Transferring 12 yr old camcorder tape to IMac...

You'll need a "DV Device." A DV Device can be a DV camcorder, DV VTR or DV Converter that has both analog and Firewire ports.

You connect the playback device's analog outputs to the DV device's analog inputs (with the Yellow [video] Red [audio right] and White [audio left] cables), then connect the DV device's Firewire port to your Mac.

For specific iMovie questions, I suggest using the appropriate iMoive forum: http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=141

-DH

You will need an analog-digital converter like the Canopus ADVC-110. They accept the analog signal from your old camcorder and convert it to DV (digital) so it can be used & edited by iMovie and other software.

Many miniDV camcorders can also be used as a converter, if you have access to one you can use. It has to support a feature called 'analog-digital passthrough' and most miniDV camcorders do.

Simpler, faster and more effective is to just purchase a DVD-Recorder. Connect your old camcorder's video and audio outs to the DVD-R's matching imputs, drop in a DVD-R disk, hit record on the DVD-R then play on the camera. Done.

Of course there is a bit more to it than that - setting the length of recording time (which sets how much compression) and a few other things, but it is pretty straightforward.

Good luck.

x

Hi

I don't know where you are but if in the UK, Amazon do a USB to phono (Red, White, Yellow) cable for about £9 upwards, I have just purchased one to transfer Vinyl music and Video.... Hope this helps
Steve