Sony HDR-HC1 import fix

I have a G5 tower (dual 2ghz) and had difficulty importing to iMovie 6 from my Sony HDR-HC1. Like many folks have identified in other posts, I could get iMovie to recogognize the camera and operate the transport but could not import any video or audio (click on import button and still got the same blue screen with no video/audio imported). I tried the G5 front firewire connector and the back firewire connectors... same thing. I tried connecting to a hub connected to the back firewire connector... no luck, same thing. I solved the problem by connecting via an external firewire drive (other folks have also identified this as a fix, but it's deep in the post). The drive is connected directly to a back firewire connector. I then connected the camera to the other FW port on the drive, turned on the drive, and everything worked just fine. No problem importing. I spent hours working on this and can't believe this is the fix...... but it works everytime. If Apple is watching this board, there has to be some FW glitch in the tower G5's. I hope this post can save someone some time. Th FW external drive enclosure I am using is just a "metal gear box" from Meritline. I suspect this will also help out HDR-HC3 camera users also.

Thanks ..and welcome to iMovie Discussions.
This may not work for Canon camcorders - which like to have the FireWire circuit to themselves, and dislike having a FireWire drive connected - but it works with my HC-1.

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Can't import HDV 720p from my Sony HDR HC1 camcorder to my FCP 5.0.1 help

I have footage that was shot on a contractors JVC HDV camera at 720p. I play it in my Sony HDR HC1 and i can view it and it plays awesome. It even recognizes its 720p. But i try to import it into Final Cut Pro on my IMac G5 or powerbook G4 17inch and it can play the camera but not capture footage. I have FCP version 5.0.1 How can i get this video into my editing software ive tried it on imovie as well and cant import video but i can control the camera. Please help.
Do i need to buy the updated FCP i noticed doing some research there is a FCP 5.1 now that i heard nothing about?
Thanks for the help in advance.
powerbook g4 17inch, powerbook G4 12inch, imac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Get a hold of the JVC camera the footage was shot with. When FCP 5.1.2 is released (this month), you'll actually be able to capture the footage directly... problem is that the JVC recording is short GOP, and FCP currently only supports LONG GOP... You will need to upgrade to capture the footage directly, or buy this: http://www.lumierehd.com But in any event, you'll need the JVC camera to capture it's recordings, now or in the future.
JVC's iteration of HDV isn't the same as Sony's... that's the problem. PLUS FCP doesn't support any recordings of the JVC format except 1080i60 as of now. 5.1.2 will change that I believe. IBC was where this new update was announced I think, and you'll need to "cross grade" your FCP 5.0.x version to FCP 5.1. to get this update down the line... Yeah, I don't like the situation either, but there it is... Canon's HDV and JVC's HDV are very similar FWIW...
Jerry

IMovie HD won't import from Sony HDR-HC1

iMovie HD 5.0.2 (111) on my G5 desktop controls, but won't import from, my new little Sony HDR-HC1 1080i DV camcorder. Same was the case with my 12" 1 GHz PowerBook until, at the advice of a Manhattan Beach Genius Bar tech, I did an archive reinstall of 10.4 and a reinstall of iMovie HD on both my G5 PowerMac and G4 PowerBook and then downloaded all the updates. Now my PowerBook works, but my PowerMac still won't import. On an empty second HD in my PowerMac I installed OS 10.4 and iMovie HD ONLY (to create as sterile as possible of an environment), made the 2nd HD my startup drive, and still iMovie HD on my PowerMac will not import from this camera (although it will from an older Sony VX-1000 regular def camcorder).
Does anybody have any solutions, or any idea why iMovie HD now imports on my PowerBook but after the same makeover still won't on my PowerMac?
Per earlier posts, I tried playing some piano notes in Garage Band, trashing the iMovie preference files, and reinstalling QuickTime (the tech had heard QT 7.0.3 could be at fault from becoming corrupted in certain updating combinations), all to no avail.
HELP!
PowerMac G5 2 x 2.67 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I have had import/capture problems using FW drives with FCE/iMovie5 and my 2gig iMac. My canon GL2 works fine but only when no other FW devices are connected to the FW port I use the computers internal drive to capture. If your using the G5's internal SATA drives this (below) may not apply.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=277702&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=277704&tstart=0
Some G5 users have had to purchase a FW PCI card or have the G5 front FW port replaced. Check this link.
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G5/G5usb_firewirereports.html
Cheers!
Steve

