Hello, I have both a 2013 and 2017 Apple Mac Book Pro and I want to buy a Sony HVR-V1U, HDV camcorder.
I've read the threads on this site regarding the Sony HVR-V1U, but I need to know if I can use Apples's iMovie that comes bundled with these Mac's.
I'm feeling so embarrassed to even ask this question, but I'm a total zero when it comes to understanding some of what (OK all) these threads are talking about ?
Isn't there just one short answer to my question ?
Much Peace, Charles
iMovie supports most tape based digital cameras even though not listed as supported. Sometimes there are audio issues. No guarantees, but there's a good chance that the V1U will work. Your call as to whether you want to risk it.
-- Rich
Check the specs of the V1U — the video and audio formats it uses, whether analog or digital, the types of connections and cables. Go on line and do a Google search for its user’s manual. That will tell you all about the camera.
— Rich
As Rich has said sometimes there are audio issues when capturing from tape based camcorders meaning that no audio is captured .Worse still is the fact that some posters on here have not been able to "see " their camcorder, DV or HDV,
in iMovie or FCPX.
These issues seem to have increased since Sierra/High Sierra and Mojave.
HDV camcorders ceased to be manufactured some 9 or 10 years ago giving way to AVCHD camcorders recording now onto memory cards.
Tapes can still be purchased in the UK for DV and HDV camcorders but you have to consider how much longer these will be available.If in doubt, purchase enough for the foreseeable future.
A feature rich professional camcorder can seem appealing but if you are not going to use these features then why have them? The Sony HVR won't be a point and shoot device, unless everything is set to automatic.
If on a professional shoot, you have time to set up.If not then the 'moment' may have passed.
Other factors to consider is the size and weight of the camcorder.If too heavy and too big for your requirements then it may not get used.
The Sony HVR is almost 4lbs in weight , about 5 times the weight of the Sony CX675 and is some 17 inches in length before going into a carry case.
Do consider how much use an HDV camcorder may have had before purchasing.
They are quite mechanical intensive in that they have far more moving parts than modern day cam's.
This is because of the Tape transport mechanism; the threading of the tape, the fast rewind and fast forward of the tape,
and tape eject e.t.c.
It is not my intention to put you off the Sony HVR but wanted to add a few pointers to be aware of.
Down grade the 2013 Mac.
Yes, that was my thought when reading your post timed 10.50 AM.
That would take you back to Mavericks ,right?
You would be able to run iMovie 10 on Mavericks but it would be an early version of 10, but this may at least enable you to capture your HDV footage onto an external drive and then import this into your 2017 Mac for the latest version of iMovie .
You could use your 2006 Mac if you have iMovie 6 HD, but using your 2013 Mac with Mavericks and iMovie 10 might be better.
Obviously you will try importing directly into either 2013 or 2017 Mac first before altering your 2013 Mac.
The cables you will need to connect the 2013 Mac to your Cam' will be different to that of the 2017 Mac, i.e. an extra cable adaptor will be required for the 2017 Mac. Google for info.
If I could get the Sony HVR in the UK on eBay for the sort of price that you can in the USA then I would certainly do so.
Hopefully you will be able to import into iMovie from your Sony HVR without too much hassle.
The HVR certainly has many features and you should get excellent results from it.
Thank you so very much for getting back to me. I'm terribly new at this and it seems like the more I read
about this, especially when thinking about buying an older camcorder such as the HVR-V1U the afraid I get.
Sony's HVR-V1U is an older professional/prosummer recorder that is highly feature laden. My thoughts about
buying this camera is that it's now so in-expensive to purchase on a site like e-BAY, that it I don't know if it makes
any sense to buy a new camera i.e. the Sony HDR CX-675, which I'm sure is a nice camera, but compared to the
HVR-V1U, especially for what they sold the HVR-V1U for, I don't see how the HVR-V1U couldn't be a better, more
professional camera ?
Please chime in on this, I need all the help I can get :)
Again, please work with me a little on this, I'm trying to learn as much as I can as fast I can, but as you, this stuff is deep.
Much Peace, Charles
I can't believe I've spent over an hour trying to find the owners manual for the HVR-V1U camera that we
have been discussing ? I don't want to download some service in order to get the manual.
Can't I find it at Sony.com or whatever ? I went to Sony's website, but get nothing ?
