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

Top-ranking reply

AppleMan1958

Level 7

27,492 points

Posted on May 21, 2011 1:55 PM

There is a feature on some Sony 8MM DV cameras called analog passthrough to DV. I had a TRV-230 and it had this feature. I was able to transfer my 8mm analog tapes to my Mac through the Firewire port. The camera converts to DV on the fly. Not all Sonys have this feature. Look at your camera on eBay. If it has this capability, the sellers will note it prominently.

If your camera does not have this feature, you can use the EyeTV Hybrid from ElGato through your Mac's USB port (and through camer's AV out). You can also use the Grass Valley Digital Analog Converters. Finally, you could purchase a camera with DV passthrough from eBay.

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20 replies

May 21, 2011 10:29 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Yes, it is plugged into the wall.

May 21, 2011 10:30 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yes, this material was recorded on this camera.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,815 points

May 21, 2011 12:26 PM in response to msuper69

That was my thought but the OP says the material was recorded on this camera, which led me to believe he shoot Digital8, using Hi8 tape. The tape format is the same if I remember correctly.

msuper69

Level 6

8,705 points

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

His camera does not have analog passthrough.

Mar 16, 2017 4:59 AM in response to thesurreyfriends

Sort of same question. I have a 2015 MacBook Pro Snow Leopard and have a Sony trv520 with Firewire connection. I can import Digital8 video into Movie using Firwire adapter no problem. When I play old Hi8 tapes (that were taken with an older camcorder), I can see them in movie, but it cannot import them. I guess I could use a screen capture but would prefer not to.

I used to do this with an old PC desktop and a video capture card and I was able to capture both formats. Is there any way to do this in a Mac without purchasing a device to convert analog to digital?

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Sony Hi-8 (Digital Handycam) import to iMovie9