Importing from USB camcorder?

Hi
I've got a new Sony hard disk camcorder, which has USB output, but iMovie seems unable to import or even recognise the camera. It seems odd that USB input isn't supported. Do any of you think this is something coming up in future releases? Or is it already possible? This is from the iMovie page:
"And those of you using an MPEG-4 video cam can place the flash cards on which it records video into a USB 2.0 or FireWire card reader to import your video into iMovie."
Hmm...
Mark

It seems odd that USB input isn't supported.
Why is it odd? iMovie has only supported Firewire since day 1. And Apple makes no secret about it.
Now, in recent years, there has been support for SOME cameras that record MPEG-4 on flash cards. Don't hold your breath for HDD support. HDD cameras record in MPEG-2 (usually). MPEG-2 is a pure delivery format, not editing format.
Also, anything but miniDV tape is highly compressed, so you will never see the same quality as from a miniDV camera.
I suggest you return the camera and get a compatible one.
If not, you got to have lots of spare time and the right software to get the video in:
http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/%7Eshmhav/SVCDon_a_Macintosh.html#edit_convertMPEG

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Importing from my camcorder using USB port

How do I import using a camcorder with a USB connection not a firewire. I cannot seem to work this out. Help!

iDvd'08 will operate perfectly via a Firewire connection (which is the preferred approach for most macs) if for example you wish make a One Step DVD or a Magic DVD. There's a significant difference between these two processes which I won't go into here unless requested to do so.
But if you wish to import video using a USB2 cable, then you have to back up one step to iMovie'08 and here's how you'd perform such a task:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/7.0/en/10331.html
In other words USB2 camcorder connectivity is added to the video editing app of iLife'08 and that's where one should start the video editing process. Look into camcorder support for i-apps here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/movies/#tutorial=camcorder
iDvd on the other hand has always been an authoring tool for DVD's mainly.
Hope this solves your question but if not, just come on back. Good luck!

Importing from a camcorder that writes to DVDs

Hello,
I'm trying to import from a Sony Handycam that writes to DVD and not mini DV tapes. Plus I only have a USB cable to connect to my computer. Is there any way to make this work without mini DV tapes or firewire??
Thanks
BJ74

Hi
Does Your Camera have FireWire out then this is the easiest way - but if it works with a DVD Camera
is another thing. Doubting.
A. don't put a mini DVD into Your iMac or iBook or PowerBook. You need a trayloaded DVD to do this.
B. Read what Karsten collected:
DVD back to iMovie:
.. and here the complete 'full 9 yards' ... :
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3822853&#3822853
DVDs are in a socalled delivery format (mpeg2), which isn't meant and
made for any processing as editing... or, as honorable forum member
QuicktimeKirk stated: I use the analogy of the old Polaroid
"instant" cameras. Push the button, wait for the print to develop and
show it off. ..
for using the iLife apps, you have to convert'em first, in
recommended order, choose one of the following tools/workarounds:
• DVDxDV (free trial, 25$, Pro: 90$)
• Apple mpeg2 plugin (19$) + Streamclip (free)
• VisualHub (23.32$)
• Cinematize >60$
• Mpeg2Works >25$ + Apple plug-in
• Toast 6/7/8 allows converting to dv/insert dvd, hit apple-k
• connect a miniDV Camcorder with analogue input to a DVD-player and transfer disk to tape/use as converter
• Drop2DV (free) a free tool claiming to convert DVDs into dv-stream...
• Use iSquint for your conversions : www.iSquint.org
from: Bobby Keene
none of these apps override copyprotection mechanisms as on commercial dvds...
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6018.shtml
be nice to copy rights ^-^
... and, next time, try the forum's search-feature...
from Beverly M.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42724
Yours Bengt W

Can't import from my camcorder into iMovie

I have a SonyHDR-XR150E camcorder but imovie will not import video when I've connected it to the computer.

One thing to double-check when you connect the camera to the Macintosh is to always strictly follow these best practices.
Get the power adapter for the camera, plug it into the Mains, plug the camera into the adapter
Reboot the Macintosh
Power on the camera, place it into Playback/VCR mode
Connect the camera to the Mac using the USB cable supplied by Sony
Launch iMovie
Go File Menu > Import from Camera and see if it recognizes the camera
These aren't hard and fast rules, but a way to help troubleshoot where in the chain of events things may be going wrong.

Error corrected import from USB drive fails

When I try to import CD tracks using an external USB CD/DVD drive, it fails if I have error correction turned on.

