Sony HDR-SR11

Sorry, folks. I think I'm being dim. I bought a new Sony SR11 and took some great footage on my recent skiing holiday. On return, I find that it simply doesn't show up in either iMovie HD or iMovie 08. I can't get either program to recognise that a camera is attached. I'm working on a MacBook Pro and have been used to it identifying all camcorders and camcorders,. Suddenly, today, nothing. The camera came with some software for PCs (clumsily named "Picture Motion Browser") but apparently nothing to make it work on Macs.

Any thoughts? Have O wasted my money on a camcorder that takes good footage that will never be downloaded to my Mac?

Geoff Barton

My SR7 was not as easy as other MiniDv's. Make sure you go in and set the camera to computer mode. Delete any SD footage. My Macbook just says no name on the camera.

Make sure you have plenty of space. I went out and bought a G Raid2 with a terabyte of memory. Man it works great with Imovie.....

The Sony does not record HD using MPEG-2. The NEW DVD camcorders record HD. SD is dead. Shoot HD and if you need SD, down-convert after editing. All versions of iMovie can edit both SD and HD MPEG-2. You do not need to convert anything to DV.

Erik, The native format the Sony HDR-SR11 to records HD in is AVCHD (a variety of MPEG-4/H.264 compressed in the camera). Presently, Apple claims you must use an Intel-based Mac to edit this footage, because iMovie first has to transcode it to Apple Intermediate Codec. I have not heard of anyone editing AVCHD successfully yet on a G4 or G5 PowerPC processor.

Ratnob, check the version of iMovie you're using and run Software Update if necessary. I'm using 7.1.1 on a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac. If your MacBook Pro is Intel-based and you're using a functional USB port to connect to the camera, there's no reason it shouldn't work. This may be obvious, but check the following (not sure how much you've already tried, so I'm throwing out the kitchen sink):

1. When you connect the camera to a USB port, Make sure iMovie 08 is open. Does the camera ask you to confirm USB Connect Mode? If not, chances are there's a problem with the USB port. Even if iMovie won't recognize the device, the device should detect that you're trying to hook it up to a computer and prompt you to establish the data connection at the touch screen.

2. I seriously doubt the camera is sensitive to the power output of your USB ports (it has it's own battery, after all), but on the off chance it matters, try plugging it into different ports with and without the AC Adapter connected to the camera.

3. Plug directly into the PowerBook's USB port -not a hub.

AGAIN I said 1.4GHz! I must be getting dyslexic in my old age.

I have the camcorder set to HD mode. The problem is that when plugged by USB to my Mac it simply doesn't show up. My previous Sony used a Firewire and all was simple. The documentation with the camera suggests it uses "Picture Motion Browser" on PCs and I'm wondering if there's some equivalent for Macs.

Since other's report the SR11/SR12 work fine -- the suggestion that something might be wrong with the USB port or cable could be valid. Try it on a PC.

Thanks for all the advice, here and on a different thread. I downloaded Voltaic and now the footage of my skiing holiday is happily downloading into iMovie. Much appreciated.

Hi ratnom - see this Apple Document: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305919

I have the Sony HDR-SR7 (similar to SR11). You need an Intel Mac to import AVCHD high definition video to iMovie '08 - it won't even work on a G5 Mac. You appear to be using a G4 Powerbook. As you've discovered, Voltaic will convert the footage, but apparently is far slower than using iMovie '08 on an Intel machine. However, it gets the job done!

John

Actually it is an Intel Mac - a MacBook Pro. Still slow to process the stuff from the camera but at least it's working.

Sorry Geoff - I was working from your listed computer details which show PowerBook G4. Also, apologies for misspelling your alias (I typed ratnom, should be ratnob)!

Glad you're now successfully converting AVCHD footage - not sure why your SR11 is not recognised by iMovie '08 on your Intel MacBook Pro. In the Apple article, did you see the note about first erasing any SD footage before importing HD:

"+However, to import the HD (AVCHD) content to an Intel Mac, you must first erase the SD (MPEG-2) content on the camera+."

John

This seems to be the best thread I've seen. I've recently switched laptops to two Macbooks in the house and still use a Windblows Desktop. I've had a Sony DCR-SR60 for about 6 months and downloaded everything so far on the windows pc in mpeg 2 format. I've installed the MPEG2 piece in quicktime for viewing but still get no audio on the mpegs. I downloaded mpeg streamclip and it plays audio of the files and I can convert them to .mov files or mpeg4 (not sure what's best) . I've tried to take one of the mpegs to imovie08 but they all showed grayed out and not available. I see the list of supported sony camcorders from the link and the sr60 is not on there although it stores media the same way as others. Do I have to convert every file into mpeg4 or mov for quicktime? Thanks for any help.

Hello. I was very pleased to read that the new Sony HDR-SR11 was fully compatible with iMovie on Intel-based macs. This camcorder is now in the official list http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014

*Unfortunatly, my Mac Mini (Core Solo) with iMovie '08 (actually 7.1.1) can't import the HD footages.*
When I plug in the camcorder, it is recognized by Hardware Growler as "HDR-SR11E", the Sony's menu let me choose the USB connection, the "NO NAME" volume appears on the desktop, but iMovie won't launch. If I launch it by myself, after or before mounting the HDR-SR11 on the desktop, it can't import anything, poping that I should plug in a camcorder…

At the first times, iPhoto was launched as I also took some pictures. So I formated the HDR-SR11. It is set on HD, so I don't have the issue of SD footage remaining on the disk ( http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305919)

I tried to plug the camcorder in every USB port directly on the Mini. I tried with/without the base. I also tried in many HD qualities. Unsuccessfully.

Thank you for your help or ideas.

Hey everyone, Im new to this forum but after reading thread after thread I can't seem to have any luck with my sony hdr-sr11. I'm operating on a powerPC G5,(not intel based),and have downloaded imovie08 and voltaichd.The only success I've had with my mac importing any hdd video clips from my sr11 is converting a couple of 5 second clips through voltaichd and importing them into imovie08. The clips took approx. 2mins to convert (much longer than the 12x real time voltaic claims)and any other clips over 30 seconds would not convert - the voltaic program showed "converting" but never complted the conversion. Actually the program left me hanging and i had to force quit.

Hey everyone, Im new to this forum but after reading thread after thread I can't seem to have any luck with my sony hdr-sr11. I'm operating on a powerPC G5,(not intel based),and have downloaded imovie08 and voltaichd.The only success I've had with my mac importing any hdd video clips from my sr11 is converting a couple of 5 second clips through voltaichd and importing them into imovie08. The clips took approx. 2mins to convert (much longer than the 12x real time voltaic claims)and any other clips over 30 seconds would not convert - the voltaic program showed "converting" but never complted the conversion. Actually the program left me hanging and i had to force quit. Anyway if anybody has had recent success with this problem I would really appreciate the help. I do not know whether to return the sr11 and get hit with the restocking fee or just record in standard mode hoping a new solution will come up. Thanks to all!