Problem importing video from Sony DCR-HC21

When I try to import from the Sony camera into iMovie 6, the screen shows that the camera is connected. Sometimes I get an image on the screen and I can always control the camera via the computer screen. But often when the video is running and the picture can be seen on the camera screen, there is no image (screen stays blue),and the time-counter no longs runs. But I can still always control the camera via on-screen controls. Bizarrely I will sometimes have a running picture on the computer screen and then I will fast forward and when I press play again, no picture. This never happens using iMovie 4 on my ibook using the same cables. any suggestions?

hi Matt again, yes I have tried these different manipulations. The blue screen is not due to the absence of filmed images; the camera is playing back the movie while the blue screen stays up, but as I say, I'm able to control the camera from the computer.
It makes no sense to me. I just had a session where it was working fine...I used fast forward and back and kept on getting an image. Put the computer on sleep and tried again and this time nothing. Pulled out the firewire connection, put it in again, switched off the camera etc. As I say, it works all the time with my ibook and iMovie 4 with the same cables.
Alan

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Importing video from Sony dcr-trv230e

Hi
I have an old Sony HandyCam DCR-TRV230E camcorder, which comes with the ability to play all 8mm formats over firewire. The tapes I am try to import vary from Digital 8 right back to the old 8mm format. I have tried playing all formats with the same result.
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If I got a copy of iMovie 9 would I then be able to import the video?
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I had a Sony TRV230 and it worked well with iMovie, although I had to baby sit it sometimes, because the tracking would go out of alignment and I would have to restart the capture.
In your case, I would suggest that you get a 4 pin to 9 pin firewire cable. The adapters that you mentioned cause lots of trouble. You can find reasonable priced cables at www.monoprice.com, for example.

IMovie '08 crashes when importing movies from SONY DCR-SR52

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For what it's worth, I have been having problems importing video from iPhoto to iDVD in the iLife'08 and also could not select video from iPhoto into iMovie '08 for an iDVD project. Apple technician took all my video clips out of iPhoto and put them on desktop. IDVD '08 is filled with problems, including green screens that replace transitions if using iPhoto photos and video to make slideshows. However, I somehow found in my applications file an "IMovie-previous version"('06) and used it to prepare a slideshow from iPhoto, using video clips from desktop, then "shared" to iDVD '08 tp pick a new theme and it burned perfectly.
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Hi
Sony TRV22E - CAN ONLY export the VIDEO material via a FireWire Cable (iLinc)
Then Your Mac need eiter
- a FireWire port - or -
- a Thunderbolt port
if only Thunderbolt - Then You need a FireWire to Thunderbolt converter.
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I just bought a related Sony camera, the DCR-SR220. I am still trying to figure out the optimal way, but have been able to see it on my imac by
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3) Open up the .mov file in iMovieHD and edit there.
If you know of any better way, please let me know.
Best from Jersey.
Steve

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Problem importing video from a DV camera into the new imovie 10.0? I have a Sony DCR TRV17 connected via Firewire port that worked in 9.0.9 but not under 10.0...

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This is a good thread for this issue. I would first try removing the iMovie.plist as elikness mentions.
1. Open Finder
2. Click on "Go" in the menu bar.
3. Click on Go To Folder on the dropdown menu.
4. Type "~/Library/Preferences/" in the text field and click Go.
5. Find the com.apple.iMovie(some number).plist file and move it to Trash.
Quit and relaunch iMovie to see if this took care of the issue before attempting the next step. If you're still having an issue then you can try what I needed to do which is isolating the problem event.
1. Open Finder.
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If you find the problem event you can reimport the clip from iMovie 9.0.9 by going to File > Import > Movies and navigating to that events iMovie Original Movies folder to find the clip.
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Importing miniDV from Sony DCR-TRV25 to iMovie '11?

