IMovie and Sony HDV DVcam

Hi
I'm Trying to import HDV 1081i into iMovie but it doesnt seem to work. I've created a new HD 1081 project in iMovie and it appears to be connect with the camera (i.e. iMovie controls the camera's play, rewind etc.). But it doesn't allow me to import anything - in fact the iMovie screen remains blue.
Does anyone have experience with this camera? (Model HVP-V1E)
Thanks
Matt

Welcome to discussions.
I quote QuickTimeKirk:
”Open the Audio MIDI Setup application (Utilities folder).
Try changing the settings to 44100Hz (CD Quality) or to 48000Hz (typical of the iMovie formats).
Others call this the GarageBand fix. Opening GB also resets the Audio MIDI Setup.”
If that is too hard ..just do this!
*Open GarageBand
*Play a few notes
*Close Garageband
*Open imovie
*Camera should be recognized now.
Sue

Similar Messages

IMovie and Sony camera can connect, but nothing imports

My iMovie and Sony HD camera can connect fine...I can control my camera from imovie, but when i click import, it plays (plays on camera and timer on imovie starts) but the screen remains blue and no video is actually imported.

Did you try Sue's excellent suggestion of the Garage band trick anyway?
Also, try deleting iMovie's preference file...the plist found in YourUserName->Library->preferences->com.apple.iMovieplist. Close iMovie, trash the plist. iMovie will create another one when you launch iMovie again.
Do you have the camcorder plugged directly into your computer's Firewire port? Some camcorders don't work properly if they are connected into another device. And, just to be sure, you do have the camcorder set to VTR, right?

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Is my camera model just outdated?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

Imovie and Sony harddrive camcorders

This really has me confused. I keep reading posts in this forums where knowledgable people are saying don't buy harddrive Sony's as they will not work with mac using usb and imovies and to work you have to buy a mini tapes camera and use firewire. Well I purchased a Sony DCR-SR82 (60gig hard drive)and I have the imac do 20 intel. After reading the advice of some great people in this forum I downloaded MPEG Streamclip (free) and the Apple Quicktime plugin mpeg viewer ($19)so now I connect my Sony by USB2 and download the movies to Streamclip, convert to dv and then make movies with imovie and burn with idvd and everything so far works great. It is so nice to not bother with tapes and the Sony makes great vidios. Also I believe that imovie makes better videos that the Sony software for the pc side. I just wanted to share in case other people might want to try this also. jim_joh2

Hi jim:
I am one of those that often suggests that imovie users should not purchase Harddrive cameras, but only IF
*The harddrive camera does not have a firewire or USB2 port
Or if
*The user wants to import directly to imovie from the camera without having to use third-party applications
Many folks here just want to 'plug and play' their cameras. It's those that do not understand how to convert (or those who do want to convert) that usually get the advice of not getting a Hard Drive Camera.
Also, there may be some quality reduction when converting from MPEG-2 to .dv (and then back again if you want to burn a DVD).
:)Just my 2¢ FWIW
Sue

Final Cut 5 and Sony HDV

I'm having trouble with video recorded on a Sony HDV cam...
when I upload the video and I put it on the timeline it asks me to render the clip... and I was trying to print a video to tape but my VTR did not reconize the video... I could not see the playback...
I don't know what's up with FC5
Thanx to anyone who can help me...

Andres - welcome to the discussions - rendering is usually required when a clip's settings (resolution/codec/framerate/etc...) doesn't match the settings in the timeline. Using Easy Setup for your project's particulars and creating a new sequence is the often the best way to start out.
To check your clip's settings, ctrl-click on it in the browser and select Properties/Format... - to check your sequence, do the same or select Settings... and check there.
Patrick

