Import Problem Canon HV 10 miniDV Camcorder

Let me first note that I know this is NOT a problem with iMovie but I have been searching on the net for a couple hours now and thought I would post this "at home" on this forum since I have gotten so much good advice here over the years...
I have a Canon HV10 - an HD 1080i to miniDV tape camcorder that at one point a couple years ago got "out of adjustment" such that tapes could not be played back. I sent it in for service to Canon and was told the heads were dirty though I had at that point used it very little. It seemed to work fine once back and could be used to playback tapes before and after the "out of adjustment" period. The problem is that I have 3 tapes with data on them which I would very much like to access (kids were at a very cute age) and I know the data is there. I know this since when playing back these tapes the unit shows blue screen only BUT when fast forward is pressed during playback it behaves as it would with any other tape - jittery, fast moving images without sound are seen. I assume this means the camera record speed was slightly off during that time. I have since upgraded to another camera (a Sony) and I'm willing to "experiment" with any recommended adjustments to see if I can rescue these movies. Any help appreciated!

Is your new camera an HDV camera like the Canon? You should be able to play the tapes back in that without any problem. The Canon HV10 shot video in 1080 60i, just like Sony cameras. I have the same problem with my HV10. It is a very common problem, the heads seem to accumulate a lot of grime, it could be from mixing tape stock, some tapes use a dry lubricant and some use a wet and they don't mix well together. If you only have the HV10 for tapes then you could try running a couple of cycles of a "head cleaning cassette" through it. You can pick one up at Best Buy, just follow the instructions. Hope this helps.

Similar Messages

Imovie Mac importing problem or Camcorder problem?

I run a small business for kids parties. I video the kids dancing along to a track they have recorded (played on a cd player). Then i import the video, turn off the camcorder sound and import the finished mixed track of their singing and sync the picture and audio together. This has been working perfectly for over a year. But unfortunately in the last month when i try to sync up the audio track with the video, it starts off synced up perfectly, but gradually as the video goes on the video and audio become out of sync and by the end the video is either too fast or too slow. this is a huge problem! I thought it may the tapes in the video camera so i changed them and it's still doing it. Is this a video camera problem or computer importing problem. Can anyone help as it's ruining the kids DVDs!

I am surprised it has ever worked. That can normally only be done with synched professional equipment. Maybe they changed the CD player at the performance and the old one happened to play at the same rate as your Mac when it imports? (There is a slight difference between the playback speed between different players)
Or perhaps your video camera has become slightly worn, so it pulls the tape slower?
There are endless possibilities for problems with your setup.
I think you should take a look at the "add scaled" tip at the bottom here:
http://danslagle.dvmix.com/mac/iMovie/audio/1001.shtml
(Instead of adding the extracted audio from iMovie, you should add the CD audio.)

Lightroom 5.4 Canon partial import problem (CR2s)

Hello,
I have Lightroom 5.4 on a Windows 8.1 system x64. My camera is a Canon 50D that's several years old.( i.e. not a brand new camera import problem)
When I plug my camera into my computer via the USB cable and try to import images into a Lightroom catalog, Lightroom will recognize and import jpgs, but it does not even see CR2 files. No errors, no thumbnails. It's like they are not there. If I capture a single image as both a jpg and CR2 simultaneously it will only see the jpg and not the CR2.
If I open the Canon EOS Utility it sees any and all images (CR2's included).
I've read a few posts so to help narrow it down:
1) I have write access to the folder (b/c I can import the jpgs.).
2) My Windows system does not recognize the CR2 files in an exporer window if they are still on the camera (to be specific, it sees that there are files, just not the type and no thumbnail. Not even a properties option with right click). I can't pull the files directly off the camera with my computer only with the Canon app. I have the latest camera codec pack put out by Microsoft KB2899190 from 12/9/2013.
3) Once the CR2's are on my computer via the Canon EOS app they are viewable in Expolorer (thumbnails) and can be imported into Lightroom.
4) I have cleared and reformatted the flash card (more than once). Rebooted and powered down the PC and Camera multiple times (removed camera batt. and Unplugged PC).
5) As of time of this post Lightroom is up to date.
I believe there is some communication issue with my camera and this particular PC setup. My wife's computer does not have this issue (she has Vista). When she plugs in the camera the thumbnails pop up in an explorer window for her right away.
Thoughts?
Thank you very much for your help.