Sony HDR-HC1 with iMovie HD 6 experience

Well, I took the plunge and picked up a Sony HDR-HC1
HD camcorder. I took it for its first drive. The video
is awesome but iMovie HD 6 has some quirks.
I imported the video into the computer. It imports
at 1/2 real time. I learned later that this is a
function of my computer speed. The camera was actually
playing at normal speed; the computer was processing
at 1/2 that rate.
When I attempted to play the movie, iMovie hung on
me. In hindsight, it appears that there was some
corrupted data at the very beginning of the tape.
I waited and waited while my CPU was pegged at 100%
not knowing if this was normal processing or what.
I had to kill the application to get out of this hang.
It took a number of hangs/kills before I got out of
this loop.
In iMovie, the colors came and went. Sometimes the
color was perfect; other times it was a tint of
psychedelic purple/green. I don't know what the
heck was going on. It seems good now after I
created a new project.
The 16:9 movie was being displayed as 4:3.
Everything looked narrow. I created a new project
and this problem went away.
When I tried to use an external Firewire drive for
the project, it said "no camera connected."
Apparently, you can't connect to the camera
(with Firewire) when a Firewire drive is in use.
This is something else I learned the hard way.

"..When I tried to use an external Firewire drive for the project, it said "no camera connected.."
This may depend on (a) the make and model of external drive, (b) which socket on the drive you connect the camera to ..assuming there are at least two FireWire sockets on the drive.
You might also try using a FireWire hub (..some work, and some don't, but the Belkin and Dino hubs work for me and my G4 PowerBook..) to connect both devices to your Mac.
Here's another surprise waiting for you, if you haven't yet tried doing it (..we-ell; it's no longer a surprise, as I'm describing it here!..) ..when you come to export HDV back to the camera, you may find that it takes far longer than importing. The last-but-one issue of the UK's "MacUser" magazine suggests that it may take 10x real time to export HDV back to the camcorder. I sent 24 seconds' worth back to the camera yesterday, and that took about 8 minutes; seven or eight seconds for every 12 frames.
iMovie has to re-encode into MPEG-2 HDV from the DV/QuickTime footage within iMovie, and that can take a -l-o-n-g- time before it switches the camera to 'Record' and actually starts sending video down the FireWire cable into the HC1.
..I just thought you ought to know, and be prepared for the wait!

Print to video - HDV 1080i60 to Sony HDR-HC1 camera

Like many before, am struggling with print to video of HDV material captured as HDV 1080i60 to a Sony HDR-HC1 camera. Just can't figure out what settings to use, only get the darn blue screen. Have tried several settings, but no success. Does anyone know the trick? Thanks!

Tim Kuhlman-
Have you tested the camera with non-HDV just to make sure the camera works?
Luck-
-DaddyPaycheck

I Can´t get my macbook pro to recognize my Sony HDR-HC1 Camera

This is my first Mac computer in life and I´m trying to connect my sony Hdr-Hc1 camera through the firewire 800 port but there is no sign of recognition of the device on the system or on final cut or imovie.
I´ve seen a lot of topics on the matter but mostly for other model of computers, as I´ve come to notice there seems to be a solution for the matter but I haven´t been able to reach it.
Has anyone experienced this specific problem?

Plenty of discussion here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=303903

HDR-HC1 - import as DV from HDV footage

The HDR-HC1 is able to export HDV footage as DV through in-camera conversion. However, when I try to import as DV into iMovie I get no image.
Can anyone else get the HDR-HC1 and iMovie to import HDV footage as DV??? If so can they please post the magic setting you need to use in the camera and the sequence of steps to setup a new iMovie project so that it can accept the DV stream?