Imac and Sony HDV CX560V

This actually links to a previous question to which I received a very useful answer.
However having typed out my reply 4 times and attempted to submit it, each time I got an error notice and am told to try again!
So my fifith attempt! This time as a new query.
Firstly my thanks for the reply that I received for which I am most grateful.
My problem - I would like to buy an NTSC Sony camcorder HDR CX560V.
Previously it was not possible to extract AVCHD footage into a iMac. I now understand that with iMovie '11 this is now possible. I am using iMovie 9.0.4 but with a new iMac having an Intel Core i5 processor. Will this Intel processor be sufficient as I am told I need an Intel Core Duo processsor.
In the past there were problems with CMOS optical sensors which this Sony camcorder has. Has iMovie resolved thai problem? (Support article HT1793. dated 17/5/2011).
"iMovie Help '11" listed compatible cameras and includes the HDR CX560V. In the 'Additional Information' column there are no notes suggesting there are no problems for this camcorder.
In the link to which I was referred yesterday dated 6 Dec. 2011 this camera is no longer specifically listed. What do I conclude?
Finally how do I extract footage into my iMac (if I can). Do I connect the camcoder and iMac with aUSB connector and use Import - completey ignoring the CD that will come with the camcorder?

The i5 microprocessor is much more powerful than the Core Duo processors so you have way more than enough horsepower. Regarding your other questions I'd recommend posting in the iMovie forum. To find out if your camera is supported please click the iMovie '11 Supported Cameras link.

IMovie and Sony Camcorders

I recently purchased a Sony Camcorder - Tape based MiniDV - DCR-HC62. When I plug in the camcorder using a Firewire cable, iMovie 08 does not see the camcorder. The hardware overview does show the camcorder being plugged in using the Firewire port. Has anyone else had this problem with this camcorder model or similar models such as the DCR-HC54/HC52 ?

Welcome to Apple iMovie discussions. I am not sure why your cam is not recognized by iMovie 08. MiniDV cams should work easily with any version of iMovie. Do you have the cam set on "playback"? Some cams have a PC setting which won't allow capture of the video.
You might try the free download of iMovie HD6, which, in the opinion of many, is still a better programme than the 08 version. Go here for that.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imovieHD6.html

Sony HDV

Hi people.
Has anybody got the Sony HDRHC1 hi def video camera to work with Imovie?
The startup screen automatically starts but it will not capture any movie. I have set the camera up to HDV and the program the same but no luck.
Does Imovie support Sony HDV cameras?
Can I get a patch if it doesn't?
Thanks Gavin

Have you tried all permutations of..
(a) start iMovie, (b) plug in camera ..or
(a) start camera and plug it in, (b) start iMovie ..or
(a) start camera and plug it in, (b) start iMovie, (c) press Play on camcorder, (d) click Import in iMovie
..etc..?
If no permutation of camera on first, or iMovie on first, have you tried a different FireWire cable?
I've read your other post about this, so choose to reply either here or there, but NOT in both places!

Editing in iMovie 6 with Sony HDV

I would like to know before I buy a Sony HDV how much disc space to I need to have. I just want to edit my recordings for CD-R burning (not necesarily in HDV) and will store the MiniDv disks or DVDs (whichever version I purchase from Sony). I already have the firewire cable for Sony. I have a 17" PB (1.67, 1 GB RAM). I can buy an external firewire HD. Would like to know from people that have done it and do it successfully.
OR, would like to know what other options do I have to record in camcorder the best quality image I can get after editing and recording via iMovie and iDVD. I have tested a Sony MiniDv and found it to have poor video quality or not as expected and returned it.

Hello d0csp33d,
although I have no first hand knowledge on HDV editing, what I hear is this:
• file size of captured HDV footage is 4x the size of DV (which is already 13 GB/hr.)
• capture times are 2-4x realtime depending on your mac's configuration. Only the most recent (and powerful) macs are able to capture in realtime.
• it is not recommended to edit in HDV when the end product is a (SL) DVD. Instead it is recommended to downconvert to SD upon import and then edit as usual.
I have tested a Sony MiniDv and found it to have poor video quality
What was wrong with it? Which model? Did you judge the quality on your mac (in iMovie)?
I own two Sony camcorders (no HDV, no 3CCD) and my customers enjoy my videos and I have never had complaints about pic quality.
hope this helps
mish

I have home videos from a Sony DCR-HC20 and am trying to get them onto my IMac in itunes or imovie and I have it plugged in with a USB and don't know where it is or what to do next.

I have home videos from a Sony DCR-HC20 and am trying to get them onto my IMac in itunes or imovie and I have it plugged in with a USB and don't know where it is or what to do next.

