Can't connect Sony TRV900

There are so many things that could be wrong it is hard to know where to start without more info. So here are all the questions:

1. Have you used that Firewire port with any other device the mac can see?
2. Have you connected the camera to any other computer successfully?

Even when FCP won't recognize the camera iMovie usually does, and since you can't see it on any software application on your Mac the problem is most likely a hardware issue with your firewire port, or on the camera itself.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Hopefully the four-leaf clover will give you more help then me 🙂

It seems i am not alone. I have an old mini dv sony dvr pc 110,has been used for 9 years, it is still in good shape. Recently, i bought a mac book pro 17" , think that it would be good idea to import and edit the dv tape using apple. Unfortunately, the camcorder is not found at mac. i tried it on imac, still not working. i connected it using firewire, 4 pins to 9 pins.
any help from the mac world user?

Hi


Having a TRV-900E - I ended up in same situation - Let's hope You has not.

I connected the 6-pin end 180 deg wrong to the back of my Mac-Pro.

Result.

Burned A/D chip in Camera.

after - Camera could be maneuvered from Mac but no Import or Export.
Camera recorded on tape OK
Camera Play-backed to TV (analog) OK

Medicine - RepairShop - Expencive.

Test Your Camera on another Mac
Test FW-Cable with other Camera
Test other FW-Cable

*Else read my unsorted thoughts.*

MOST COMMON ORIGIN => Test another FW-Cable.

Test Your Camera on another Mac so that DV-in still works OK

Toogle in iMovie pref: Play-back via Camera (on<->off some times)

Other ways to import Your miniDV tape:

Use another Camera. There where tape play-back stations from SONY
but they costed about 2-4 times a normal miniDV Camera.

If Your Camera works on another Mac. Make an iMovie movie project here and move it
over to Your Mac via an external hard disk.
(HAS TO BE Mac OS Exchange formatted - USB/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange WILL NOT DO)
(Should be a FireWire one - USB/USB2 performs badly)

FireWire - Sure not using the accompany USB-Cable but bought a 4-pin to 6-pin FW one ?

Using WHAT ? :
• Mac OS - X.5.4 ?
• QuickTime version ? (This is the heart in both iMovie and FinalCut)
• iMovie 8 (7.1.?) ?
• iMovie HD 6 (6.0.4/3) ?

Free space on internal (start-up) hard disk ?

HOW MUCH ?

(Others don't count)

Does Your Camera work on another Mac ?
Sorry to say it is to easy to turn the 6-pin end of the FW-cable 180 deg wrong.
This is lethal to the A/D-chip in the Camera = needs an expensive repair.
(Hard to find out - else than import/export to another Mac ceased to work
everything else is OK eg recording and playback to TV)

Delete iMovie pref file may help sometimes. I rather start a new account, log into
this and have a re-try.


from LKN 1935:
Hi Bengt W, I tried it all, but nothing worked. Your answer has been helpfull insofar as all the different trials led to the conclusion that there was something wrong with my iMovie software. I therefore threw everything away and reinstalled iMovie from the HD. After that the exportation of DV videos (there has not been any problem with HDV videos) to my Sony camcorders worked properly as it did before. Thank you. LKN 1935


from Karsten:
in addition to Bengt's excellent '9 yards of advice' .. 😉

camera set to 'Play' , not rec/computer/etc.?
camera not on battery, but power-line?
did your Mac 'recognize' this camera before...?

a technical check:
connect camera, on, playback, fw-connected...
click on the Blue Apple, upper left of your screen ..
choose 'About../More..
under Firewire.. what do you read..?

Yours Bengt W