No capture with Sony HDR-HC9

iLink is not correct. This is used for DV device control. Check your camera menus and make sure they are set correctly for HDV output and for HDV device control.

What are the other options in that menu? I don't think that's correct. I know other people have used this camera so it must work.

This is the iMac, right? Do you have the external drive connected? Are you daisy-chaining the camera through the drive? If not, try it daisy chained. That usually works with Sony cameras.

Jake,

Please let us know what happened. I am having the same problem as you do with my HDR-HC7. This is actually the second HC7 now. At first, I started out with Imovie 08 and it could not recognize the camcorder and after trying everything out I have finally decided it is the camcorder (most likely the firewire port) and got a brand new HC7. It finally worked perfect with Imovie 08. after starting out on Imovie I felt I needed a program thats a little more advanced, so I got the Final Cut Express 4. However, I cannot figure out how to capture videos from the HC7. It has the same symptoms as you do, when I start FCE4, it says it cannot recognize the external device. Strangely, Imovie still recognize the camera. Does your camera work with Imovie? I am still in the process of figuring out what is going on. I hope someone out there can help both of us out. I think it should be some kind of setting issue that we are missing. Please help! Thank you in advance guys!

Please give your full system specifications, what computer, what drives, how everything's connected, and what settings you're using in Final Cut?

I had the same problem with a new HC9...However, I realized that my audio/visual presets were to DV. When I changed them to HDV settings, I successfully captured...As we speak I'm exporting an HDV clip via compressor, so it looks like I've figured it out. Good luck. Mark

Hi(Bonjour)!

As suggested by Tom, it's a must to use the correct setup in easy setup dialog to fit your shooted material on tape.

Here's the trail to follow if you want to edit in HD (by the way the HC3 can shoot in HD mode or standard definition-DV- mode: wide or standard screen).

On your HC3
-find the camera menu and set the recording format to HDV (it sould be 1080i60 as it's the HDV format used by this model).
-Set the output format to automatic or 1080i (this is the type of signal that will be outputed by your camcorder upon capture via firewire).

-turn off you camcorder and mac.
-Plug both devices with a firewire cable.
-turn on the HC3 AND the mac.
-Start FCE HD

In Final Cut Express HD
-Use "Easy Setup..." command in Final Cut express menu , select HD in format tab, 29.97 in rate tab and HDV-Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60. Click "Setup" button.
-From this point, any new sequences and capture session will occur in Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60 (the format used to edit in HDV).
-Use command-8 to open the capture window. HDV is captured via a simple dialog. There are no capture setings or log clips info.
-Start your camcorder in *VCR mode*(the play button on camcorder or on remote) and click the capture now button into FCE HD.
NOTES: there is no sound from your MAC upon capturing. There is a lag time between what is played on your cam and what you can see on your mac screen, so use the camcorder screen to monitor the content.
-Hit the "ESC" key when you want to stop the capturing process.

Once the esc key is pressed, your mac will continu to process the captured material and the capture window should close.

That's the way to follow to capture HDV material into FCE HD.

Michel Boissonneault

KEAngel,

I am having the exact same problem you have outlined with iMovie 08 and the Sony HDR-HC7. I can control the camera, but it won't capture anything and just shows a blue screen. Your help would be greatly appreciated as this is getting very frustrating. I am also unable to capture anything in Final Cut Pro from HC7. The sad thing is that I can make it work via Premiere Pro on my PC.

This is the Final Cut Express forum. The specifications are different in Final Cut Pro. You should ask your question on that forum, with full details as listed in the message above yours.

I'm getting the "no deck" connected message too for my HC9. You mentioned that you not only have to set the camera to HDV, but also change the presets...
How do I change the audio/visual presets for the Sony HC9 so I can capture using Final Cut Express? I currently have it hooked up with a USB cable. Am I only going to get success with firewire?

thanks for any help.
Cheryl

Hi(Bonjour)!

Yes firewire only with tape based camcorders.

To select the correct preset, use the easy setup command in Final Cut express menu , select HD in format tab, 29.97 in rate tab and HDV-Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60. Click "Setup" button..

Michel Boissonneault