How do I import DV without using iMovie?

Most stills cameras produce video clip files in either .avi or .mov format. Normally you can just transfer these to your machine (I use a card reader) and open them with QuickTime.

Thanks for the clarification. I think you need either iMovie or Final Cut, but it probably be better to ask if there is any alternative in a more specialized forum like one of those here:

http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=141

Thanks for that important info. I've never heard of a way to do that, but perhaps the experts in the iMovie or Final Cut forums know of one.

Tymon,

I assume your goal is to transfer DV from a video camera in something greater than real-time. If that is you goal, the answer to your question is no.

Digital still cameras capture the video and store it as a transferable file usually in a .avi, .mov or .mpg container. These completed files can simply be copied to your hard drive. The transfer of a self-contained video file can be done at speeds greater than real-time.

DV camcorders are different. The content is not stored as file, but rather as a real-time stream on the tape. You can only capture this stream in real-time with an application that can create a self-contained file when it's finished.

The only way to speed up the transfer would be to have a camcorder and a computer application that would transfer the stream at a rate faster than real-time. I'm not aware of any camcorders that have that feature.

That's not to say that such products don't exist though. You might want to post your question on the iMovie forum. Perhaps someone there knows of a solution.