Exporting MiniDV video to MacMini

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Exporting MiniDV video to MacMini

I have a Sony GV-D1000 MiniDV Video Walkman that must be six plus years old? I haven't used it for two years.

Today I attempted to plug it into my new MacMini running Lion 10.7.3 -- and quickly discovered I did not have the correct Firewire cable.

The MacMini needs this newest mini input IEEE1394b Firewire 800 port Mbps 8 pin.

My Sony GV-D1000 has an output i.LINK DV Interface IEEE1394a 400 Mbps 4 pin

I dashed to the store and bought a cable with those connectors. Rocketfish RF-AP309 from Best Buy. Crud!! The MacMini cannot see the Video Walkman. I tried connecting, re-connecting… turning the Walkman off/on. Restarted the MacMini. Nothing. Tried this with my latest version of iMovie '11 -- and with iMovie HD vers 6.0.3. Neither video softwares can see the Sony GV-D1000.

OK, Plan B:

I pulled out my MacBook Pro 17" early 2008 (purchased new March 2008) running Lion 10.7.3.

The new firewire cable just purchased will not work plugged into the MBP….. Next I grab a 400 Mbits FireWire IEEE 1394a. Plug that into the MPB and the other end into the Walkman. It works! It peforms well with both video softwares.

But… I want to work on the new MacMini. Would I have purchased a defective cable? Or is there something about the MacMini that won't accept the signal from the Sony GV-D1000?

thanks

-Mike in SF

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.3), 750GB HD 2.5GHz 16GB memory

Posted on Apr 20, 2012 7:03 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

91,594 points

Apr 20, 2012 9:30 PM in response to boot321

I opted for a FireWire 400 to 800 cable instead of an adapter for my older 400 External HDs, but that 4 to 9 pin adapter should work.

Disconnect any non-esental USB and FireWire devices and reset both the SMC and PRAM.

SMC > Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

1. Shut down the computer.

2. Unplug the computer's power cord.

3. Wait fifteen seconds.

4. Attach the computer's power cord.

5. Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.

PRAM and NVRAM > Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM

1. Shut down the computer.

2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.

3. Turn on the computer.

4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.

5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.

6. Release the keys.

Then reconnect the device(s) and check your System Profiler under Hardware / Firewire.

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