Isight is interfering with imovie

Using iMovie 6 on a new Mac, whenever a digital movie is connected, iMovie will not recognize the camera. It only seems to want to allow importing from iSight. It seems that iSight is blocking the camera? Is there a way to disable iSight and/or allow the camera to be recognized? Thanks.

Thanks for the reply, Whits
I believe that your clear response will help focus on the fix you need.
Tried today to disable isight...
Get your current problems corrected. You do not need to disable your built-in iSight to allow a camcorder to work with iMovie HD 6.
However, having already disabled iSight, I expect you used some method like the one described here:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20070323094959262
On any OS X Mac, unless you are a Unix expert, be very careful about moving, deleting, or renaming any files or folders outside your ~/Documents/ folder. Don't try any such changes without specific instructions from someone who KNOWS what can be done without causing problems.
Exactly --doesn't show up in camera choices ...
If "camera choices" means your DV camera is not listed at all in the drop-down, the link Sue offers above should help you. Have you considered every suggestion from there that is applicable to your system?
Please let us know how it goes. If you need to post back for more suggestions, it may help if you post the brand and model of your DV camcorder and tell us whether you have any other Firewire or AV devices connected while you are trying to use your camcorder.
We will watch for your status report.
Jim
Mac OS X (10.4.9) G5 DP 1.8 External iSight

Similar Messages

Help! iSight Not Working with iMovie!

I can't seem to use my iSight camera with iMovie. ?? The camera works with PhotoBooth, but with iMovie not even the "Record with iSight" button appears. I'm using iMovie 5 on an IMac G5 with a built-in iSight camera. Any suggestions on getting iSight to record to iMovie??

You're welcome, -John
If you are following the directions in this Apple article
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh2329.html,
your iSight should be working.
If you have added any hardware or software since iMovie worked correctly for you, first rule out any Possible conflicts with your iSight.
If your problem is ONLY with iMovie, try this:
• Quit iMovie if it is open.
• Delete your iMovie preferences file:
Finder > Go > Home > Library > Preferences > com.apple.iMovie.plist
• If they exist, also delete any other "com.apple.iMovie" files that end in ".plist" in this folder, or example, "com.apple.iMovie2.plist" and / or "com.apple.iMovie3.plist".
• Close those folders and launch iMovie again to check for proper functioning.
• When you get iMovie working again after tossing your old .plist files, you will need to reset all preferences that you want to be different from the default values.
If you cannot make your iSight does not work in any app or in any User Account, you will need the help of an Apple Service Provider Technician to repair your iSight.
If only iMovie gives you trouble, even after dumping the iMovie preferences, I suggest you reinstall the iMovie application.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.10) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5) External iSight

Integral iSight not compatible with iMovie

Just found this article in the Apple Knowledge Base. It says that the integral iSight in the new iMac G5 will not work with iMovie. So much for having a $150 iSight camera built into your iMac as it is an iSight in name only, not functionality.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302749

You can capture from the built-in iSight under the following conditions:
1. Plug-in a separate FW deck/cam, and power it up such that it's output is recognized and displayed in iMovie.
2. Power-off the deck/cam, or just unplug it.
Very shortly thereafter, iMovie should display the output from the built-in iSight, and iSight's green activity light should come on.
I found this out just today - quite by chance. Be a little careful, it's a temporary session. As soon as you go to your clips or timeline, the built-in iSight link is gone, until you repeat steps 1 and 2 above again.

Isight wont work with imovie

hi all,
everytime i create a movie magic using my isight,, it always say that "CAnt find A DV Camera" prompt,, though im seeing myself from the screen... how can i make isight work for for imovie 05???
is there a way to change DV camera option to Isight??
thnanks a lot!!

This may help: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/6.0/en/imv1135.html
This may also help: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000

Using external firewire iSight with iMovie 8

I'm trying to use my old external iSight camera that I purchased for my old powerbook with iMovie, but only the internal iSight camera is showing in the drop down menu.
When I plug in my external iSight camera it will make the lens adjusting noise and the light will come up briefly.
Is there any way I can get that external iSight camera to work with iMovie 8?