Hello, not certain, but turn the Camera onto Play if it has such a setting, does it show up in iMovie then?

TS2289 I updated iMovie and now why isn't there any audio when I import movies from my Sony camera?

I updated iMovie and now why isn't there any audio when I import movies from my Sony camera?

What version of iMovie?
What camera?

TS3720 I have updated to Mac OS X v10.6.7 and STILL cannot get video into iMovie from Sony HDR SR11 :-( PLEASE HELP ME ...

I have updated to Mac OS X v10.6.7 and STILL cannot get video into iMovie from Sony HDR SR11 :-( PLEASE HELP ME ...

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* Trash the current Firefox application to do a clean (re-)install.
* Install the new version that you have downloaded.
Your profile data is stored elsewhere in the [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox Firefox Profile Folder], so you won't lose your bookmarks and other personal data.

2012 Macbook Pro and Sony DCR PC1 Connection

Hello all,
My Sony has a 4 pin FW 400 out and I have been using a friend's iPac with FW 400 in to import videos into iMovie without any problem.
I just got a Macbook Pro with FW 800 port and a Rocketfish 4 pin 400 to 9 pin 800 cable. Unfortunately my MBP is not recognizing my camera. I took it back to the store and they tried another cable of the same brand and the store MBP, it still didn't work.
Can someone please help me identifying the right cable or adapter for this setup.
Thank you very much, much appreciated.
PS: Both my friend's iMac and ny my MBP has Mountaion Lion and iMovie 9.0.8

Hi
There are lot's of things that can do this. Most often the 4-pin to 9-pin (FW800) Cable is the problem but there are more.
• Use of 4-pin - 6-Pin and a 9-pin adaptor MAKES things even WORSE
• Camera MUST be connected to Mains-Adaptor (Don't know WHY - but it usually make the difference)
• Camera can be turned on from start - OR one can try to toogle On/Off when connected - My TRS-900E usually suddenly connects.
Here is my notes on this problem.
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
• Toggle 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 e.g. recording and playback to TV)
A/D-box
• Is the dip-switches set right ?
• Set to same standard as recorded/editing e.g. 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
External device’s (hard disk’s)
• Should be FireWire as USB/USB2 performs badly and so does Airport or Net-work connected ones too.
• MUST BE - Mac OS Extended formatted - UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange - DO NOT WORK for video due to 4Gb barrier.
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 minimum 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. No Camera or A/D-box
• GarageBands fix - Close iMovie, Open GarageBand, Play some notes, Close GB and iMove can now be OK
• 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 helpful 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 Choice / 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 un-installing 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 helps
DJ1249 wrote
The problem was the external backup hard drive that is connected, you need to disconnect 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=odw_en_GB&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

Problems importing into iMovie and which is the required space..

Hi Karsten!
I could see that you know about video editing. And I have some problems and doubts I would like to ask.
The thing is that I have just bougth an ibook of 80 Gb hard disk RAM 512 MB Speed 1.67 GHz and I am trying to edit a documentary with it. The thing is that I started to importing images from a HDV 1080i Sony Camcorder into iMovie and the speed wasnt in real time, was slowing down to half of the original speed. I went to visit the help of iMovie it was saying when it happens is due to the desfragmentation of the disk, but I dont know if it is the real problem, it is a new computer, and how I can solve it.
And I also would like to know if I could have better results in the video importing and editing with an external hard driver other wise I could add more ram and more memory for the hard disk in the computer...
And the last thing, I would like to know how much space would I need in my computer for install and using Final Cut Pro and if it would be easy with more memory or an external hard drive...
Please Karsten or whoever who can have knowledge about these matter could help me. I really need it so much to start with my docu...
Thank you
Mac OS X (10.4) 80 Gb hard disk RAM 512 MB Velocidad 1.67 GHz

