Sony DCR camera, iMovie video capture, via thunderbolt 3

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Sony DCR camera, iMovie video capture, via thunderbolt 3

I have an old Sony DCR-TRV18 camera that can run as VCR and output video via RCA. I'm trying to capture the video on my new MacBook Pro 16 running Big Sur. I have a RCA video capture cable that converts to a USB connection. The MacBook only has Thunderbolt 3 connections, so I have a USB3.0 adapter "dock" connection that plugs into the two thunderbolt connections on the side of the laptop. Needless to say iMovie or the laptop doesn't recognize the "VCR" camera.

The camera also has an i.Link connection too... Is there a way to get the MacBook to capture VCR video or a better way to make this work?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Dec 23, 2020 5:14 PM

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Answer 1

Rich839

Level 8

48,340 points

Dec 23, 2020 6:25 PM in response to DaSha22

Take a look at this You Tube video that explains the import process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VgU1xDUUAo

The cable connections are Firewire (iLink) > Thunderbolt 2 > Thunderbolt 3. So you wiil need a firewire to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and a Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter.

— Rich

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Answer 2

DaSha22 Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 23, 2020 6:45 PM in response to Rich839

Thanks for the video link; that's my exact camera... I guess there are always more cables and connectors to buy.

I'll post later if this works for me... Thanks again

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Answer 3

Rich839

Level 8

48,340 points

Dec 23, 2020 9:32 PM in response to DaSha22

You are welcome.

Best of luck. I’ll look forward to your post.

— Rich

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Answer 4

Dec 24, 2020 3:05 AM in response to DaSha22

A word of caution . . . as you will soon discover, the 2 Thunderbolt connecters are extremely expensive for what they are and there is no guarantee that they will all work together properly.

Some people on the FCP forum have reported problems but you may be lucky.

I am not sure what you mean by "RCA cable to USB" but have you tried capturing your video with QuickTime Player?

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Sony DCR camera, iMovie video capture, via thunderbolt 3

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