Import VHS-C with a sony camcorder

I am trying to import VHS-C tapes into iMovie using a VCR and passing through my Sony TRV-17.
I am able to do this but when I play it back in iMovie there are many breaks in the video. I get a blank grey screen that keeps popping up while the sound continues to play without interuption. I have played the very same VHS-C tape in the VCR while viewing it on a TV and it plays perfectly.
I tried a Canon Optura 600 and did not have any luck at all. Is there something I am missing? How do I do this?

Here is an update for anyone who is having trouble while using the same equipment......
I have a Sony TRV17 camcorder that I was using to "pass through" video into iMovie from a VHS-C tape playing in my Sony SLV N750 VCR. This setup was not working on some of my tapes giving me 1 second breaks in the video. NOTE.. the VHS-C tapes played fine on the TV with my Sony camcorder.
As a last resort I borrowed a JVC HR-VP77OU VCR and my problem went away. This confuses me because the Sony VCR played the tapes perfectly on the TV so I did not think to try another VCR. I was thinking that my problem was the cord from the camcorder to the VCR or the jack itself on the camcorder.
I am just glad it is working properly now. Thank you all for your input on this!!!
Kevin

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Then I went on to the Sony support page and found this - which works fine, and has very clear instructions.
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New to imac and would like to get all my imports into imovie. How can I (if I can) import VHS and older model Sony camcorder tapes? The camcorder does not link up when plugged in.

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Hi
I have just got a new iMac with iLife 08.
I am trying to import VHS tapes through a Canon camcorder into iMovie. I have done this many times before using Final Cut Pro on my old computer. My old FCP isn't compatible with OSX 10.5 so I have to use iMovie for the first time.
My problem is when I connect everything up, I get a 'communication error'. I can play the VHS and see it playing on the camcorder but it won't play on the import window in iMovie. i have tried importing it anyway and it does capture a couple of seconds and then stops.
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I have the same problem, used the info from the above link....
Live import workaround #2: Put a tape in the camcorder and put it into CAMERA mode. Launch iMovie HD 6.0.2 -- its import mode should show the live feed from the camcorder. Remove the tape -- iMovie HD should continue to show and import live feed from the camcorder. The drawback with this approach is that it produces wear and tear to the camcorder. If you keep the tape in the camcorder, it may also go into standby mode if the tape is paused.....
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I am importing VHS video through my Sony camera (TRV22) to imovie. For some reason it the screen will go blue for a few seconds then the picture will come back. I was doing this on a older power pc mac and imovie would just stop recording. On my new imac it doesn't stop recording but the screen goes blue. Has this happened to anyone else and maybe know what is causing it? Should I try a different way of video transfer with some other software? Thanks for any help you can give me.

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Message was edited by: iOmar

When I connect the camera to the computer it does not automatically open iMovie.
Was actually asking if plugging in the camera, turning it on (in the VTR mode for tape capture), and then opening iMovie '08 automatically recognized the camcorder and opened the "camera import" window. Some have reported this workflow was more successful in ensuring the camcorder was properly recognized.
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http://www.mobilegadgetnews.com/index.php?showtopic=25362

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