Connecting my Sony HandyCam DCR-HC20 to my Mac

I am trying to connect my Sony Hanycam Model: DCR-HC20 to my Mac. I am a newbie to this. I have hooked up the firewire to the computer but they do not seem to be hooking up. I have I Life 08. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Start with this
http://www.fcpbook.com/Video10.html
then come back with complete specs on your system.

Similar Messages

IMovie and Sony handycam DCR-HC20

I have a Sony handycam DCR-HC20, it records onto miniDV. I hook it up with a firewire cable to my computer to import video AND after uploading video onto iMovie for five minutes or less it crashes. I have tried other computers and the same problems occur. The camera worked fine with my last computer. I've been to the Apple Store and I forgot my camera so they couldn't help me.
Is my camera model just outdated?

Welcome to discussions!
When you start up iMovie, and the first dialog box appears that gives you the option to create a new movie, etc. Underneath that is a drop-down arrow named Video format. Click on that and choose HDV 1080i, then see if it imports.
Sue

Having trouble loading Sony Handycam DCR-SX41 onto my MAC

I have a Sony Handycam DCR SX41 digital video camera. When I plug it in to get the videos onto my MAC, it says it is not compatable. This is a fairly new camera. Any suggestions.

I am not sure, i just purchased this camera and i am also having some difficulties loading video. I believe some of the other posts that i have read mention something about "Mpegstreamclip" which when you use that to transfer your video it will enhance the quality. If you do a search in the discussions for "dcr-sx41" you will find more info on that. Sorry i couldnt be a bigger help, i am having a lot of problems myself

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD110E work with Mac OS X??

Hi people,
I have just bought this camcorder! Anyone know if this model will work with mac? or if anyone has this model, if they could be of assistance!
Thanks

The DVDs save in a format that is touch to edit. You will have to use something like Handbrake to convert to an easier to edit format. I do not remember if this model uses full size disks or not. If not, you will need a tray loading optical drive, as the MBP slot loader cannot handle the small disks.

Sony Handycam dcr-hc24 on my MBP

Hi there,
I'm living in The Netherlands and I would like to connect my Sony Handycam dcr-hc24e to my MBP.
I wouldn't start this discussion if I hadn't a problem. I'm not sure how to connect this Handycam to my MBP. All the cables does not fit. What should I buy in Mac Store to make this work? (Adapters, firewire cables?) Please give me a link to the cable or adapter on the store so I can use this.
Sincerely,
Giovannie

Most cameras come with a USB cable. According to what I saw on the Internet, one comes with the specific model you describe. Have you contacted Sony on this problem. It has been my observation that Sony does not provide software for Macs, only for PC's.
Ciao.

What is the best way to hook up my Sony handycam DCR-DVD to my imac?

What is the best way to connect my Sony handycam DCR-DVD301 to my imac computer (Mac OSX 10.6.8)

Firewire, if it has that.

Sony Handycam DCR-HC26 not recognized by iMovie'08

System: iMac PPC G5, 2GB DDR SRAM, running 10.5.8
iMovie: '80 7.1.4 (585)
Camera: Sony Handycam DCR-HC2, plugged in (battery in too), in Play/Edit mode (not record mode)
Firewire: 4-6pin, tried 2 cables.
Alert message: "No camera connected. To import video please connect a camera."
Camera on/Firewire in before starting iMovie; also tried restarting with Firewire already attached, no joy.
I DID successfully import video from this camera to another mac about two years ago -- it wouldn't recognize it at first, but I bought a new cable and that took care of it. This time I used the "old" (new last time; gold connections) AND bought a new one. Nothing doing.
Anyone have any help to offer? If I have the time I'll try to dust off the (home) machine that I used a few years ago (not sure which iMovie that was) and see if that works...
Thanks in advance!