You're welcome, adamrod
... My computer is not recognizing the external iSight camera ... I know the iSight works because I tested it on my old G4.
If you mean that TODAY your iSight works with one of your Macs but not the other, the problem is in your newer Mac, its Firewire or Firewire port connection, or the cable you are using with it.
A properly working iSight will be recognized as a Firewire device as shown in this image:
If your test with your old G4 was long ago, your iSight may have failed since last you used it. In addition to the Apple iSight troubleshooting link I posted earlier, you can use the additional suggestions in this link to test the current functionality of your external iSight:
http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage4.html
One of those suggestions will get a faulty external iSight working unless it is beyond repair.
The only app I know to try it with would be iChat and I don't even see anywhere in the preferences where you could change it from built-in iSight to external.
The camera choices bar will show ONLY if more than one working, iChat-compatible, camera is connected. If the choice does not show, iChat is not recognizing more than one working camera.
Different apps use different methods of camera selection. In iChat, you can choose which iSight you use in the "Camera:" choices bar in iChat > Preferences... > Audio/Video that appears when more than one (working) compatible camera is connected. Although your camera choices will be different, the choices bar will look something similar to the Preferences settings shown here:
Most other applications also have settings that allow you to choose which camera to use. You already know that iMovie 7's camera choice is NOT set via Preferences. When you have more than one (working) compatible camera connected, iMovie uses the drop-down menu choice in the camera "Preview" window that I mentioned in my previous post to you.
For apps other than those above, see their Help or other documentation if you need help with selecting which camera the app will use.
When I plug the iSight the light comes on briefly, goes off and then it makes an auto adjusting noise.
This is normal behavior for external iSight.
What does your external iSight do when you plug it in?
The same thing you describe for yours.
Does the light stay on constantly?
Only when the iSight is actually in use. Otherwise, the light goes out on an external iSight that is working correctly but in standby mode.
The light should NOT be illuminated when no apps that can use iSight are running. Likewise, the iSight green lamp should extinguish when iSight is not actually being used by an app. Specific examples:
iChat connected but not in chat: *iSight light OFF*
iChat connected and in video chat: *iSight light ON*
iChat > Video > Video Preview w/iSight shutter open: *iSight light ON*
iMovie open but no capture Preview window open: *iSight light OFF*
iMovie Preview window open (whether capturing or not): *iSight light ON*
Because the light is merely an indicator that iSight is in use rather than any kind of functional necessity, whether the iSight light is on or off has never been of any serious concern to me.
Is there any other app I should try it with?
You can use any you like. There are suggestions in the Apple Troubleshooting link listed earlier, and there are more in this list:
http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage7.html
EZ Jim
G5 DP 1.8GHz w/Mac OS X (10.5.8) PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

External isight camera with imovie on maverick?

Can someone please recommend an external iSight (or other) Camera to use which can record video directly into iMove on Maverick?
When trying to import a video, a drop down window shows the built-in iSight camera, as if options could possibly be available. If so, what might they be?
Thanks for any and all help!

You're welcome, Bill.
Bill Cruise wrote: ... camera ... compatible with iMovie ...
Use built-in iSight camera or a tape-based camera or camcorder: iMovie '11: Record video directly into iMovie.
If you have access to an old tape-based mini-DV camcorder with Firewire connection capability, you can use it. For example, my old Sony DCR-TRV17 and DCR-TRV70 camcorders work great with iMovie, both for import and, when connected via Firewire cable, for recording directly into iMovie. Both give better resolution than my old external Firewire iSights, and the camcorders offer the possibility of manual focus and zoom controls when needed.
As an alternative to recording directly into iMovie, record video and save movie files using QuickTimeX and a camera built into your Apple display or Mac, a DV camera connected via FireWire, and some USB webcams. Then Import the movie files into iMovie for editing.
Bill Cruise wrote: ... Apple iSight camera ... is no longer sold or supported by Apple... I may go ahead and buy one...
My external iSights (I have two) are great webcams, but they are getting old as consumer electronics go. Both of mine still work as well as they did when they were new. However, some previously owned or even NOS (new, old stock) iSights may have been damaged by rough treatment or improper storage.
An honest seller may offer you return or exchange privileges. If not, and if you don't want to spend the money to have your external iSight serviced, consider a new, Mac-compatible USB cam instead.
A new cam will include a current manufacturer's warranty, and a USB cam is not subject to the possible conflicts that can cause difficulties with the old Firewire-connected iSights.
Bill Cruise wrote:...Wonder why this info is so far to find? ...
It should not be. Let us know the specifics, and we will try to guide you to any other info you still need.
Bill Cruise wrote: ... better alternatives...using external cameras, and then importing the movie....works, but seems like quite a bit of extra hassle versus direct input to iMovie.
When your Mac recognizes more than one connected compatible camera, the others will also show in your a drop down window that shows the built-in iSight camera.
In fact the best alternative I have found for recording directly into iMovie is to use the built-in iSight camera in my MacBook Pros and my Apple LED Display. The resolution of any of these built-ins is better than the 640x480 of the old external Firewire iSights. The built-ins are also higher resolution than my old Sony camcorders.
As for your "extra hassle" comments, once you try using QuickTimeX and importing into iMovie, I doubt that you will find it a problem unless recording video is your primary use of your Mac. It is very easy to do, and you can use the QuickTime file as a good backup for your original source material that is easy to offload to a different disk for safekeeping.

