Importing video from camcorder into iMovie without firewire....How?

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Importing video from camcorder into iMovie without firewire....How?

I just switched from windows to Mac when the new Macbooks came out. I have a Panasonic PV-GS300 camcorder which I was hoping to be able to import video from but can't figure out how to get it to work. On my old windows computer I imported via USB using the horrible software that came with the camera and I was looking forward to using iMovie instead.
The problem is that everything I read (including support documents on Apple's own website) says that iMovie only supports importing from a video camera via firewire, not USB. However, the new Macbooks do not include firewire. Does this mean that with a new macbook you cannot import video into iMovie? That can't be the case, I'm hoping I'm missing something here. I've loved the macbook up until this point, but if you seriously can't import video into iMovie without firewire then I'm going to have to take it back to the store and move back to windows.

Thanks for any help!

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 26, 2008 6:54 PM

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Answer 1

glad

Level 1

145 points

Oct 26, 2008 7:07 PM in response to inpursuitof

However I suggest that you use bootcamp and yes windows video editing software software, which will alllow you to get it into your macbook. If you save the footage as mpeg4 you can then switch to mac osx and import the file into imovie and edit to your hearts content. It's not ideal but it might save you having to take the macbook back to the shop.

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Answer 2

Oct 27, 2008 3:20 AM in response to inpursuitof

Apple now claims that USB is first choice for iMovie. According to these (this is not personal experience) iMovie imports via USB, too.

I suggest you check out the iMovie forum, I have seen USB threads there, but, since I am using firewire equipment, havn't followed those threads.

Dirk

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Answer 3

Oct 27, 2008 3:43 AM in response to inpursuitof

I read on Amazon User Reviews that some Canon Cameras (FS10,FS11 and FS100) can import directly into iMovie 08.

Not sure about the quality though.

I also read that you can import the mpeg file (and other formats) and then convert it into DV with visual hub and then use this in iMovie 06/07, but again I am not so sure about the quality.

No firewire is a real step backward & I wish they would reconsider for the next release of Macbooks.

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Answer 4

ChrisG75

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Oct 27, 2008 2:35 PM in response to Wan Chai Man

I can confirm that I bought a Canon HF100 and it works well using the USB. The camera is great quality and it's in hi-def. You can also import the videos if you have a camcorder which uses a flash card to record onto using a USB 2 card reader.

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Answer 5

Oct 27, 2008 3:10 PM in response to inpursuitof

Unfortunately I don't think that camera is supported via USB on the Mac platform Despite what Steve Jobs says, not all camcorders use USB and even when they do that doesn't mean that they work with Macs. In general, if a camcorder has both USB and Firewire (as yours does) then only the Firewire connection is supported by Macs. Sorry for the bad news.

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Answer 6

Oct 27, 2008 3:32 PM in response to inpursuitof

In iMovie, you can import video from USB camcorders that record to DVD or hard disk drive (HDD) storage media, or from flash-based devices, including digital still cameras that record video.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1096

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Answer 7

inpursuitof Author

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Oct 27, 2008 4:11 PM in response to danny whittington

I just got off the phone with Apple and they confirmed that iMovie can only import video from tape based video cameras (which mine is) via Firewire even if the camera has both firewire and USB ports. Since the Macbook does not have Firewire this obviously means that I can't transfer video from my camera into iMovie.
Suggestions to upgrade to a new video camera are ridiculous. There's no reason why I can't import via USB when Windows was able to do it, and there's no reason why the Macbook couldn't have come with a firewire port. Unfortunately this issue is a showstopper, I have to be able to transfer movies onto my computer...I guess this means that tomorrow I'll be returning my shiny new Macbook to the store. At least I got to be a Mac user for a little over a week, it was fun while it lasted! 🙂

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Answer 8

inpursuitof Author

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Oct 27, 2008 4:13 PM in response to inpursuitof

The answer is: If you have a tape based video camera you cannot import video into iMovie on the new Macbook since it only works over firewire.

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Answer 9

Oct 27, 2008 4:33 PM in response to inpursuitof

Importing video is like waiting for water to boil. Why not let your old windows machine do the grunt work (importing) while you do more productive things on the Mac. Then transfer the captured video at your convenience.

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Answer 10

inpursuitof Author

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Oct 27, 2008 4:37 PM in response to The Gibbon

I don't want to do that because I don't want two computers. I bought the new Macbook because I wanted to be able to get rid of my old windows desktop and just use a laptop.

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Answer 11

Oct 27, 2008 4:56 PM in response to inpursuitof

Why get rid of something that still has a use? (Unless you meant to sell it.) Drive space is limited on laptops compared to desktops, and importing video will fill up that space very quickly. You could also set up the desktop as a file server.

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Answer 12

Ziatron

Level 5

4,186 points

Oct 27, 2008 6:54 PM in response to inpursuitof

Some cameras will export with USB, but it is slower and less reliable.

Firewire is "isochronous", basically meaning it lets a device carve out a certain dedicated amount of bandwidth that other devices can't touch. It gets a certain number of time slices each second all its own. The advantages for audio/video should be obvious: that stream of data can just keep on flowing, and as long as there isn't more bandwidth demand than the wire can handle, nothing will interfere with it. No collisions, no glitches.

I would look at the Macbook Pro or the white Macbook, they have Firewire.

If you are doing video, FireWire is a must.

Thousands of computer peripherals use Firewire, with more coming out all the time.

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Answer 13

Ziatron

Level 5

4,186 points

Oct 27, 2008 6:58 PM in response to The Gibbon

Most iLife 08 owners use iMovie 06 (with iDVD 08).

Can I use USB with iMovie 06?

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Answer 14

dysanfel

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Oct 28, 2008 7:26 AM in response to glad

Leaving out Firewire is the greatest blunder Apple could have made. I will not be upgrading my MacBook Pro until FW400 and FW800 are included. Nor will I suggest a new MacBook until FW400 is back in place.

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Answer 15

JeffP.

Level 1

40 points

Oct 28, 2008 9:19 AM in response to inpursuitof

inpursuitof wrote:
Suggestions to upgrade to a new video camera are ridiculous.

+1

Most people I know are in know hurry to replace a working camcorder. In fact, I think miniDV is just catching on because of it's low price point.

And on the contrary, most people I know view the computer as a secondary tool and will probably switch computer platforms to accommodate an expensive camcorder. That Apple took away a key selling point (widespread camcorder compatibility) for their consumer laptop is beyond reasoning...

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