Mini DV transfer to 24"iMac (M1 2021) macOS Monterey 12.5.1

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Level 1

9 points

Mini DV transfer to 24"iMac (M1 2021) macOS Monterey 12.5.1

I want to transfer a box full of Mini DD tapes to my computer to edit and store safely. I have a Sony DCR-HC52 mini DV camera. I have connected it to the camera with a camera cable and two adaptors - a 400 to 800 adaptor cable from the camera, a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor, then another adaptor USB3 into the computer.

The tapes are playing on the camera screen, but the camera is not registering in iMovie and Quicktime does not appear to have any import facility.

I have been frustrated by having to get the different adaptors as each time I got one I thought that was all I needed!

I bought Vidbox video conversion device to transfer from a Sony Video8 camera and they just dropped onto my desktop via the software package.

I am not very bright and am confused by these apparent difficulties. Can anyone explain to me in simple terms what I have to do to capture these (to me) priceless tapes on my iMac please?

David

iMac 21.5″, 10.13

Posted on Nov 26, 2022 9:13 PM

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Answer 1

MartinR

Level 7

21,491 points

Nov 29, 2022 7:14 AM in response to DAH145

DAH145 wrote:

Then I bought another adaptor (from Fruugo in China - identified on packet as USB3.1 multiport Adapter) to connect with the male Thunderbolt to a Thunderbolt 3 pin.

I believe that is where the problem is. Firewire and USB (including USB3.1) are not compatible with each other and cannot be converted between each other. That Fruugo adapter does not support Firewire.

Here are the adapters & cables you need:

4-pin Firewire to 9-pin Firewire (you already have this)
Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter - Apple
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter - Apple (you said you already have this)

Plug the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter into one of the Thunderbolt ports on your iMac; they are the ports with the lightning bolt symbol above them.
Plug the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter into the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Plug the 9-pin end of the cable into the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter
Plug the 4-pin end of the cable into your miniDV camcorder

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Answer 2

MartinR

Level 7

21,491 points

Nov 27, 2022 11:10 AM in response to DAH145

You also need the Apple Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter.

The entire connection chain needs to look like this:

Thunderbolt port on your Mac <-> Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter <-> Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter <-> 9-pin firewire 800 to 4-pin firewire 400 cable <-> Sony DCR-HC52 mini DV camera

When all is connected and your camera is turned on, you will not see a camera icon on your Mac desktop. The way to check if your Mac "sees" the miniDV camcorder is to look in Apple > About This Mac > System Report > Hardware > Thunderbolt. The Tunderbolt to Firewire adapter should show up there as well as your camcorder. If you see them there, QuickTime and iMovie should be able to capture the video.

Note: Vidbox is a USB2 device. Your Sony DCR-HC52 does not use USB; it uses Firewire. But you could (theoretically, at least) use the Vidbox with the analog video out of your miniDV camcorder ... but the video quality would be nowhere near as good as transferring via Firewire.

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Answer 3

Nov 29, 2022 6:09 AM in response to DAH145

Hard to say. My TRV350 works. I would suggest getting the Apple thunderbolt adapter:

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter

And then make sure to use the thunderbolt port on the mac - the ones with the lightning bolts. I did have some trouble getting the thing to work, and at one point it warned me that I was plugged into the USB port and not the thunderbolt port!

I will say this, make sure to hash this out now - the ability to get stuff off of firewire cameras is quickly passing. Adobe has removed this capability from its software, and others will follow suit.

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Answer 4

MartinR

Level 7

21,491 points

Nov 29, 2022 7:21 AM in response to DAH145

DAH145 wrote:

When I was searching Youtube etc for info/directions I did come across a list of cameras that were compatible and this model is not on there - maybe that's the problem?

Even though Apple publishes a camera compatibility list, it has never been comprehensive. Any miniDV camcorder that has a Firewire port (Sony calls it iLink) should work.

Here is Apple's iMovie User Guide, with a page about importing from tape-based (Firewire) camcorders:

Import into iMovie on Mac from tape-based cameras - Apple Support

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Answer 5

DAH145 Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 29, 2022 1:01 AM in response to MartinR

Trouble with dealing with idiots like me is we don't understand anything more complicated than boiling an egg! I can only offer the excuse that I'm a technically challenged octogenarian!! Rather than try to identify the connections I have made by numbers etc I have taken photos which may be better. I bought the camera 2nd hand because I seem to have lost the one I had. I bought a cable on-line to plug into the camera's Firewire socket which I think was called a 9-pin 800 to 4-pin firewire 400 cable.