Hej Sixten
May be You find help here.
*NO CAMERA or A/D-box*
Cable
• Are You sure that You are using the FireWire Cable - USB-Cable will not work for miniDV tape Cameras
FireWire - Sure not using the accompany USB-Cable but bought a 4-pin to 6-pin (or 9-pin) FW one ?
• Test another FW-Cable *very often the problem maker*.
Camera
• Test Your Camera on another Mac so that DV-in still works OK
• Toogle in iMovie pref. Play-back via Camera (on<->off some times)
• Some Cameras has a Menu where You must select DV-out to get it to work
• Camera connected to "charger" (mains adaptor) - not just on battery
• Camera set in Playback mode - NOT Recording mode
Does Your Camera work on another Mac ?
Sorry to say it is to easy to turn the 6-pin end of the FW-cable 180 deg wrong.
This is lethal to the A/D-chip in the Camera = needs an expensive repair.
(Hard to find out - else than import/export to another Mac ceased to work
everything else is OK eg recording and playback to TV)
A/D-box
• Is the dip-switches set right ?
• Set to same standard as recorded/editing eg NTSC 29.97fps or PAL 25fps
• Try resetting it
Connections
• Daisy Chaining most often doesn’t work (some unique cases - it’s the only way that work (some Canon Cameras ?))
Try to avoid connecting Camera <--> external HD <--> Mac but import directly to the Mac then move
the Movie project to dedicated external hard disk.
• FireWire-port - Can be re-setted by - Turn off Mac and disconnecting Mac from Mains/Power for 20-30 minutes
Mac
• Free space on internal (start-up) hard disk ? Please specify the amount of free space.
(Other hard disks don't count)
I go for a minmum of 25Gb free space for 4x3 SD Video - and my guess is 5 times more for 16x9 HD ones
after material is imported and edited.
• Does Your Mac have a FireWire Port
• White MacBooks - don't
• MacBook-Air - don't
if not then a few Mac’s has a PCM-CIA slot and there are FW-Cards that makes a FW-port this way
else - NO SOLUTION
Only option as I get it is either
• Use another Mac to Capture material (to an external USB2 - Mac OS Extended formatted hard disk - or -
• Change to another Camera that can be used with Your Mac (no there are no miniDV tape Cameras that can)
• If Your Mac-Book has a PCM-CIA Card place - then there are FW-port-Cards and then
You can import via this - but I've not seen this on more modern Macs. My PowerBook G4
has one and this FW-Card-port works greatly.
SoftWare
• Delete iMovie pref file may help sometimes. I rather start a new account, log into this and have a re-try.
• Any strange Plug-ins into QuickTime as Perian etc ? Remove and try again.
• FileVault is off ? (hopefully)
• Screen Saver - OFF
• Energy Saver - OFF
Using WHAT versions ? .
• Mac OS - X.5.4 ?
• QuickTime version ? (This is the heart in both iMovie and FinalCut)
• iMovie’08 (7.1.?), 09 or 11 ?
• iMovie HD 6 (6.0.4/3) ?
*Other ways to import Your miniDV tape*
• Use another Camera. There where tape play-back stations from SONY
but they costed about 2-4 times a normal miniDV Camera.
• If Your Camera works on another Mac. Make an iMovie movie project here and move it
over to Your Mac via an external hard disk.
(HAS TO BE Mac OS Extended formatted - USB/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange WILL NOT DO)
(Should be a FireWire one - USB/USB2 performs badly)
from LKN 1935.
Hi Bengt W, I tried it all, but nothing worked. Your answer has been helpfull insofar as all the different trials led to the conclusion that there was something wrong with my iMovie software. I therefore threw everything away and reinstalled iMovie from the HD. After that the exportation of DV videos (there has not been any problem with HDV videos) to my Sony camcorders worked properly as it did before. Thank you. LKN 1935
from Karsten.
in addition to Bengt's excellent '9 yards of advice' ..
camera set to 'Play' , not rec/computer/etc.?
camera not on battery, but power-line?
did your Mac 'recognize' this camera before...?
a technical check.
connect camera, on, playback, fw-connected...
click on the Blue Apple, upper left of your screen ..
choose 'About../More..
under Firewire.. what do you read..?
More
• FileVault - Secure that it’s turned off
• Network storage - DOESN’T WORK
• Where did You store/capture/import Your project ?
External USB hard disk = Bad Choise / FireWire = Good
If so it has to be Mac OS Extended formatted
----> UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange is NOT Working for VIDEO !
mbolander
Thanks for all your suggestions. What I learned is that I had a software problem. I had something called "Nikon Transfer" on my Mac that was recognizing my Canon camcorder as a still camera and was preventing iMovie from working properly. After uninstalling Nikon Transfer and doing a reboot, everything worked great.
I never liked the Nikon Transfer software anyway--I guess I'll get a cheap card reader and use that to transfer photos in the future.
*No Camera or bad import*
• USB hard disk
• Network storage
• File Vault is on
jiggaman15dg wrote
if you have adobe cs3 or 4 and have the adobe bridge on close that
or no firewire will work
see if that halps
DJ1249 wrote
The problem was the external backup hard drive that is connected, you need to disconect the external drive before the mac can see the video camera.
MaryBoog wrote
Maybe your problems is solved in the meantime, but for all others this might help as I had the same problem, also have the Sony HDR-HC7, but the 7e (Europe, PAL). I found this link today and it works perfectly
//support.sony-europe.com/tutorials/dime/videotransfer/vtransfer.aspx site=odwenGB&sec=DVH&m=HDR-HC7E
What I exactly did.- put camera in play mode - open guide - choose connection guide - choose comp./printer (where to transfer movie to) - select connection.- i-link (on my camera) but equal to firewire - OK - choose HDV - choose NO for conversion of i.link.
Settings are shown then (VCR HDV/DV.- HDV and i.link-conv..- OFF), press OK, OK, END.
Switch camera off. Connect firewire cable to camera & Mac. Switch camera on, in play/edit mode.
Open i-movie, choose import from camera. On screen below the camera connection is shown.- DV (HDV). Now you can import, automatically or manually.
This worked perfectly for me. Took me 2 days to find out. Could not find any clear thread explaining what I had to do on the camera and the manual was not clear either.
Yours Bengt W

