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Sony Hi-8 (Digital Handycam) import to iMovie9

Have a macbook running OS X 10.5 and imovie 9

Have a Sony Handycam DCR-TRV280 that uses hi-8 mini ntsc videos

So far they are not friends.

I thank you to the greatest heights of Macintosh Online Support Forum Glory if you can help me overcome.

I will try to give as much relevant info as I can:

The Handycam has three export ports.

1.) "A/V" which gets it to the VCR

2.) "i-link" which is a 4-port firewire

3.) "DV" which is for usb streaming

In the camera's internal settings the only things I can find that are relevant and that I can control seem to be:

1.) USB streaming on/off

2.) Video-Edit: Edit Set to EITHER "i-Link" or "IR" (I think this translates to "AV"; I have no idea what IR would stand for: Incredible Ripoff?)

iMovie9, iPhoto, and Finder do not recognize the camcorder in any way -- either thinking it is a USB flashdrive, which seems to be a common phenomenon, or anything else -- EXCEPT:

When I have iMovie open, and the little green light is on next to the camera above my screen, that light blinks when I:

1.) plug into the firewire port and my camera is set to: a.) USB Streaming OFF; b.) Video-Edit: Edit Set = "i-Link"

2.) plug into the USB port and my camera is set to : a.) USB Streaming ON; b.) Video-Edit: Edit Set = "i-Link"

This indicates to me that the dear Macbook at least recognizes digital life through the port and at the end of that cable.

Please help me figure out how to make these two talk to each other. I would like to download these "old" movies (7 years?) so that I can trash these stupid little tapes and let my kids play with the handycam.

Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 20, 2011 10:47 PM

20 replies

msuper69

Level 6

8,689 points

May 21, 2011 1:57 PM in response to AppleMan1958

His camera does not have analog passthrough.

May 21, 2011 2:22 PM in response to msuper69

Appleman, thanks for your comment as well; but no, I have no passthrough.

It looks like all the devices you (plural) mentioned cost upwards of $100. In which case, I might as well take Appleman's advice and invest that in a new camera (since that is happening anyway) that also has the pass-through.

Or perhaps I'll delay the purchase, and take this all in to work one weekend and download the videos onto a PC with Windows XP since that still supports the original USB streaming software.

Now, don't I feel like an idiot for using those stupid hi-8 tapes.

May 22, 2011 6:39 AM in response to Killing Me Sony

As I understand it, you say you recorded the footage on the camera you are trying to capture from using

Hi8 tapes.

Sony Digital 8 camcorders can use Hi 8 tapes as well as Digital 8 tapes. They are the same product with different labelling. There is no need to feel like an idiot for using Hi 8 tapes, many people did as they were sometimes cheaper to buy. The Digital 8 tapes were the same as the 'Metal Particle' Hi8 tapes. You could also use the more expensive 'Metal Evaporated' Hi8 tapes.

Another point about using Hi8 tapes in your Digital 8 camera is that the footage recorded will be in digital format NOT analogue, so there is no requirement to convert it. Your camera cannot record in analogue no matter what tape you put in it.

I am not sure why iMovie cannot see your camera but it is not because you used Hi8 tapes, and you are definitely not sending analogue through your firewire cable.

When you connect your camera to your Macbook and open iMovie try powering down the camera then power up again and then click on the 'open camera import window '.

Your manual should tell you how to set up your camera for connection to a PC or MAC, there may be some settings required on the camera.

If I think of anything else I will let you know.

jmalash

Level 1

1 points

Sep 1, 2013 7:29 AM in response to Killing Me Sony

I came across these posts while looking for a solution to the exact same problem originally stated here. I too bought a $25, 4 to 6 pin FW cable (Rocket Fish), and my mid 2010 MacBook Pro doesn't recognize my camera. (SONY DCR-TRV280)

I expected the data transfer to be a snap, but no such luck. If I make headway, I'll let you know.

Oct 13, 2013 8:26 AM in response to Killing Me Sony

I had this exact problem as well, and also bought a new cable sine I needed one for my mac.

For me it works in imovie, the only catch is that I need to press the cable connection to my camera at an odd, and very uncomfortable angle. However if I tough through it I can transfer video to imovie just fine. I can also control my camera from imovie (rewind the tape, play it, etc.)

I have and older Sony DCR-TRV140 Digital 8 Handycam

Sony Hi-8 (Digital Handycam) import to iMovie9