Sony Handycam DCR-HC42 and iMovieHD on OS X 10.4.x issue?

Quit iMovie. Launch GarageBand. Quit Garageband. Try iMovie again.
(No, I'm not kidding.)

Nice to see your cat back, Lennart..

Assuming the "GarageBand fix" didn't work (you didn't exactly say which), here's something more:
iMovie: Cannot see or control camera
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000

See the Sony fix here:
http://danslagle.dvmix.com/mac/iMovie/usage/5020.shtml

Hi Jim:

The Garageband trick also works with Pro Logic and Soundtrack-do you have either of those?

Sue

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Yes-Lennart-I missed the cat as well!

I have the Sony DCR-HC 30 and it works fine.

Jim
Did you have the latest QT version?

See this -> http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=244756&tstart=0

My Sony HC42 will work with my wife's iMAC with iMovie 5.04 and an iBOOK with 5.04. It will allow me to control the camera on my iMAC, with iMovieHD, but only once have I been able to see or capture video. I let the video run quite awhile which was captured properly, but when I stopped the camera via the computer, it would never capture again.

I have read all the posts and tried everything, including consulting with Applecare folks. No joy.

Any new suggestions would be appreciated.

Answered my own question. Second time I had trashed the iMovie plist, but this time I reset the pram and voila I'm in business.

I had exactly the same problem with a Sony DCR-HC39E - I could control the camera but not see or import any video. The solution was a £3 replacement firewire cable and it all works perfectly.

I, too, have this problem, only with a Sony DCR-HC32. Relevant versions: OS X 10.4.4, Final Cut HD 5.0.2, Quicktime 7.0.4. Yes, I most definitely am using a Firewire cable that I went out and purchased, not a USB cable.

Things tried that did not work:

1) Switching the dock to "off" (as this switch controls the USB port)
2) Switching between FW ports on my G4
3) Trashing the iMovie plist
4) Resetting PRAM
5) The "Garageband trick"
6) Trying all of the above on a fresh admin account
7) Repairing permissions

The first time I logged into the fresh account iChat was able to see the camera, and it even displayed live when I launched iMovie with the camera in record/tape mode. However, once I switched it to Play/Edit then it reverted to the status quo of having the blue screen instantly pop up with "Camera connected" yet no video imported or viewable on the Mac (even though the camera was being controlled properly).

Like the original poster I don't think this is an acceptable situation, and I am going to return the whole camcorder setup as soon as I am able to.