Yes, for many people. Recent versions of Lightroom in particular seem to be quite fickle when trying to import directly from camera, and the "fix" in virtually all cases is to use a card reader.

Importing from sony miniDV camcorder

I have a new MacBook which does not have a firewire port. My miniDV camcorder (sony DCR-HC48) has a dock that supports both firewire and USB. However iMovie does not recognize my camcorder through the USB connection. Do I have to connect it using firewire? What are my options?

Your options are to return your Mac Book and get one that has a Firewire Port, like the White MacBook, or the MacBook Pro.
Apple accepts returns in the first 14 days no questions asked. After that, they normally don't but it would not hurt to ask.
Other than that, do you have a friend's Mac you could borrow?

USP Sony DVD Camcorder Importing problem

Reading your messages, makes me feel that I should go out and get myself a HD Camcorder.
Right now however I have a USB version and I just cannot get it to handshake with Movie HD 6.
I appear to be following all the rules, but I cannot get passed the system thinking its DVD Play that I am after.
DVD Player takes the whole screen, plays the Camcorder DVD perfectly, but because the software takes the whole screen I am locked out from getting to any functions.
Is there another version of iMovie that I should be using?
Thanks for any response.
John

iMovie is a video edit app meant to work with firewire connected miniDV/D8 camcorders
no support via usb, no support of DVDcorders... sorry to say.. :-/
Reading your messages, makes me feel that I should go out and get myself a HD Camcorder.
if you want to use the iApps, as they are intended for, you should buy a miniDV camcorder, standard or Hidef (=which needs a powerful Mac...)...
besides:
the DVDplayer app is a ... ehm, player app, no converter for DVD content to iM... and making the screen smaller: while the dvd plays, hit -1 or -0 to make the player window smaller...

Canon DC-10 DVD Camcorder and iMovie (VR/Video DVD) *complicated*

Hi Guys,
I have a complicate issue and I have no idea how to do it.
The Problem: I like to cut and edit my short movies which I have recorded with the Canon DC-10 DVD Camcorder.
Because the Camcorder only writes small sized DVDs I have to copy it onto a standalone HDD/DVD recorder which is connected to my TV and than from its HDD back to a standard sized DVD. I can record this DVD in VR and Video mode but my MacBook Pro can only read the DVD which was recorded in Video mode. Therefore I cannot copy the movie files to my HDD. I think ripping might be a possibility but I don't know. Does anybody have an idea how to get my movie clips into iMovie HD?
Which movie file format does iMovie HD use?
By the way connecting the Camcorder to the Mac directly is currently not supported by Canon and Apple. I have to use the small DVD to normal size DVD way (because of the slot in drive in the MacBook Pro).
Thanks.

as Michael told you: iM does not support these DVDcorders...
your workflow is absolutely correct: to avoid damage to the slot-in, first create a standard-shaped/sized dvd-r; it has to be finalized and in "video mode"....
then, your options to import DVD content are:
* DVDxDV (free trial, 25$, Pro: 90$)
* Apple mpeg2 plugin (20$) + Streamclip (free)
* Cinematize >60$
* Mpeg2Works >25$ + Apple plug-in
* Toast6/7 allows converting to dv/insert dvd, hit apple-k
* connect a miniDV Camcorder with analogue input to a DVD-player and disk to tape/use as converter
... and as Micheal told you: DVD are end-of-the-road, a delivery format, not meant for further processing as editing, all these conversion could mean a loss of pic quality (and are very inconvenient, for sure)... if you are seriously interested in movie-making AND want to use the iApps, you should consider to buy a miniDV....

HT2498 I connected a Sony miniDV camcorder ....

I connected a Sony miniDV camcorder on firewire port of a iMac late 2009 and Mavericks 10.9.2. Result: the iMac don't see the camera (I tested it whit iMovie 9 and 10).
The same connection whit Snow Leopard works fine. Why ??

