Sharp VL-PD3 - Compatible with iMovie HD 6.0.3? Confirmation required.

Question

Sharp VL-PD3 - Compatible with iMovie HD 6.0.3? Confirmation required.

Hi all,

I'll keep this quick. I've had my Sharp VL-PD3 for a few years and it was compatible with iMovie 1. It says so on the support page and I've got the movies on my Mac to prove it.

I've left it for a few years and used it recently. I've followed the iLife upgrade path up to iMovie HD 6.0.3. It now doesn't work. Specifically:

1. iMovie never "sees" the camera, it says "no camera connected"
2. If I switch the camera from VCR mode to off, OS 10.5.1 says a device has been removed, and sometimes this hangs my machine
3. I've tried a few different cables, and even booted up with no other external hardware connected, the camera being the only external device and it's plugged directly into the iMac firewire port. No luck

Can someone (from Apple?) confirm that support has been removed for this camera? If so, why? Is there a way I can import from it into iMovie?

I'll be quite narked if support has been removed for no reason. I am not prepared to shell out for another camera.

Stuart

iMac 1.8 GHz PPC G5, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 1GB RAM

Posted on Dec 19, 2007 4:16 AM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Dec 19, 2007 6:08 AM in response to Stuart Mingay1

The Sharp Viewcam VL-PD3H is a PAL Mini DV camcorder. It should have a IEEE 1394/Firewire interface.

Is that the one you have? If so, it should work well with iMovie 6.

Open the Audio MIDI Setup (Utilities folder) and set the default audio output to 44100hZ. Try the camera again.

If no luck try these:

iMovie: Cannot See or Control Camera
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000

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Answer 2

Dec 19, 2007 6:49 AM in response to Klaus1

I've been through that page of support tips unfortunately. The actual model is VL-PD3 E because, I imagine, I bought it in Singapore.

I'm thinking about re-installing iMovie 3 (the earliest version I can find) to see if it works then.

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Answer 3

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Dec 19, 2007 6:56 AM in response to Stuart Mingay1

If it is a miniDV camcorder and connects by firewire it should work with iMovie 6.

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Answer 4

Dec 20, 2007 3:32 AM in response to Klaus1

It is a miniDV camcorder with a DV out. And it has worked with my old angle-poise iMac over a firewire cable.

Grrrrr.

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Answer 5

Jan 2, 2008 8:53 AM in response to Stuart Mingay1

Just to complete this tale; I attached my camcorder to my old angle-poise iMac and was able to control the camera although I no video appeared when it played.

So, limited success with an old iMac, and non what-so-ever with a G4 PowerBook and a G5 iMac.

I going to throw the thing out the window.

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Answer 6

Feb 26, 2008 5:57 AM in response to Stuart Mingay1

Hi Stuart,

I have the same camera and when I used it with my old iMac - everything was OK.
Now, with a new Intel Imac and iMovie'06, I cant import films anymore.

I connect the camcorder by FW to the Mac. System Profiler says: unknown device
Nevertheless, when the camera is in record mode, it records films directly in iMovie, through the camera.
In playback mode, however, nothing is captured in iMovie. Only the blue window. Although the tape can be controlled from the Mac (play, rewind etc works).

I read in another track that it could be a problem with the audio mode.
The camera records audio only in 12 bit mode.
I the Mac, audio input cannot be set below 16 bit mode.

Still trying to find a solution.... 😉

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Answer 7

Mar 3, 2008 5:26 AM in response to VictorHotel

Hi,

By sheer luck I found a way to force iMovie'08 to import from tapes played back in my Sharp camcorder:
I connect the camcorder by FW with the iMac, then I switch the camera on in "Record" mode. The iMovie import window shows the picture caught by the camera. Then I click "Import" in iMovie and quickly switch over the camcorder from "Record" to "Playback" - and - surprise! - iMovie continues capturing the footage from the tape.

This "trick" also works in iMovie HD 06

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Answer 8

May 30, 2008 12:39 PM in response to VictorHotel

Oooo, sorry for the late reply to this, but I'd sort of given up to be honest. I'll try this over the weekend.

I'm going on holiday next week and was considering buying a new camera, but this may extend the life of the old thing if it works!

Thanks

Stu

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Answer 9

no107

Level 1

4 points

Aug 23, 2008 10:08 PM in response to VictorHotel

Yes! It works with Victor_Hotel trick!

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