I read that also Eric but, I doubt if USB transfer is full frame. My Sony DV could transfer only 320X240 via USB.

The last Panasonic DV tape cameras were obviously different. My usb captured files were identical to Firewire captures. Initially when I got my camera in 2006 I didn't have Firewire so I specifically got the Panasonic as it would capture with usb. Then in 2009 I got a Vista machine with Firewire so had the choice. I eventually settled on usb as its plugs fit better into a pc. I found the short square Firewire plug with its heavy cable always wanted to hang out at an angle.

Here's the media info from one of my first 2006 usb captures

General
Complete name                  : M:\Video Capture\Tape 001\T001_0002.avi
Format                         : AVI
Format/Info                    : Audio Video Interleave
Commercial name                : DVCPRO
File size                      : 1.67 GiB
Duration                       : 8mn 0s
Overall bit rate mode          : Constant
Overall bit rate               : 29.8 Mbps
Recorded date                  : 2006-08-16 20:32:29.000

Video
ID                             : 0
Format                         : DV
Commercial name                : DVCPRO
Codec ID                       : dvsd
Codec ID/Hint                  : Sony
Duration                       : 8mn 0s
Source duration                : 5mn 22s
Bit rate mode                  : Constant
Bit rate                       : 24.4 Mbps
Encoded bit rate               : 28.8 Mbps
Width                          : 720 pixels
Height                         : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio           : 4:3
Frame rate mode                : Constant
Frame rate                     : 25.000 fps
Standard                       : PAL
Color space                    : YUV
Chroma subsampling             : 4:2:0
Bit depth                      : 8 bits
Scan type                      : Interlaced
Scan order                     : Bottom Field First
Compression mode               : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)             : 2.357
Time code of first frame       : 00:07:58:24
Time code source               : Subcode time code
Stream size                    : 1.08 GiB (65%)
Encoding settings              : ae mode=manual / wb mode=automatic / white balance= / fcm=manual focus

Audio
ID                             : 1
Format                         : PCM
Format settings, Endianness    : Little
Format settings, Sign          : Signed
Codec ID                       : 1
Duration                       : 5mn 22s
Bit rate mode                  : Constant
Bit rate                       : 1 024 Kbps
Channel(s)                     : 2 channels
Sampling rate                  : 32.0 KHz
Bit depth                      : 16 bits
Stream size                    : 39.3 MiB (2%)
Alignment                      : Aligned on interleaves
Interleave, duration           : 40 ms (1.00 video frame)

@NOKNOT This is a long shot but download this DV Type 1 to DV Type 2 converter https://www.videohelp.com/software/DV-Type-1-to-DV-Type-2-Converter

Try it on one of your VMS17 captures that your media info shows has audio. It merely adds an additional separate audio stream.