As it says in the flyer that comes with the program, you do not capture video from a DVD. You rip it from disc.
Place the finalized DVD in your computer's DVD player and then use Premiere Elements' Get Media/From DVD Camcorder or DVD Drive to open the Video Importer. Locate the DVD drive and rip the files to your computer and into your project. (Of course you'll need to ensure your project is set up for Hard Disk Camcorder/720x480 before you begin or you'll have problems with your project later.)
I detail, step by step, how to do all this in my books, if you're interested.
http://Muvipix.com/pe10.php
You can also see the basics in parts 1 and 2 of my free 8 part Basic Training tutorials at Premiere Elements support site Muvipix.com.
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/537685

Import from sony camcorder

hi, i have a sony HD camcorder (HDR-350E) which isn't supported by FCE, but is by iMovie. So I imported my clips using iMovie, then dragged the files onto the project browser window in FCE. Is that the best way to import from iMovie? Or should I be doing it in some other way?
Thanks

Hi(Bonjour)!
http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/tutorials/importing-from-imovie.html#import ing-from-imovie
Michel Boissonneault

No picture appears in window when importing from HD camcorder.

I've used iMovie 8 several times, importing from the same camera and for some reason now, when I'm trying to import, the video picture is not showing in the import screen - only on the camera. I've checked all connections and settings, and still no picture. I can click "import" and camera will start playing, but clearly no video is being imported because if I stop and click "done", there is nothing in my Event Library. Suggestions??

Same problem with Sony camcorder. All the forums say it is an issue with 9.0.6 and to downgrade to 9.0.4. Trouble is I have no disk and new iMac. Shipped with 9.0.6 so can't use time capsule. Called apple and they told me to download the drivers, this was not sucessful. Any one got a copy of 9.0.4?

HT3775 How do I obtain audio on mpg files imported from my camcorder to iMovie'11 version 9.0.6?

I've previously been able to import from my Sony camcorder with no audio issues (as recently as June), but for some reason my last import is mute. Playing from the camera the audio is clear but when imported into iMovie all the footage is there, just no audio.
Thanks for your help.

Hey Yvo1.
You'll get a better response to your question if you go to the iMovie Discussions. Most people who come here don't work with iMovie all that much.
Good luck.
Russ

Need help importing from HD camcorder

Hey,
So i just purchased a new canon vixia hf10 HD camcorder. when i create a new project and attempt to import files into the computer, it tells me there's something wrong (i think it said something about firewire, which doesnt make sense cuz it's importing through USB). anyway i'm starting to think that the format that the camera is trying to import will not be accepted by my mac. It came with a windows program called pixela imagemixer which wont help me much because it's not mac-compatible and plus i'm hoping to use Imovie to edit my movies. any ideas on how i can solve the problem?

If you are using iMovie 5 (which is the forum you are in) your camera is incompatible, as it is not producing a DV stream nor connected by firewire.
As you are on Leopard, try upgrading to iMovie 8, which should work with your camera as well as with USB.

Sound missing on some files after import from DV camcorder

Hi everyone,
As a new user to Macs grateful if you can help.
When importing to imovie 08 from a DV tape, some clips go fine, others are then missing the audio. Also some clips have audio and playback OK initially, then have audio missing after closing and re-opening imovie. Is this a bug? What should I do? Many thanks

Hi,
I had a simular problem. To solve it I went about 5 seconds into the footage and started importing from that point, not the start of the tape.
What caused the prob? My only guess is the tape I was using was fairly used and right at the start of my tape I had some old footage for less than a second. When the new footage kicked in the sound went.
Hope this helps.

How to stop importing from usb drive going into root ITMS directory

First time I imported, everything was fine. I was trying to get rid of some duplicates and got rid of one of the main subdirectories (I had "Itunes Music" folder with two main subdirectories, let's call them "Laptop" and "Desktop." I noticed I had many duplicate artists from these, so I deleted the "Laptop" directory. Naturally, all these showed up with asterisks on iTunes. With no easy way to delete them all (can't sort based on asterisk, apparently), I removed EVERYTHING from my Library and attempted to copy over from the USB drive again. This time, the contents of "Laptop" went into the root "iTunes Music" folder (so there were now ~50+ folders including the "Desktop."
This isn't working for me, since my objective is to get rid of the duplicate work (duplicate tracks I can somewhat stomach, but I also have some duplicate "Artists" which is driving me crazy). I removed everything from the library, deleting it all (~30+GB) and deleted all of the subdirectories from the iTunes Music folder.
When I went to reimport it all again. I dragged the "Laptop" folder from Finder on the USB drive into the iTunes Music directory again (as I did the first time), recreated the and everything continues to populate the top iTunes music folder. Is there any way to stop this? I want the "Laptop" folder to stay in it's subdirectory structure distinct and separate from the "Desktop" folder so I can ensure I am not unnecessarily increasing my structure.
One easy (though extremely tedious) alternative could be to import the folders one at a time... but I'd really like to avoid that. But for my first mistake, this wouldn't have been an issue. I haven't changed any settings on iTunes, so please advise!