It's slightly tricky to solve, but with a bit of logical thought it can be done (..I've just tested it for you ..but I'm sure you would have found the answer with some persistence..)
Firstly, of course, set the camcorder (..in the 'Standard Set' menu..) to "i.Link Conv - ON (HDV>DV)" ..so that it converts HDV to DV as the video finds its way out down the FireWire cable.
Then create a New Project in iMovie 5.0.2 (..that's what I'm using for this test..) as 'DV Widescreen' ..because that's the 16:9 shape of the original HDV.
When you connect your camcorder, iMovie will show that it's incompatible with the project! ..Why? ..Because the camcorder's own screen is showing "HDV1080i" in the top-left corner, because that's the original tape format which it's playing. (Make sure, by the way, that the 'Standard Set' menu is also set to "Auto" in "VCR HDV/DV", so that the camcorder isn't forced into HDV playback, but just plays whatever format is on the tape.) Make sure that the camera is NOT connected to iMovie - yet!
Now scroll down the camera's menu to "TV TYPE" and choose "4:3". [..I found that if I was set to the - obvious - 16:9 (i.e; widescreen) the next step gave a squeezed playback in iMovie..]
Start playing your movie on the camcorder, and - while it's playing - with iMovie onscreen, plug in your FireWire cable. Wait. The project should be fooled into thinking there's simply a camera - e.g; an iSight - connected, and will display your video onscreen, and instead of an 'Import' button onscreen, it should show a button marked 'Capture from camera' or similar wording. Click that button, and it'll import.
Don't be dismayed if the footage appears to be squashed in the 'thumbnail' picture in the right-hand clips pane of iMovie. When necessary, click on the 'Capture' button again to stop importing, stop the tape by touching the HC1's screen, and wind forwards or backwards to the next clip you want to capture, then touch 'Play' on the HC1 screen, and click 'Capture' again on the iMovie screen.
The second or third thumbnail clip should display in proper widescreen shape in the right-hand clips pane. Don't stop till you've finished all* your capturing/importing, though you may click Apple+S to Save your project from time to time.
When you Save, or finally Quit after importing all the footage you want, and you then then restart iMovie, any squeezed thumbnails should expand to be their proper shape in the clips pane. You can then play and edit clips as normal ..though they may at first 'overflow' the normal iMovie playback window, and temporarily obscure the Timeline counter.
I mentioned, above*, to keep going till you've captured all your clips, as you probably won't find it possible to import more clips this way once you've Quit from that project ..because once iMovie has labelled the project as "iSight" (..because you've fooled it!..) it will say that you're using an incompatible camera when it next detects your HC1 camcorder.
So you have to fool it, and then - during that period of importing - import all the footage you want.
That's what's just worked for me, anyway.
In summary; there's a bug: even though you set the camcorder to convert the HDV footage to DV, nevertheless, iMovie 5 seems to read the original format of the tape (..what appears on your HC1's playback screen..) and thus believes that what you're sending it is not DV but is HDV. I don't know if the bug is in iMovie (..a possible failure to read the format that's coming down the FireWire cable..) or is Sony's fault (..possible failure to deliver the correct info from the camcorder). So don't necessarily blame Apple without knowing the reason for this camera-to-program communication error.
You may try sending a bug report to Apple - via iMovie Feedback - but Apple's already on iMovie HD version 6, so little may be done to adjust iMovie HD 5 now.
iMovie HD 6.0.1 has a very similar bug (..not absolutely identical, as it may display 'HD' just below the Timeline - having detected it - but may accept that the camera is set to 'DV'..) and so a bug report to Apple, just describing your versions as plain "iMovie HD", may produce an improved version 6.0.2, but I've no idea if they'll update version 5 to remove this apparent inability of iMovie to recognise that the camcorder has been set to deliver DV from the original HDV footage.
So experiment at 'fooling' iMovie HD 5. I managed to do it ..but "your mileage may vary"..

