JVC Mini Dv to MacBook Pro Transfer on Big Sur

The only output port that will do what you require is the FireWire 4 pin output shown here.

The cable that you plug into your camcorder is this one, called a FireWire 400 4 pin to Firewire 800 9 pin cable shown here.

The big end of the cable above, FireWire 9 pin , goes into the first adaptor here,

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MD464ZM/A/thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter

and then as you have USB-c ports on your Mac you will need this extra adaptor to go from the adaptor I just mentioned above into your Mac's USB-c port.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MMEL2ZM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter

See more here

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251304950

As mentioned , it is getting more difficult to capture mini DV tape into iMovie with newer OS and newer hardware so if you have access to an older Mac then use that.

The S-Video output of your camcorder is analog so is of no use to you in this particular case for import into iMovie.

Hi,

Take a look at this thread and the links within it for a good discussion of your issue:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251412711

You would need a Firewire cable (not USB) from your camcorder to your Mac. If your Mac does not have a firewire slot, then you would use what ever adapters necessary to complete the connection. For example: FW>Thunderbolt 1>Thundebolt 2>Thunderboldt 3 (USB-c). You should use a direct connection rather than through a hub.

Importing from DV tape can be somewhat unreliable with iMovie 10. No guarantee that it will be successful, although most do work. Often the cables and adapters are the problem, so I would use Apple adapters even though they probably will be a bit more expensive.

-- Rich

We appear to be confusing each other.

My last 2 posts were on the basis that you had borrowed an old mac with a FireWire port and you were asking what cable was needed between Mac and camcorder.The cable needed for this set up is the 9 pin to 4 pin FireWire cable pictured earlier above.

No other cables or adapters are required and no "drivers" either.

First questions; Did you try to import into the old borrowed Mac using the FireWire cable? If you did what was the result.?

Did you try capturing using Quicktime Player and iMovie.?

What OS is it running and what version of iMovie? Or have you abandoned the idea of using the old Mac?

Now back to your new Mac.

"It’s a USB-C to USB adapter and I’m on Big Sur. I do have the other 2 adapters as well but to no avail. "

Can you send picture of USB-c to USB adapter . The only 2 adapters you need for your new Mac are these 2 numbered 1 and 2 in this picture.

Neither of them is a USB-c to USB adapter.

These 2 adapters are used together with the 9 pin to 4 pin FireWire cable pictured in previous post.

It has been stated that capturing tape with newer Macs and newer OS appears to have become more unreliable .

It certainly works for some but not all . The old Mac should be OK.

When you reply can you be certain to indicate which answers refer to the old Mac and which refer to your new Mac?

Ideally, you use a firewire cable from your camcorder to the firewire slot in your Mac. Newer Macs do not have firewire slots, but instead have Thunderbolt 1, 2, or 3 (USB-c) slots. So you need to use adapters to make the connection. Do not use a dongle. Do not use USB. Start by reading your camera's user manual to see what cables that they recommend for transferring media to a computer. Use the cable that came with your camera. I'm guessing, but probably you would use the S-video outlet from your camera and then use the necessary adapters to connect the cable to your Mac. The thread link that I provided in my earlier post will show what adapters that you need.

Here's an Apple help link that explains the process:

https://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.1/#/mov6af9c94c1

Here's a help link re cables:

https://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.1/#/mov50a336efa

-- Rich

OK. Shame the old Mac does not have iMovie. All Macs come with iMovie installed, so perhaps it has been deleted.

You can try this on old Mac and new Mac.

Connect Mac to camcorder and power up the camcorder and set it up ready for playing back the tape.

Launch QuickTime Player and go up to File >New Movie Recording and you should get this

Click on the options arrow and you should see your JVC camcorder listed. Select your camcorder and also select it for the audio input.

For the quality option in the options, select High. Click on red Record button and set tape to play. Click on this same button ( it won't be red now) when you have finished capture.

If successful you will get one long clip saved to your desktop.Play it through in QTP and check that the audio in in sync with the video .

Can you say what OS the old Mac is running please and year of Mac? To do this click on Apple logo top left and click on About This Mac.

Can you give a picture of the cable you are using, please show both ends of cable.

Can you tell us what OS you are running on the borrowed Mac and what version of iMovie it is using?

If the old Mac with FireWire is 2009 or after then the cable you need is the 4 pin to 9 pin shown above. The 9 pin end goes into your Mac and the 4 pin end into camcorder.

2008 models had both 9 pin and 6 pin ( one of each) and sometime before that they had only the 6 pin .

There is no picture shown above of the 6 pin.

Glad you cleared that up. 😊

— Rich