How can I download my movies from a Sony camcorder on to my new mac? Sony have 'helpfully' informed me that their software isn't compatible. Apple says that someone out there may have the answer.
I successfully downloaded video from my Sony camcorder, which is about two years old. My Canon comcorder, on the other hand, is not recognized by iMovie 08. Don't know why one works and the other doesn't.
Has anyone been able to transfer a movie from tape from a Sony Digital 8 TRV840 to iMovie 08? If so how do I get my MAC running Leopard and iMovie 08 (iLife 08) to recognize and control the camera? I searched the Sony site for drivers, but they only supported Windows when they built this camera and seemed to have dropped support for it.
I have a similar problem. I recently purchased a new imac and have tried to connecting an old Sony TRV-310 camcorder using a 6/4 firewire cable. I keep expecting the imovie import window to open and say something but nothing happens. Not sure if it's just too old to play this game or I got a cheap firewire cable. In either case, I have a closet full of video tapes that I can't transfer to my mac.
I have a similar problem with my Sony Handycam. The guys at the Apple store advised me to buy a pricey DVD-RW external drive; while I can now copy my camcorder discs to full-size DVDs, I still cannot use those files on my computer. Thus, I am still unable to use iMovie and iDVD.
Any tips? Is it possible to rename those video/audio files? I'm really disappointed that I have no way to utilize these cool editing applications. Defeats some of the reasons for choosing a Mac....
I tried this with a newer dcr-280 NTSC camcorder and it would not work. It was recognized but was recording in 1second increments and locked up Imovie08!!!! I had to delete the files to finish up. I got my old one to work it DCR- trv330 and it is working great no problems and no set up. using 4pin fire wire to 6pin.
Good luck
i just got a sony camcorder and haven't tried to upload videos to mac yet, but i have been researching in the mean time. check out some of these sites for possible solutions:
I use a very old Sony HandyCam- analog in fact. Using 8mm, (not even Hi8) for all iMovie work. Done extensive work using both digital and analog video and merging the two. May be useful when converting different video sources and camcorders.
Perhaps this solution may work...now that Sony and Apple don't play together anymore. I use a DataVideo analog to digital converter. It is also about 6 years old now. It has a digital to digital option. I would guess that newer models are more sophisticated. The converter is not expensive- about $100. Works on all analog to digital stuff...VHS, and even cassette audio tapes. Uses standard audio/video mini plugs, and firewire connected to the mac. I started using this with iMovie 2, and a sawtooth G4. Now works like a charm in my first generation iMac G5 and iMovie 6. (also works great with G4 Mini and G3 Powerbook). I just got iMovie 8, and not yet installed it. I expect it to work flawlessly there as well.
Not sure if this works, but I have the same problem and was researching a solution. Out of town currently, so I will have to see how it works when I return. Check out the following link that shows how to set up a firewire connection. Hope it helps.
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Sony Camcorder
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