Hi
May be You find help in my old list ?
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

Importing with canon ZR100

I am trying to import into iMovie with my Canon ZR100 miniDV camcorder. I think part of the problem is that my help file seems to be giving me info on iMovie HD 6 and I am using iMovie 4. I can control the camcorder from iMovie fine and I can see the movie and hear audio. The problem is that the help file says that there should be an import button above the play button in iMovie and there is nothing there in my app and I can't find or see anything obvious that would be for importing. Maybe someone can just direct me to some sort of manual for iMovie 4 or if you do have some insight that would be great.

there's a little "switch", scissors and camera under your main screen...
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovieAtAGlance.pdf
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovieLesson1.pdf
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovieLesson2.pdf
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovieLesson3.pdf
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovieLesson4.pdf
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovieLesson5.pdf
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovieLesson6.pdf
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovieLesson7.pdf

Minidv camcorder with USB

Hi,
the new macbook has no firewire so i ask if there is any minidv camcorder with usb for importing video in iMovie 08?
It should be a minidv camcorder.
Michael

Thats not the problem. I have several macs with firewire.
The problem is that i have an 9 year old canon dv camcorder and for this certainly several tapes stored.
So i'm looking for a camcorder with tapes and HD .
My son, who also does some video editing on his macbook (2,16 with firewire) wants a new macbook witch has no firewire.
I know that i can import the video on my macbook pro, copy it to an external drive, connect that to the macbook. Fine, but you know how much time this will take.
Therefore my question for an hdv camcorder with USB video import.
I hope the manufactuers will come out with such a camcorder.
Michael

How do I import from Canon XM2 Final Cut Pro X on a MacBook Pro?

How do I import from a Canon XM2 to MacBook Air using Final Cut Pro X or iMovie 11 please?

This is a miniDV camcorder. For this camcorder you must use Firewire.
If your MBP has Firewire 800, you need a 4 pin to 9 pin firewire cable.
The camera must be plugged into wall power, not batteries only.
Set the camera to Play, and iMovie should recognize the camera and an import screen should appear.

Big problems with Firewire iPod and camcorder - please help!

Hi all,
I don't know where else to turn with this problem. I think I've damaged my Firewire kit.
I have an iPod 4G 20GB and a Canon MV901 MiniDV Camcorder. I used them both over Firewire with my Pismo without difficulty, but I then tried video editing on my Windows machine with a firewire PCI card. Scrabbling around the back of my computer, I think I somehow managed to get the firewire cable to the camcorder in the socket upside down, reversing the power and data conncectors. Nothing really happened, but the camcorder stopped showing up. I tried it a good few times, then tried my iPod. By some bizarre coincidence, I think I managed to plug the iPod in the same way. Now, my iPod doesn't work on either the Windows machine or the Pismo over firewire, but does over USB2.0 on my Windows machine.
I measured the power going through the Firewire power pins as around 13.5 volts on my Pismo and the card, but the card also has an auxiliary power connector. This was disconnected when I tested it, but was connected when the iPod and camcorder were.
The thing I would like to know is whether a voltage spike of this size could fry the firewire controllers on both devices. The iPod's diagnostic mode detects that firewire is connected, but will not show up. Strangely, it still charges over firewire from either machine. Have I permanately damaged the firewire controllers?
Thanks in advance,
Rob Johnson

Rob,
If you mistakenly inserted the FireWire connector twisted 180 degrees, the power lines can be directly connected to the data lines and can result in a fried PHY (connects the port to the FireWire bridge) or the FireWire bridge itself.
You can take a look at the voltage specs for FireWire ports and see that your voltage readings are well withing specs:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58207
I am not sure where you go from here. You could try a known-good FireWire device connected to your Pismo and see if it works. If not, the data-side of the FW port may have failed. I don't know about testing the iPod or camcorder.
A possible cheap fix for the Pismo FireWire is a FireWire PC card; if running 10.x, it will just be a plug & play affair. However, unlike built-in FireWire ports, FireWire PC cards supply very little bus power. Your camcorder will work since it has it owns power supply (assuming there is no hardware failure) and but am unsure about the iPod. The iPod will not charge, of course, but it may still work in data transfers. There are a few FireWire PC cards that also have their own power supply.

Best MiniDV camcorder

I know this has been asked before and I've read the threads but please indulge me as I'm going to buy something new and would love a up to date check against the experienced users here before a final decision, have not fully decided whether to go HD, (if so considering the Canon HV-?) but would also like to consider a good standard def unit, analog to digital passthrough is a big plus to me, would love to hear peoples choices for the best of HD and SD in minidv format

I have a Sony DCR-HC48 standard def camcorder and really like it. It does a pretty decent job at video, even in low light, can shoot widescreen, has a built-in lens cover, transfers via iLink/Firewire, and is small enough to put in a fanny pack at DisneyWorld (very important to me, since the best camcorder in the world doesn't do much good sitting on the desk at home!).
I would definitely recommend it, although while I know it will play old analog 8mm videos I think that's the extent of the analog passthru. Not sure what you were looking for exactly (it will also play digital Hi8 tapes, for whatever that's worth)
I also have the DCR-HC48. This camera does not have passthrough. It also cannot play the old 8mm videos. This camera is a miniDV camera only.
I was disappointed that it did not have passthrough. I was replacing my old Sony DCR-HC30 which did have passthrough. That camera cannot take video any longer, but the passthrough still works.
A lot of manufacturers, if not all, are putting most of the best features inthe newer format cameras. It may not be easy fining a miniDV with passthrough.
Maybe Canons or Panasonic miniDVs have that feature.