Built in iSight won't communicate with iMovie

I can't get iMovie to communicate with the built in iSight camera on my Mac Book Pro. The only option showing when clicking on the camera icon is time lapse. Any suggestions?
How do you capture video through QuickTime Pro?

... iMovie ... with the built in iSight camera on my Mac Book Pro ... Any suggestions?
Using iSight with iMovie
How do you capture video through QuickTime Pro?
QuickTime Player 7.0 Help: Recording Audio and VIdeo

New iMac w iSight won't record with iMovie

I got a new iMac G5 w a built in iSight, but I can't record video with the camera. Every time I try to record with iMovie, it doesn't recognize the built in camera and it always comes up as "no camera attached." How do I record video?

This is the same topic as another thread started today. Quicktime Pro does record from the built-in iSight as does EchoFX's USBVision. Several people have submitted to Apple an iMovieHD feature request to enable direct capture from the built-in iSight. Maybe Apple will offer that in a future iMovie update.

ISight with iMovie HD

i posted this and response was to post here: sorry, but trying to figure this out NOW!....on my second eggnog .....thanks!
iSight with iMovie HD
Posted: Dec 20, 2006 1:57 PM
Reply Email
this is my first attempt at using iMovie-and i iSight camera>search: here's what it sez>
You can capture live video with your built-in iSight camera and import it directly into iMovie HD.
To capture live video with a built-in iSight camera:
1. Open iMovie HD by clicking its icon in the Dock (or choosing Applications > iMovie HD).
2. Click the mode switch to set iMovie HD to built-in camera mode.
3. Click the camera icon to the left of the mode switch and choose Built-in iSight from the pop-up menu.
4. Click the “Record With iSight” button in the iMovie monitor to begin recording. The video you see in the iMovie monitor is recorded as a clip in the iMovie Clips pane.
5. Click the “Record With iSight” button again to stop recording.
You can record video as long as your iMac has enough disk space to store it.
well, the first problem is >2. what are my options after clicking Dock icon:
create a New Project (never had one)
Open an existing (again,never had one)
Make a Magic iMovie >>now that's interesting,but what the hey is it? Directions didn't mention this?
what should i do: Magic or New ??
So i'll choose Open New...name it "taDec"
Problems Immediately!!> gotta create and store> oh my...but i get a screen/window named "taDec" > ((frig the spellin' !!))
where's the "mode switch"?>>there isn't a "mode switch"> nor is there in "the menu"...?
there is nothing about "i Sight camera" anywhere....so it can't be chosen....
yeah, i'm still searchin'......trying to make a video of me with a friggin tooth ache trying to use "HELP"!((and this 'Forum'> note this, i'm takin' 6 asperin and a large vodka Egg Nog! > it better get better!!
(this 'Earthmouse' is starting to act weirdlhy too.....(-:
m

Create a New Project (of course you haven't had one it's new!) and choose a location to save it to.
Throw the Mode Switch from the scissors (Edit Mode) towards the left where the picture of camera is (Capture/Import Mode).
(As you can see I don't have an iSight attached)HTH
mrtotes

Using External iSight camera instead of built-in with iMovie

I have a MacBook Pro with built in iSight as well as an external iSight camera. I want to shoot some instructional knitting videos with the external camera, holding it over the shoulder of the knitting instructor while she discusses what she is doing. When I go to iMovie, I only see the option of using my built-in iSight. How can I work around this and use the external camera? Thanks for your help with this!

Judith Augustine1 wrote:
I have a MacBook Pro with built in iSight as well as an external iSight camera. I want to shoot some instructional knitting videos with the external camera, holding it over the shoulder of the knitting instructor while she discusses what she is doing. When I go to iMovie, I only see the option of using my built-in iSight. How can I work around this and use the external camera? Thanks for your help with this!
Welcome to Discussions,
Your external iSight must be connected and turned on before it can work with iMovie.
You can test whether your external iSight is working by using the suggestions here:
http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage4.html
When your external iSight is working, you can select it as explained in this iMovie Help article:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/8.0/en/10172.html
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4) MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
LED Cinema Display G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

ISight with iMovie

I'm trying to use the built-in camera (iSight) with iMovie. I get a message to connect a camera. But I want to use the built-i camera.
I have used it in the past, but then I had to do a re-install and after that I cannot connect to the camera. Can anybody help me, please?

