Most compatable video camera with iMovie 09 ?

Question

Please help !
I love iMovie but was very disappointed using it with my Sony Handycam - apparently they did not speak to each other !! I used Steve Mullen's book and still didn't have any luck so I sold my camera ! Now I am hoping that Santa will bring me a new video camera and I need to tell him which is the best one for my needs. The JVC GZ-HD300 has been suggested and I have checked the compatibility on the Apple register and cannot even see it listed. I would like some true advice from real people please - any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My main requirements in purchasing camera are recording in HD, HDD storage and memory card back up. Thanks

Answer 1

You have euro camcorders I don't know. Assuming the sr8 is our sr7 -- I havent heard anything bad. But, if you shoot where there is loud sounds the issues are:
1) is the mic itself overloaded?
2) does the mic overload the camcorder circuit before the gain control?
3) if the answers are NO, then IF one could adjust camcorder gain -- then that is the solution. But, if the either 1 or 2 is true, then being able to adjust gain will not help.
Seems like the Sony suffers from 1 or 2 because if it didn't you would have already adjusted the Sony gain -- or the Sony has no gain control.
If you want to keep using the Sony you might try an external mic.
Mic output levels typically range from –40dB to -60dBu. (Bigger negative values are softer than smaller negative values.) You want a mic with less output than the built-in Sony mic. But, since you don't have its spec., it's hard to shop for a different one.
That leaves trial and error, or trying out different camcorders. Since you know at least one Canon camcorder works, I would start with Canon. I'd look for one with an external mic input AND an adjustable level. If not a level control -- a menu item to switch in "attenuation."
PS1: check if your Sony has a menu item to switch in "attenuation."
PS2: This is a wonderful example of how in 90% of the talk about camcorders, audio is never mentioned. Yet, if you talk with pros they spend more $ on mics -- often buying several -- than they do on their camcorder. In the situations you shoot at -- audio is more of a worry than video. You are recording VERY loud sounds that can overload anything but a really good mic. (Or, if the mic works -- it may out out a bigger signal than a camcorder can accept.) Which makes me wonder about buying a mic mixer and some good mics rather than a new camcorder. This would be a one time investment. In fact, you could also buy one of these stereo mic-mixer-digital recorders. Record to SD card AND pass a signal to one camcorder. It also opens the door to recording bands. Just a passing thought.