Crash when Importing from Canon ZR800

I just bought a Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder. When I import into iMovie 08 it consistently causes iMovie to crash. I can then start the import from the point of the crash and it will proceed for a while and then crash again. Any suggestions?

I just got a ZR800 today to use to import some tapes and I'm seeing similar issues on. The only way I can capture from the camera is to disconnect any firewire drives connected to the machine. I've tried on two different machines (one with 10.4 and one with 10.5), but using the same firewire external (LaCie D2 triple interface). Doesn't matter if the drive is plugged in via Firewire 400 or Firewire 800. Un-plug the drive and everything's fine.
I'll try with another external drive once I've finished importing the video I need to get off the camera. I suspect, from other reports on the Net and here, that the behaviour will be the same with other firewire drives. I'll also give a USB drive a try.

Import problems - cable?

Hello Everyone,
I'm importing from a Sony DCR-HC20 miniDV camcorder and I've been having two problems. One is similar to what I've seen in other posts (apparently without resolution). The video and audio get more and more out of sync. In the first clips it seems fine and in later ones it's quite out of sync. Thankfully, this does not happen everytime. I can't figure out why it happens and why it doesn't, though. I restart, reboot, fix permissions, anything I can think of to "purify" the environment. Sometimes it imports correctly without anything special and sometimes it gets out of sync with all of that.
The other problem is that it will sometimes import the first couple of clips and then not import (or save) any of the others. They just don't show up. I go back to those clips and then it seems to import fine (though sometimes with the audio sync problems above).
A thought just struck me. I wonder if it's the firewire cable. I have a 6ft Firewire 4 pin to 9 pin cable. It was embarrassingly cheap and now I'm wondering if it could be the source of my problems.
So, two questions. Any answers (other than the cable) to the above? And any thoughts on the cable being the problem?
Thanks in advance,
Chuck

I consistently have the problem whether importing 100 images or 3 (although I haven't tried just one). I have also tried several different cards to no avail. It seems to work fine if i turn off the "Do not import suspected duplicates" box. Or if I first import to a folder on the desktop and then import into lightroom from there with the duplicate checking on, which is what I have been doing.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Canon Vixia HF R52 camcorder/blu ray recorder/direct connection?

I just bought a Canon Vixia HF R52 camcorder and would like to connect it directly to a blu ray/DVD recorder to burn discs without using a computer. In the Manual, Canon says it is possible and even sent me an email stating "The camcorder is compatible with any blu ray disc recorder that supports AVCHD version 2.0" Unfortunately, Best Buy Geek Squad is clueless and Canon ABSOLUTELY REFUSES to recommend/suggest what brand/model recorder I need. (I had a Panasonic camcorder that finally died on me and Panasonic had its own DVD burner for it.) Any help out there? Anyone burning discs directly from your Canon camcorder? THANKS!

have amd phenom x955 quad core and 8gb ram
under change settings....
no clue what to choose
In a message dated 9/2/2011 1:14:09 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
First, ensure that you have the latest version of Quicktime from Apple.com
on your system.
Then ensure that, when you started your project, you chose the settings
for a Full AVCHD 1920x1080 video project. You'll know if you've selected the
right settings for your project because, when you add the video to your
timeline, there will NOT be a red line above the clips until you add effects
or transitions to them.
Is that the case in your situation?
Did you use Premiere Elements' Video Importer to get the video from the
camcorder to your computer? You should. It's located under Get Media/From
Flip, AVCHD and Hard Disk Cameras.
If, with everything set up right, you're still having problems, it could
be that your computer isn't powerful enough to work with AVCHD. Most people
successfully editing AVCHD have quad-core or i7 processors.
How fast is your processor and how much RAM do you have? Have you cleared
and defragmented your hard drive recently?

Import Problem Canon HV 10 miniDV Camcorder

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