out breaking the bank.

I have never seen a device that playes the tape back faster than real time. Sorry.

Never heard of a capture in fast forward utility, sorry. You'll have to capture in realtime. Once captured of course, the FILES can be duplicated and copied, but not the capturing.

Unlike analog audio tape which record a straight linear track video records a helical track which is a spiral from one edge of the tape to the other. Changing record speed changes the spacing of the helical tracks. Increasing playback speed will alter the synchronization of tracks which has a direct impact on both audio and video quality.
I'm sure you are stuck with real time playback.

Hey guys thanks I knew I was asking for the impossible but I live by the motto of it never hurts to ask.

I dunno, asking for a poke in the eye with a sharp stick could hurt an awful lot!

(Sorry.)