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Now I'm trying to consolidate it all on my new MBP... Mostly, though, it's a mess and I've been putting this off for years and it's mostly my fault. My biggest gripe is the large number of duplicate tracks. I can live with these when they're from different albums (compilations mostly), but not when one is a lower bit. I imagine I'm gonna be doing it the hard way, one album/artist at a time...

Video import from PAL camcorder

I have just bought a Canopus ADVC110 which converts analog video to digital and have it hooked into my Powerbook Pro via a firewire lead.
I have my analog PAL camcorder tied into the canopus and am attempting to import some PAL video but not getting very far.
I fire up iMovie and it does indeed detect the camera but when I create a new project it appears as DV-NTSC and not DV-PAL. I have changed the 'New Project frame rate' preference from 29.97 to 25 but still no good. When I click on Import I get the video/audio but the video is VERY jumpy and in black and white and the audio is totally garbled. As the video is PAL and the project says DV-NTSC this might be the issue? I would have thought that the Canopus would remove any PAL/NTSC issues as it is being converted to digital anyway? I don't know how to change the new project from DV-NTSC to DV-PAL, again I thought switching frame rate to 25 would have done this?
So, can anyone help me get a smooth video import onto the Apple? I dont care what resulting file format is as long as I can import and play it. I don't mind buying a different video application if necessary and do have Toast Titanium if that helps.
Many thanks,

It sounds like you may not have set the dip switches of the Canopus correctly to PAL.
See page 16 of instruction manual for the canopus ADVC110!
(I use the same one)

How to import from AVCHD camcorder ?

Hi there,
I wanna import video clips from my AVCHD camera, where is the log & transfer for FCPX ?
Thanks

No, don't waste money on FW HDs, get USB 2.0s for half the price.
This model (Western Digital) is extremely good and very cheap.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Elements-External-Desktop/dp/B003IPC21Y/ ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1316894090&sr=8-7
2TB for £74 though mine only cost £69 so shop around.
It's extremely fast and completely silent.
Much better than my 3 Omega's or my 2 LaCie (FW800) and perfect for video.

Using old version iMovie and import from new camcorder

I got a new camcorder which won't let me import to the old version 4.0.1 Does anyone have any idea how to move the clips to the old version from the 7.1.4 version which is sooo infuriating. The old one was soooo simple to use as I don't need 90% of the NEWER features. I also miss being able to turn one frame into a photo.

I got a new camcorder which won't let me import to the old version 4.0.1
As an iLife '08 owner you are also entitled to a free download of iMovie HD v6.0.4 if you want it.
Does anyone have any idea how to move the clips to the old version from the 7.1.4 version which is sooo infuriating.
You can open the named_Event folder containing the iMovie '08 imported clips and "drag 'n drop" them to an open previous version of iMovie or you can open the previous version of iMovie, select the "Import" option, navigate to the named_Event folder, select the file(s) you want, and import it/them to the older application.
I also miss being able to turn one frame into a photo.
JPEG images are automatically created in the named_Project folder any time a single frame is selected/added to an iMovie '08 project. They can also be created by QT Pro ($30) or MPEG Streamclip (free) directly from a source video clip.

When importing from a camcorder getting pixelised footage and crackly sound

Hi,
Hope you can help. I have recently installed a new program which may have affected iMovie. I dont know this for sure, but iMovie was working recently and now its not importing properly. When I click on Import is makes a high pitch crackly sound and the images are coming up all pixelised and then it comes up with the timer and freezes until I press stop on the camcorder. Is there anything I can do to get iMovie up and running again? Many thanks in advance!
Graham
mac pro Mac OS X (10.4.8)

NOW you tell me. ;-)
Prevent Mac Disasters
Eight Simple Steps You Can Take Now to Keep Your Mac from Falling Apart
http://www.macworld.com/2005/01/features/preventmacdisasters/index.php
(Article is in 3 parts, don't miss parts 2 and 3)

Importing from USB camcorder?

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