Sony Handycam DCR-SR46 + my MAC

I just shot a short film on my new Sony Handycam DCR-SR46. When I connected the USB to my mac it didn't even show up. So I connected my Handycam to a PC then transfered to MPGs to my mac. Now the MPGs I transferred from my PC have no audio on them.
I need help getting my film out of my Sony Handycam with the audio.
Note: It plays with sound when on a PC. The sound only disappears when I play it on my mac.
Thanks.

I've searched for "mpegstreamclip" on versiontracker like you suggested and got the following:
DVDxDV 1.36
extract audio/video from DVDs to QuickTime, iPod & more 2.0M Shareware 2008-05-09 701
DVDxDV Pro 1.087
convert DVDs to QuickTime, iPod, Final Cut, iMovie, iDVD
which is the right one to download?
thanks again.

SONY Handycam DCR-HC19E, Capable of Passing Digital Analog Signal?

Hi
I wondered if my Sony Handycam DCR - HC19E (miniDV) is capable of sending an analog signal through firewire to my computer as I wish to monitor my progress on my tv.
And:
Should I be on record or play/edit mode on camera?
What to do if I wish to playback my videos on FCP 5?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know what settings on the camera, but this is the playthru checklist:
#8 External Monitor Viewing.
Shane's Stock Answer #8:
A simple path is mac > firewire > camera or deck > rca cables > tv
Then start up your camera and tv, then open fcp.
Then go View > External video > all frames
Video playback should be Apple firewire NTSC (If you are using an NTSC set)
Audio playback should be Audio follows Video
Techinially, this should send synched video to your TV
If for some reason you can't view your timeline on your external monitor, there are a few things to try:
1) Make sure that the camera/deck is connected and powered on BEFORE you open FCP.
2) In the Final Cut Pro menu select AUDIO/VIDEO Preferences and make sure your signal is being sent out thru Firewire DV.
3) Go to the menu and select VIEW>EXTERNAL>ALL FRAMES.
4) Click in the % box above the image and select FIT TO WINDOW.
5) Go to VIEW->refresh A/V devices
6) Make sure the Log & Capture window is closed
If you want it to play in both the canvas and the external monitor you need to go to the FINAL CUT PRO menu and select AUDIO/VIDIO settings and make sure MIRROR ON DESKTOP is selected under the PLAYBACK OUTPUT section
Shane

Sony Handycam DCR-HC21 NTSC

I've got an old Sony Handycam DCR-HC21 NTSC recording on MimiDVs. I have a new iMac running Mountain Lion purchased in 2013. I'm trying to figure out if I can connect this Sony Handycam to my iMac and download those videos from the MimiDVs. My iMac doesn't have a Firewire port, only USB3 and Thunderbolt.
Thanks,
Kumahito

Hello Kumahito,
Connections
Connector Type 1 x Composite video/audio output,
1 x USB,
1 x Control-L (LANC),
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK)
So via USB or with a TB->Firewire cable & likely a 9 pin<->4 pin FW cable, iMovie or maybe Image Capture can import from it.

How to transfer video files from Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 to Mac?

How do i transfer video files from a Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 to Mac?

First suggestion would be to read your manual that came with the camea for proper cable use for transfer. The iMac has a FW800 port and also USB2.0 port. Once connected you can import them into iMove and edit them from there. Some Sony codecs may require converting.
Firewire Cable is first needful thing.

