"Communication Error" when I link my camera to macbook pro

Question

"Communication Error" when I link my camera to macbook pro

hello,
when I link my panasonic PV_GS39 to my new macbook pro and attempt to import my videos in iMovie i get a message displayed that reads, "Communication error." When I take the camera out of PC connection mode I can play the video and import it while I'm watching the video footage. It's only when it's in the PC connection mode that I have a problem. I'd like to be able to import the footage in the PC connection mode, as I understand it to be faster.
I'm using from the macbook a 9 pin to 6 pin firewire 800 and an adapter of a 6 pin to 4 pin to my camera.
thanks, any help would be appreciated

macbook pro, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Nov 7, 2008 10:30 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Forest Mccready

Level 4

1,255 points

Nov 7, 2008 10:42 PM in response to hickorystickory

I'm thinking that's a miniDV model you have there, so the cam needs to be set on "Playback" for capture to iMovie and you can't speed up capture from tape. It is done in real time. A 60 minute tape will take 60 minutes to import.

I don't know why you have two different firewire cables connected. You only need the 6 to 4 pin cable.

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Answer 2

Nov 8, 2008 10:35 PM in response to Forest Mccready

thanks for the answer.

i have the two cables because I needed a 4 pin to go into the new 9 pin of the macbook pro. I couldn't find a 4 to 9 pin so i got an adapter cable. am i still doing something wrong?

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Answer 3

Nov 9, 2008 1:48 PM in response to hickorystickory

OK, I'm confused now. Actually, the 4 pin side (smaller) goes into the camcorder and the 6 pin into the Mac. I was unaware that there was a new 9 pin socket in the laptops. The necessary cable mentioned repeatedly on this site has always been a 6 to 4 pin. Are you sure the 6 pin won't fit the Mac?

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Answer 4

Nov 9, 2008 8:18 PM in response to Forest Mccready

i think i'm sure... the new laptops have a firewire 800 port, the male end looks like a big cube. From what the packaging says it's a 9 pin male.

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Answer 5

Nov 10, 2008 5:20 PM in response to hickorystickory

Thanks, I didn't know that.

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