Then I bought an expensive adaptor from Apple from the 9-pin 800 firewire to a Thunderbolt male plug.

Then I bought another adaptor (from Fruugo in China - identified on packet as USB3.1 multiport Adapter) to connect with the male Thunderbolt to a Thunderbolt 3 pin.

I have connected it all up and tried using both the sockets on the back of the computer - two with a lightning symbol, two with nothing.

The camera is switched on and I can see the tape running/images and sound on the camera. Nothing on desktop or in the Finder window.

Opened Apple>About this Mac>System Report>Hardware>Thunderbolt USB4 which, under Status, says "No device connected".

Am I going to my maker without passing on these priceless films to my offspring? What am I doing wrong? Sorry to be a pain guys - you have been so helpful.

Here are the photos - assuming I can add them here ........

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Answer 6

DAH145 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 5, 2022 8:53 PM in response to Keith Barkley

Well .... I sent off for the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter and connected it in place of the Chinese one I bought previously so I'm pretty sure I have everything connected up properly. The video camera is playing perfectly and when I follow your directions: (The way to check if your Mac "sees" the miniDV camcorder is to look in Apple > About This Mac > System Report > Hardware > Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter should show up there as well as your camcorder.) it tells me that a device is connected (hurrah!) and that it is a Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter, but no reference to the Sony camera.

However, when I open iMovie or Quicktime, there is nothing registering, nothing happening.

Help! Would be eternally grateful for any suggestions.

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Answer 7

ghr165

Level 4

1,324 points

Dec 5, 2022 9:12 PM in response to MartinR

MartinR: Am I right in thinking that the Mac saying a device is connected means the camcorder is actually connected ie a dangling Thunderbolt cable would not register as a 'device connected'?

DAH145 - it seems to me you are very close. Keith Barkley said he did have some trouble but it did work.

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Answer 8

DAH145 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 6, 2022 12:01 AM in response to ghr165

Yes, the camera and all cables/adapters are firmly hooked up. I'm going to start from scratch with the cables/camera and follow the instructions on the link to Apple's iMovie User Guide supplied by MartinR.

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Thanks everyone.

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Answer 9

DAH145 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 12, 2022 12:17 AM in response to Keith Barkley

Hello Keith - thanks again for your input. I have checked and double checked my connectors but cannot see anything that could be causing a problem and still no camera registering on the iMac in iMovie! There is an outlet on the camera labelled A/V R that appears to take a plug I am not familiar with - sort of semi-circular. Might this work if I can find the correct connector?

I have also looked on line for any of the Sony camcorders on the list of compatible ones, but cannot find a single one for sale!

Not sure where I go from here! So frustrating!!

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Answer 10

DAH145 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 12, 2022 12:19 AM in response to MartinR

Hello Martin - thanks again for your input. I have checked and double checked my connectors but cannot see anything that could be causing a problem and still no camera registering on the iMac in iMovie! There is an outlet on the camera labelled A/V R that appears to take a plug I am not familiar with - sort of semi-circular. Might this work if I can find the correct connector?

I have also looked on line for any of the Sony camcorders on the list of compatible ones, but cannot find a single one for sale!

Not sure where I go from here! So frustrating!!

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Answer 11

Dec 12, 2022 2:43 PM in response to DAH145

Did you click the downward arrow to get the the import screen?

Import media into iMovie from your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 12

DAH145 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 5, 2022 8:55 PM in response to MartinR

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Answer 13

Nov 27, 2022 7:32 AM in response to DAH145

I assume the firewire to TB1 adapter is in there somewhere,

It has to be a thunderbolt port, not USB-3.

It works fine in the thunderbolt port on my 24" iMac, but does not work with the USB-C port.

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Answer 14

DAH145 Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 29, 2022 1:17 AM in response to Keith Barkley

See my response to Martin R. Thanks for trying to help.

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Answer 15

DAH145 Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 29, 2022 1:19 AM in response to MartinR

When I was searching Youtube etc for info/directions I did come across a list of cameras that were compatible and this model is not on there - maybe that's the problem?

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Mini DV transfer to 24"iMac (M1 2021) macOS Monterey 12.5.1

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