Have an old Sony DCR-TRV25 miniDV that I have been struggling to import wedding video. Currently have a MBP (early '08 I believe) with OSX 10.6.8, with iMovie '11 (9.0.4). I'm using the FW, connecting with a 4p to 6p adapter (there looks to be a 9pin port also, but never tried a 4p to 9p adapter). I have yet to get the camera to show up for import when connecting, and have tried other previous searches to "force" the import. I've read that Final Cut Pro X may work, but being only an amateur I'd prefer to not spend that much on software for this older camera (have a newer Sony which works well with iMovie). Anyone have any other suggestions that might work? I'd like to be able to import quality video if possible (also read the quality was poor on some who seemed to get it imported from similar Sony lines before and they reverted to either iMovie HD6 or Final Cut versions).
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Hi
I've read that Final Cut Pro X may work, but being only an amateur I'd prefer to not spend that much on software for this older camera
If it doesn't work with iMovie - then the chance is low that it might work with FinalCut Pro.
See my long 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

Import error from Sony DCR-SR57

I just bought a Sony DCR-SR57, which is a HDD camcorder.
Everytime I want to import a movie into iMovie it has an error, without saying what exactly the error is.
Another way to put the movies on my computer is by using the Sony as an external HDD, but then there's no sound, and also horizontal stripes in movies with a lot of movements.
Does anyone has the same problem?
Does anyone have solutions?
Thanks in advance!

My camcorder is not on the list... Does it mean it isn't supported by iMovie? I hope not, because I paid 400 euros for it! :-S
There's really no bigger discription for the Import Steps. It goes like this:
1. I connect the camera with USB.
2. I open iMovie '09.
3. I see on my desktop a volume appear wich is my camcorder. At the same time Import Window in iMovie '09 opens.
4. I leave all the default settings (automatic) and I hit 'Import all'.
5. I see the window, I click ok.
6. It starts importing (white line which symbolises progress).
7. When the line (and the import) is completed, it is replaced with the message 'Error' indicated in red.
8. A dialog box appears which says: "iMovie can't import the fragment of your camera. Click on 'Archive everything' if you want to put a backup of the files on your hard disk".
9. That's it.
Please note that my iMovie runs in Dutch, so the translations of the text in the dialogue box and stuff might differ from the real English text.

Can't import video from Sony DVR to iMovie 4

Help please. I have been looking through the discussion threads and have found similar problems but haven't found a solution that works for me.
I am connecting a Sony HC32 through iLink (firewire) to import a video into iMovie 4. iMovie recognizes the camera is connected and I can control the camera through the controls within iMovie, but the images never show on the screen. They only show in the view finder of the camera. The sony manual is no use, neither is their site.
The camera is set to USB Stream (as was suggested by the sony manual). the other options are STD-USB and PictBridge. (which also didn't work)
Additional helpful details.
I recorded in SP mode
I have powered off my mac (even unplugging from wall).
I have unplugged the firewire and plugged it back in (both from camera and from mac.)
I have verified the time/date are set on the camera
I have even tried importing both from battery power and from AC adaptor.
does anyone else have this camera? Am I missing a setting on the camera? this is my first video camera. I have a few still cameras and iPhoto is so easy! I figured iMovie would be just as simple.
Thanks for your help.
iMac Mac OS X (10.3.9)
iMac Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Hi Sue,
I don't know exactly what did the trick but here's what I did and it works like a charm. (Just in case someone else runs into the same issue)
I used the Garage Band reset.
Video camera set to USB-PLY/EDT = USB STREAM (the other options are PictBridge and STD-USB and no way to select "null")
Camera in the dock
Firewire directly attached to iMac
Firewire in dock (the only way to plug in)
USB Streaming option on dock set to "Off"
Camera powered by AC adaptor rather than battery.
Open iMovie
Turn on camera.
I don't know if this is the only way it will work because I tried so many things (including turning the dock USB streaming on/off) but this seems to be the ticket for me so I am always going to follow this process.
thanks again for your help and suggestions.
Alicia
iMac Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Can't import videos from sony

I can't import my videos from my sony dcr-hc40e, from iMovie4 I can command the cassette but when I import the videos all I see is a blue screen and on the camera display is written dv-in. I have used the camera other times and made dvd's but now i cannot do this anymore. I tried to find in the camera's settings something, but no success. Could it be my firewire cable? it seems to work only one-way, from my mac to the camera. Help, I have to make this video soon!

try the GaragebandCrazyFix
b) sure, cable/plug could be broken
c) resetting firewire ports (unplug Mac from powerline for 10min)
d) trash com.apple.iMovie.plist ....

Problem importing video from Sony DCR-HC21

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