Are you using firewire input to your PC? For miniDV quality you link to PC needs to be DV from camcorder to Firewire into the PC. If your PC doesn't have a firewire input you need one.

Most any software should work for DV quality capture with a firewire link.

Most of better known software makers - Pinnacle, Adobe and ULead are a few - offer free trial versions via download.

I started out using ULead Video Studio which did a great job of controlling capture and then used for editing and rendering.

My simple keys to capture quality (others may disagree or offer different advice)

1. Firewire PC input from camcorder
2. Software capture settings are for DV or .avi or however your program recognizes miniDV quality. Some programs will sense DV and default to avi.
3. Camcorder in play mode and activate capture - usually a button "capture".

One hour of miniDV should transfer and a BIG avi file - many Gig.
goodluck