Sony HDR-FX7 import problem

I just got a new Sony HDR-FX7 and when I tyy to import it tells me there is no camera attached. I have been on the phone with Sony for over two hours and they have no idea. I have tried in FCP and imovie with no luck in either program. Everything works fine with my other cameras and other devices. Anybody have this problem or any suggestions on what to do.
Thanks

Hey Photos341,
I am having problems with FX7. I got it a few days ago and I can't capture footage from the tape. I'm able to see the tape BUT I can't capture in HD. Here is my thread, I have not received any solid advice from anyone as to how to solve this. I was at the apple store today and was told that sony was not quite compatable with FCP, but there is a work around and some sort of plug-in is required to get it going.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=4655824#4655824

HDR-HC1 vs. HDR-HC1E

I am about to buy the latest version of Final Cut Studio, but before I do, I wanted to make sure it supported importing from my Sony HDR-HC1 camera. When I look at the list, it specifies the Sony HDR-HC1E camera.
I am assuming that they are basically the same camera, and that it will still work just fine with FCP. HOWEVER, before I shell out the $1,300 to buy the suite, I wanted to make sure.
Can someone verify that my Sony HDR-HC1 (not E) will work with Final Cut Pro 5.1?
Many Thanks!
MacBook Pro (Core Cuo 2.0 GHz) Mac OS X (10.4.5)

I to have a US spec HDR-HC1 and it works perfectly with iMovie 6, FCE HD, & my older FCP 4.5 HD.
Awaiting my Universal Final Cut Studio but do not anticipate any problems.
I was bouncing between the Sony HC3 (just started shipping this week) or the HC1, but I am VERY glad I went with the HC1. It is a jr professional or pro-sumer cam. Enjoy.
BTW, the Sony forums are here:
http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/

BEST WORKFLOW To shoot in HDV mode or DV from HDR-HC1

For a final DV project burn on a DVD, what will be the best workflow using FCP to get the BEST quality when I will put my DVD in my DVD player, sit and enjoy the work from the filming to the burning process. I bought the Sony HDR-HC1 and I've play with FCP and iDVD a few times.
-Should I run the camera in DV mode ?
-Will I get a better image quality filming in HDV and converting in DV ?
-What will best the way to export the projet to get full quality ?
-I'm expecting to use iDVD, will i get a better quality using DVD PRO STUDIO ?
- What are the best setting using iDVD to get the BEST ?
Merci,
Jean

Jean:
why not spend the time and try it on a 10 minute sequence both ways.
What I or others think looks "best" is pretty subjective.
I do both with a Sony Z1U. Sometimes downconverting HDV looks best; other times shooting in DV looks best.
As to DVD authoring. . . iDVD is a consumer application with virtually no controls.
It also only provides uncompressed audio.
DVD SP is a professional environment with flexibility and capability a free consumer app can't equal.
Sometimes everybody's opinion is just that.
Your opinion by experimenting is what counts.

I have a sony handy cam model HDR-HC1 and a mac pro running osx10.9.3, are they compatible? as far as downloading movies from my handy cam. thanks in advance

i have a sony handy cam model HDR-HC1 and a mac pro running osx10.9.3, are they compatible? as far as downloading movies from my handy cam. thanks in advance. If not, is there a different route i can take to get those recordings in to my mac pro?

See if the cam shows up under Devices in the Image Capture app.
Image Capture is located in your Applications folder.
Launch Image Capture then connect the camera.
The camera should show up under Devices top left side of the Image Capture window.
Now look at the bottom left side of the window. Click the: Connecting this (device) opens: pop up menu and select an application to import your photos.
You can also select a folder to import photos from the Import To: pop up menu.
Selet the photos you want to import then click Import or Import All on the right.