Thanks again, Rich
Hi Rich, I finally found the manual, but apparently the manual I found was for the HVR-V1E which is for
the European model of the HVR-V1U. I would think these 2 manuals should be one and the same?
I'm taking a look at the link that you just sent me ?
That being said here what the manual that I looked at, HVR-V1E in regards to the system requirements for using the
HVR-V1U...For Macintosh Users: OS 9.1/9.2 OS X v10.1 / v10.2 / v10.3 / v10.4
My Mac Book Pro is a 2013 model running OS "Mojave 10.14.3 Does this mean that this camera and my computer are "not" compatible ? Do I need to look at a newer camera that matches my computer ?
Thanks again, Rich
Hi Rich, the manual says it records in HDV or DVCam (DV), I can't find anything regarding
the audio formats ?
What does this mean: The recorder records movies on tape and still images on "Memory Stick Duo" ?
Wow, thanks again, Charles
Thank you so much for sending this info to me. I completely understand what you are saying here and all makes good sense, however, I still think that a camera such as this would be something that I can learn to use and thus eventually be able to take advantage of what it has to offer.
Yes I have read threads that state the issues that you mentioned about user that aren't able to see this type of camera when using OS Sierra, High Sierra and Mojave, however I also see just as many folks who state that they're able to use this model or similar models just fine once they have things connected properly ?
That is what making this so hard for me. What I "need" is some one who is using a camera such as the HVR-V1U and Mac Book Pro running either OS Sierra, High Sierra or Mojave.
I have 2 Mac Book Pros, one is a 2013 model running OS 10.14.3 and a 2017 running OS Mojave as well.
Is there anybody on this forum that can specifically guide me along with this ? I would be so grateful and so appreciative if somebody could help me.
BTW...As you know or maybe don't know, these cameras that are now 6, 7 or 8 years old could have retailed for anywhere from
$2,000 to $5,000 dollars and being able to buy one on e-BAY for literally a couple hundred dollars makes it silly for one like
me not to pick one up.
Some of these are in MINT condition and I've checked the Operation, Drum Run, Tape Run & Threading hours on these and some are basically barely used or broke in and to make things even better, these camera are still repairable if a problem arises.
The fact that a lot of these models are known as "work horses" among professionals and semi professional people lead me to believe that they are extremely road worthy, some folks refer to these as being "built like a tank".
I actually have been considering buying a newer camera maybe something like the CX-675 and a camera like the V1U just to be able to cover the various situations that I "might" be in or experience ?
Please understand I'm not trying to talk myself into buying the V1U, but at the same time I don't want to "miss" out on anything either.
Please stay with me here, I do need your help :) Charles
Thanks Rich forgetting back to me. What if I were to capture the audio to an external device ?
I'm first and foremost a musician/songwriter/ for over 50 years and what I initially thought that I wanted to do is shoot
some video footage, most likely without the audio and then add my music at a later date.
I wasn't that concerned about capturing audio and I won't be using the V1U to record my group or anybody else's group.
Mainly because in a performance environment or concert setting the external "noise" would render the audio useless to me.
For example: a friend shot a few minutes of video the other night at one of our rehearsals using the Sony HDR CX-675 and didn't use the audio from the shoot at all.
He went home and dubbed in some music that we recorded from one of our CD's and it all came out great.
He has shot video using the CX-675 with Sony's add on external stereo mic system while at a rehearsal and because the environment was so quiet, the footage came out great.
Just more food for thought :)
Thanks,Charles
"What if I were to capture the audio to an external device ?"
As mentioned, that could be problematic with tape based cameras. Some users have reported that the audio does not transfer.
No way of knowing until you try it out. Whenever one is trying to converge old and new technologies there is always an element of unpredictability.
Best of luck with this.
-- Rich
Thanks Rich. Although tonight I received a message from some reviewer that said "unless you have some miniDV's that you want to transfer to your Mac, I'd stay away from both the V1U and the A1U, both of these models have a lot of problems with their tape transport system, just way to many moving parts".
Of course by the same token I don't know how many times I've read where folks state how robust and solid these camera are. I seen the word "work horse" many times.
You see what I'm up against here, one guy says one thing and another guy says another, yikes !
Much Peace, Charles
Thanks Rich, I'm doing this right away. Much Peace, Charles
And what audio formats?
-- Rich
Sony HVR-V1U
