Canopus ADVC 110 Advanced Digital Video Converter

At this point I'd be happy to get anything FROM the camera TO anywhere on the computer, let alone iMovie specifically, but nothing comes up on the screen such as "Save To" and then an option to import to iMovie--otherwise I would certainly do it. (I have no idea if anything I tried to transport ever made it to the computer in any form.)

As to why I was trying to do audio only--I was trying to follow the directions to "Audio Capturing Mode" and a sidebar on the page says, "Caution: If video signal is input during the Audio Capturing mode, the subsequent operations can not be guaranteed."

Well, since all I wanted was the audio anyhow (as the video will be the titles), and since they don't give a CLUE as to connections (ALL the instructions say are, "Play the audio data to capture"--not a THING about connecting it to the converter AT ALL, let alone where or how--now I guess they figure anyone stupid enough to play the audio into empty air without a connection deserves what they get) I plugged in the audio jack only--there is only ONE audio jack (on the camera) but TWO audio holes (on the converter), and they don't give you a CLUE as to which one is correct, so I just went eeny, meeny, miney, moe, and chose the red one (Audio in-R) as it's closest to the yellow one (Video--which I didn't connect because of the vague but seemingly dire threat at the side of the page). I put the jack in the hole on the front of the converter. If they want you to use the back one, they should SAY SO.

Sorry, can't waste anymore time in guesswork without actual instructions from someone who knows how the confounded contraption is meant to work. Thanks for the answer.

Ohhh...ya know what, the people who sold it to me said they'd send software to make it work on the Mac, but I didn't find it in the box. Perhaps they either forgot to include it, or I was meant to download it from somewhere online? In either event I'll call them back and see if they can straighten it out.

Another "Caution" reads: "When the input source is paused or stopped in the Audio Capturing mode, it cannot be captured."

Sorry to be stupid, but how exactly am I to get what I want if I DON'T stop the tape? Am I supposed to play the whole tape to get the 15 seconds of audio I want?

Luckily the sales rep left an email, so I wrote him. Maybe he'll know.

The camera is a Sony Handycam Video Hi8 CCD-TRV138 which shoots 8mm tape--NOT the fancy digital model which is made to connect directly to a computer. That's why I needed the converter.

You know, I saw that Import button and I think I pressed it but probably did something wrong putting the video into the converter so it never was captured. Either that or I really do need special software. The sales rep hasn't responded but the support person at the company has so I'll let him settle it.

My poor nerves couldn't even handle the attempt until all my Christmas shopping was out of the way, that's why it's taken two days to get to it, but OH. MY! GAWD!! I tried it, and it WORKED! I put the audio jack in the left instead of the right hole, left the video disconnected, and followed the instructions as interpreted by me (and there's plenty of room for interpretation) and confirmed by someone who knows, and IT WORKED! Now I'm off to try to find the tutorial to figure out how to put the sound with the titles. See ya!

Thanks to everyone who helped! On to the next question--what to do with the sound now that I've got it in the computer!