Importing HD from a Sony HDR-CX7

Apologies for this crazy question, but the last time I was using iMovie was over a year ago (version 08). There were two problems with importing HD footage from my Sony HDR-CX7: (1) iMovie didn't correctly compress it, and the file size(s) ended up being huge; (2) iMovie didn't handle the 5-channel audio correctly and I ended up with only 1 channel (iMovie 08 wouldn't mix down 5-channel to stereo correctly (on the fly)).
The way I dealt with the first problem was to spend thousands of dollars on external drives for storage of the files.
The way I dealt with the second problem was this: for every single clip I downloaded from my camera, I had to: export it to Quicktime, delete the clip in iMovie, fix the sound in Quicktime, re-import it back into iMovie.
Does anyone know if this stuff has been fixed?
Thanks for any info!

Damon Curtis wrote:
Does anyone know if I can get the video off the card and into something like Quicktime without using iMovie?
I assume you are using AVCHD video... I have never used this format before, but I bet you could mount the disk on your computer and open the video files in something like MPEG Streamclip (free). You can then export it from that program how you wish. (Although exporting to Apple Intermediate Codec would probably be the fastest option for HD.)
Damon Curtis wrote:
Out of the box Iomega 1TB drive, I don't know how it is formatted. Just plugged it in an started using it.
You can mount the disk on your computer, then open Disk Utility. If you select the disk partition (partitions are indented), the disk format is on the bottom of the window along with other information.

IMovie '09 Won't Import HD Content from Sony HDR-SR11 Camcorder

Hi,
iMovie stopped importing HD content from Sony HDR-SR11 camcorder. It only recognizes the standard definition content in the preview thumbnails. Previously this used to work with both a FireWire cable and a Mini USB. All of a sudden it doesn't import HD clips. There's no plugin failure either, because I reinstalled iMovie '09.
System Specifications:
Intel iMac 20" (Late 2008)
Intel Core 2 Duo@ 2.4 GHz.
4 GB RAM
Snow Leopard (10.6.4)
Thanks!

With this camera you must erase the SD clips from the camera before you can import the HD clips.
[See this article|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1793]

Importing footage from sony HDR-SR12 to External for later use in imovie?

Hi all, I have a question, I would like to save my movie footage which is on my sony HDR-SR12 to a external drive(G Raid1TB) so I can view and also import clips to imovie for making movie's later. I have partitioned the Ext HD 150gb for photos and 781gb for movie footage. Just out of curiosity I mounted my camera and pressed get info and the format on the sony camera is MS-Dos(fat32) does this matter at all? Also which is the best way or how do I import the footage from sony hdr-sr12 to the external Hd. I have never done this before so your help would be greatly appreciated, I don't want to mess up.
Thank You
Jess

I should have mentioned, it is a good idea to make an archive copy of your AVCHD footage before importing. You should be able to do this from the FILE menu in iMovie. This will preserve the AVCHD files exactly as they were on the camera.
When you import, you convert the AVCHD files (which are highly compressed) into Apple Intermediate Codec, which is suitable for editing.
If you want to make sure that your archive copy is working properly, you can import from your archive copy, rather than importing directly from the camera. This is a good way to make sure you have a good archive copy before erasing the video on the camera.

How to import and edit a 3D video made with Sony HDR-TD10E camcorder, with .MVC file?

How to import and edit a 3D video made with Sony HDR-TD10E camcorder, with .MVC file?
I have PremierePro-CS5 installed.
This stereo 3D camcorder (Sony HDR-TD10E), output an .MVC (MultiViewCoding) file, coded in H.264 format.
This format is already compatible with Bluray3D stereoscopic format.
1) But, how to edit the .MVC in Premiere?
2) What plugin should I use (if exists) for PremiereProCS5?
3) Cineform Neo3D, can manage the .MVC format? Can convert it to Cineform format file, for import it into Premiere?
4) What software should I use to convert an .MVC video to an AVCHD H.264 file, and import it into PremierePro CS5 or CS5.5 for editing?
Thanks!
Horsepower0171.

Sorry, I am Italian, it is very difficult for me to understand what he says!
I can just read the english text, or follow the actions of a videotutorial!
Thus my question is the same:
-What software can do that?
-Sony Vegas 10 do the Bluray3D authoring?
-For MVC editing, should I wait for Adobe CS6? Or is it planned an update for CS5.5?

Sony HDR-HC1 import fix

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