IMovie doesn't love a Sony Handycam (DCR-SX)

I have a MacBook Pro and have been successfully importing video from my Canon LS-someting and editing for about 2 years now. I recently went to Italy with the family and left the video camera charging on my desk. So in Rome I bought the first camera I could find, a Sony Handycam. Now it simply doesn't work. I have 3 problems. First, I left the camera at home charging. Second, I had to pay for a second camera. Third, I now have 2 hours of random video that my wife thinks I should just burn to a DVD using someone else's "real" computer and I can barely sit through the 10-minute infomertials I produce for our family, much less 2 hours of me yelling, "Smile, DAMNIT!" at my kids. Can you help?
Here's what I have:
MacBook Pro '09
Mac OS X 10.6.8
iLife '11 (iMovie 9.0.4 1604)
Sony Handycam DCR-SX45E
It says "Works with iMovie" on the box. The Sony Website says it is MPEG-2 Format.
The Apple website has it on the list of compatible camcorders:
http://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html?lang=en_US
Using inputs for the drop-downs on the Apple webpage: Camcorder, Sony, MPEG-2, Memory, PAL, GO!
By all accounts, these two should do alright together.
I'm no expert as I've only had a Mac for about 2 years now. But I borrowed a waterproof camera from a buddy once and had no issues when I switched cameras. The Canon pulls up and offers to do the work for you. The waterproof camera was a bit of work, but I figured out how to import.
For this I have tried to trick iMovie into importing the footage by turning on the "USB COnnect". No success despite FInder visibly showing that the camera is connected. I went through File-->Import from Camera and when I get to the files, they are grayed out. I selected the folder containing them and let it run for an hour or so and hoped that Apple would do it's magic. Obviously no luck. I then inserted the memory card into my laptop and tried to manually search it in File-->Import and...same thing. Nothing..... I finally went in and copied them to a folder on the desk top and tried to import from there with no luck.
Can you please enlighten me? Both products (Apple and Sony) claim that they are compatible. If so, where am I going wrong. I'd hate to have to buy 3rd party software to fix translate this....
Thanks!

Dear AppleMan1958,
Thanks for providing that link! I just got the same camera. My question is, should I install the PMB software from the disk provided with the computer on my Mac in order to import videos from the camcorder to iMovie? Thanks much!

HT4124 Macbook Pro 10.6.8 Imovie will not recognize Sony Handycam DCR-HC38 via Firewire 800-9pin cable. Is it not compatible? It worked with previous Macbook (black) with prev. firewire version.

Have tried to connect Sony Handycam DCR-HC38 to Macbook Pro via Firewire 800-9pin to 4-pin cable. I Movie will not recognize camera. I have transferred media on old Macbook (black version) with different firewire. Does the new IMovie not support this product?
Thanks

Hi,
Did you solved this problem?
I have the same situation here...
Regards

I can not transfer video from my sony handycam DCR-HC36 to ivideo in imac

I can not transfer video from my sony handycam DCR-HC36 to ivideo in imac. Help! THANK-YOU!!

Take both back to the salesman in the store and ask him to show you how it works, or, if he can't, then maybe you want to make an exchange or return. Unfortunately, it appears that the salesperson didn't look carefully enough at the camera specs to realize that the MacBook doesn't have the video input needed. You can capture the audio from the camera through the MacBook audio line-in, but that's about it.
You need some kind of USB TV/tuner input device that has the plugs needed to connect to the camera and import the video into the MacBook. Cameras with FW ports allow direct uploading of the digital video to the computer.
An external DVD drive that can load the miniDVD's in its tray is another possibility.

HT3290 Will my Sony Handycam DCR-SR68 work with I-Movie

Will My Sony Handycam DCR-SR68 work with I-movie for downloading video? I was able to get the photos I had on it to download onto I-Photo, But I want the video to download also, so I can edit them and burn to a DVD. Please Help, this is driving me nuts!!!

According to the iMovie Supported Cameras List, your camera should work with iMovie 11.
http://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html?lang=en_US
You would need to connect the camera via USB, and the camera would need to be plugged in to AC power (not batteries only). Then use FILE/IMPORT FROM CAMERA. The camera probably needs to be put in Playback mode, but some cameras need to be in PC Attach mode. Check your manual.

Connecting my Sony HandyCam DCR-HC20 to my Mac

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