"..which is the difference between FCP and FCE?.."
FCE is Final Cut Express, a cheaper and 'cut-down' version of FCP (Final Cut Pro).
FCE changes HDV (hi-definition) video into a slightly different format called 'Apple Intermediate Codec' when it's importing HDV material - just like iMovie HD does. This means that importing is generally slower than importing ordinary DV, because the movie has to be converted while it's importing. On a G4 PowerBook or iBook HDV might import at half-speed, or take even longer (..maybe 4x 'real time'), as you've found.
The latest version of FCP can import HDV, and edit it, without any conversion, Apple says. But I don't know if that applies on any Mac, or if that needs a special capture card to be fitted into a PowerMac. In theory, I'd expect that importing and editing HDV using FCP HD 5 (..the latest version..) would be faster than on a PowerBook - because there's no conversion involved - but I can't say for certain till I receive my latest version of FCP (..I just did an Apple "cross-grade" to convert my FCP HD 4.5 into FCP HD 5).
HDV doesn't take up any more room on a tape than normal DV, because the high-definition is 'squashed' onto the tape, using MPEG-2 compression. Because iMovie HD and FCE HD can't handle this kind of compressed material directly, they convert it into the Apple Intermediate Codec, and that form of the video takes up more storage on a hard disc than the normal DV does!
So although normal DV uses about 13 gigabytes of hard disc space per hour of running time, the converted HDV (..converted into 'AIC'..) takes up, er ..I'm looking for a recent project ..most are on an external disc ..are here's a simple one: one-and-a-quarter minutes' worth uses 904 megabytes; nearly 1 gigabyte! ..Here's another: four-and-a-half minutes' worth takes up 6.5 gigabytes!
Using normal DV, 6.5 gigabytes would hold half an hour's worth of video, not 4.5 minutes' worth!
So you will need a big external hard disc to store hi-def footage. At least, with iMovie HD or FCE HD.
I don't know if FCP HD 5 would store imported footage in the original HDV format, that is with the same storage requirements of ordinary DV - like HDV tapes. If so, that means that you could store hi-def (..if you're using FCP HD 5..) in just the same amount of space as normal DV ..but I don't know for sure. Maybe you could ask in the FCP Discussions. I probably can't tell you till next week or so..
Where to get a 300gb hard disc? I'm sure there must be at least one shop, or electronics store, in Istanbul which sells them at reasonable prices. Otherwise, look online. There are many companies which now sell 300gb discs: Maxtor and LaCie, for example. But you do need one with a FireWire connection; not just USB. You don't need to buy from an Apple store: buy one from any computer shop ..an external hard disc for a PC works exactly the same ..but you must format it for use with a Mac, as described before.
All I know of Istanbul is Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Taksim Square, and the areas around what used to be the floating bridge, and the Spice Market, and round Haigha Sophia, but there must be lots of computer shops somewhere in the city.
"..I have never used iMovie for editing, I understood it is only good for capturing, sample and concise.." and it's also good for transitions, titles, adding photos and audio, adding video effects and for audio tweaking. And it integrates perfectly with iPhoto, iDVD, GarageBand ..and now 'iWeb'.

FCS 5.1: Detecting camcorder issues (Sony HDV HDR-HC3)

Hi I just got FCS 5.1 and it doesn't seem to want to detect my camcorder (Sony HDV HDR-HC3). iMovie detects it just fine, but in FCP I have no control over my camcorder when I go to 'Log and Capture', nor am I able to preview anything. My camera is set up properly I'm sure. Is there something I'm doing wrong? A setting I don't know about? Any help would be appreciated.

Salvador, what settings did you find? I presume you're importing HDV, not DV, otherwise what's the point of an HDV camera... I must be dumb, too, because my FCE HD (current version) doesn't capture from my HDV HDR-HC3. My camcorder is set for VCR = HDV and iLink conversion is off, per the manual. I tried setting up projects for both Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i50 and 1080i60, then doing Cmd-8 (capture). First it prompted me for a clip name, then I got a black screen saying it was cuing the tape and the tape automatically started playing. It said press Esc to stop, but when I pressed Esc it said the capture was aborted and there was no clip. I've been capturing and editing standard DV on my older Sony DV Handycam for years, and it worked great with no hassle. This baffles me.
iMovie recognizes the camera, and controls the rewind, etc., but no picture and no import.
I'm using the same FireWire cable I used with my older Handycam. Do I need a special Sony iLink cable?
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

IMovie and Sony HDV DVcam

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