Can't import from Sony HDR-HC1

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Level 1

9 points

Can't import from Sony HDR-HC1

I just got the small Sony HDR-HC1 hi def 1080i camcorder, and can't import into iMovie HD. I get "Camera Connected" and can make the HDR-HC1 go into play, rewind, etc. from iMovie HD, and display the footage counter, but the "Import" button does not come up blue. When I click "Import" (white colored), the "Import" button turns blue and the camera begins to play, but no imagery is visible in iMovie HD, and no video is captured. If I click "Import" again (now blue), the camera stops playing. [Note: I can successfully import from my older standard def Sony VX-1000, so I know my copy of iMovie HD works.]

PowerMac G5 2 x 2.67 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.3) iMovie HD v. 5.0.2 (111)

PowerMac G5 2 x 2.67 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

PowerMac G5 2 x 2.67 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Dec 17, 2005 4:59 PM

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Answer 1

picodave

Level 1

0 points

Dec 18, 2005 7:43 AM in response to msimpson

I'm having the same problem with my HDR-FX1, I've tried the Garageband fix, the deleting imovie plist fix, I've even tried my old camera which works just fine.
Imovie detects the camera and displays (HD-1080i-30), I can control the camera off the computer, but it will not import footage. The camera worked fine with Imovie the first 3 times, and I even made DVDs from it. But now nothing works.

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Answer 2

msimpson Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 19, 2005 8:05 PM in response to picodave

Today I went to the Manhattan Beach, CA Apple Store and consulted with a Genius Bar technician. We took my Sony HDR-HC1 over to an in-store G5 and it imported perfectly to iMovie HD. The opinion was it must be some kind of OS or iMovie corruption stemming from updating... the technician did a web look-up and said from what he read, it seemed that the problem could be involved with the update to QuickTime 7.0.3. The recommendation was to do an archive reinstall of 10.4 and re-install iMovie. Unfortunately, I did both and nothing's changed. Earlier I'd tried the "typing a few notes on the keyboard in GarageBand" fix, and also deleting all iMovie Preference files, to no avail.

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Answer 3

msimpson Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 19, 2005 8:06 PM in response to msimpson

BTW, after re-installing 10.4 and iMovie, I did all the updates.

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Answer 4

msimpson Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 20, 2005 1:25 AM in response to msimpson

I should also ad that on the Sony HDR-HC1, "VCR HDV/DV" is set to "HDV", and "i.LINK CONV" is set to "OFF."

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Answer 5

msimpson Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 21, 2005 4:28 PM in response to msimpson

My problem is finally resolved.

Today, I tried a different FireWIre port on my PowerMac G5, and importing is working.

After purchasing my PowerMac G5, I added a non-Apple 3 x FireWire 400 PCI card for extra connectivity. It was when I plugged into one of these ports today that importing began to work.

My earlier unsuccesful attempts to import had been through the FireWire port on the front of the CPU, which had worked fine for importing from my regular def Sony VX-1000.

FYI, I also tried importing through the 800 port on the back of the CPU, using an 800 9 pin to 4 pin cable, which delivered the same earlier results (saw and mechanically controlled the camera, but would not import).

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Answer 6

msimpson Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 21, 2005 4:29 PM in response to msimpson

Problem resolved

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Answer 7

itvp

Level 1

0 points

Jan 29, 2006 10:51 AM in response to msimpson

I was able to import video but no audio while my Sony HDR-HC1 was plugged into the firewire port on the front of my G-5 PowerMac. I plugged into my 30" monitor & it worked perfectly.

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Answer 8

Jan 29, 2006 11:35 AM in response to msimpson

Thanks for telling us the solution. This ought to go into Dan's " Unofficial iMovie FAQ", as several people in different places (iMovie Discussions, MacFixIt, etc) have said that a clash of FW ports on PowerMacs can prevent proper importing.

[..My beloved and I spent a few hours on Manhattan Beach one chilly January a few years ago (2001..?) between flights in from New Zealand and back home to the UK. Then we couldn't find a taxi to get us back to LA Airport, so we went to the nearest shop which was still open - a hairdresser, about to close, and phoned for a taxi from there. Brrrr.. Chill-eee!..]

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