What about re-installing iMovie/iLife again? Please tell me how to do that again...
You may find some instructions in this direct download Leopard Installation and Setup Guide
Or post in the iMovie forums for custom installation instructions.

Built-in iSight Camera with iMovie

Since my upgrade to Mavericks, I've never been able to use the camera from my Macbook in iMovie. Because when I wanna import video (or record), it says "No Device Connected." Is this a problem? Thank you in advance.

You're welcome,bimmerfan
I understand your frustration, but with the software changing and improving so much all the time, such problems are not uncommon. If you have one, in addition to importing video recorded on the camcorder, you can use a Mac-compatible DV camcorder that connects via Firewire as your direct recording source with iMovie HD 5.
Another alternative cheaper than upgrading your iLife would be to record with the latest QuickTime Pro and then import the QT file into iMovie HD 5 for easy editing.
BTW, Thanks for the !
Cheers,
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.2) External iSight

Isight not working with skype and tokbox after snow leopard upgrade

Recently, I upgraded from Tiger to Snow Leopard. After the upgrade, I found that my built-in iSight camera wasn't recognized on TokBox. On Skype, it said that the iSight camera was in use by another application (however no other applications were running). The iSight is working with iChat, so I don't know what is wrong... everything was fine when I was using Tiger!

hellokitty650 wrote:
Okay, so I restarted my computer and that didn't work.
Then, I went through the suggestions from the link you posted. I found that the iSight works in iChat and Photobooth; however, it does not work in iMovie HD (exactly the same in both user accounts on my computer). Just like before, the iSight is "in use by another application" in Skype on both user accounts.
I reset the SMC, but it didn't seem to help anything. Everything was acting the same as before I reset it.
I also noticed that my iTunes and my iMovie won't open; they both quit unexpectedly every time I try to open them. This happens in both user accounts as well.
Okay, so it will be simplest to work your issues in steps. We will start with iMovie.
Use your Mac's Disk Utility to repair permissions. Then reinstall iMovie HD 6. Repair permissions again after the installer finishes.
If the version of iMovie HD 6 in your iLife '06 DVD is not "6.0.3", download and install the update:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL319
If you need to do this update, repair permissions again after the update is finished.
Test the reinstalled iMovie HD 6 to see if it works in more than one user account and post back the results.
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4) MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
LED Cinema Display G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

ISight not Working with Messages/Facetime

I have a MacBook Pro 13 inch mid 2009 that I connect to a 22" cinema display (very old but still works beautifully) and I have an older cylindrical iSight camera mounted to the top of the cinema display (laptop is closed and cinema display is only monitor in use). It has always worked fine. I connect the iSight to a firewire hard drive and the hard drive to the fire wire port on the MacBook Pro. Today I am still able to get the isight to work in iMovie. So the camera works, the wiring works.
However, recently I haven't been able to get facetime or skype to recognize the iSight camera. Why is that? How can I facetime with my camera? I don't want to open up my laptop everytime my wife calls.
I have MacOS 10.10.2.

Skype seems to work with the iSight now but messages/facetime still does not. I get a message saying "another application is using your camera." No other application that uses the camera is open. I don't know why the first post appended that I have 10.9.4. I have 10.10.2.

Using MTS files with iMovie

I'm having a real nightmare working with .mts video files. I'm not sure if this is the best forum to discuss, but I'm willing to try anything at this point.
I have a Canon Vixia HFR20 camera that saves in .mts format, and I'm trying to find a good way to edit/convert those videos with iMove '11 to be posted on a website and burned to DVD. Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to go about this? I have found a few free converter programs like WinX, but the results always look kind of crappy - lots of jagged edges and what not. My other main problem is that the .mts files appear to split after they reach a size of 2.05 GB so even though I'm only shooting one continuous video, I end up with 2 or more files. If there's a way to import the seperate files as one continuous video that would be fantastic.
I've recently tried using the "import from camera" feature in iMovie instead of copying the files from the SD card to my computer, but I could not get iMovie to see a camera other than the built in iSight. Is there a possibility this "import from camera" might be the best solution and I just haven't got it yet?
I feel like I'm forgetting some important information because I'm kind of flustered so don't hesitate to ask. I'd appreciate any guidance.

The format iMovie uses when you edit video after it's imported is Apple Intermediate Codec, it will have the file ending .mov but internally it's set so the Mac can edit individual frames easier and play them back easier at full speed. If you have the option of saving to QuickTime .mov see if there is a pulldown list of all the different "codecs", that's the style or flavor of compression applied to the video frames. If Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) appears on that pull-down list choose that as your codec when you save to .mov.

Isight is interfering with imovie

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