Transfer DV to mac mini via firewire

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Transfer DV to mac mini via firewire

I wish to connect an older Sony handycam DCR-HC96 to my mac mini.The handycam has an old IEEE 1394 DV output .What adaptor cable to I need to transfer video to my mini please?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jun 17, 2012 3:41 PM

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Answer 1

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Fe4nd

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Jun 17, 2012 3:54 PM in response to sloppyrocks

So far every single mini has had a FireWire port, but from early 2009 onwards this has been a FireWire 800 port. Your cam probably has Firewire 400. If you don't have a native FireWire 400 port but you do have FireWire 800, you can use one of the following solutions:

Moshi 800 to 400 FireWire Adapter (with a 6pin-to-6pin or 6pin-to-4pin FireWire400 cable as needed)

Moshi FireWire 800 Cable with FireWire 400 to 800 Adapter (if you think you might need a FW800 cable some day, and with an additional 6 pin to 4 pin adapter if necessary).

Belkin FireWire 800/400 9-Pin to 6-Pin Cable

Belkin FireWire 800/400 9-Pin to 4-Pin Cable (Use whichever of these two has the correct connector for your cam)

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Answer 2

sloppyrocks Author

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Jun 17, 2012 4:09 PM in response to sloppyrocks

Thank you for the prompt reply Very helpful.My cam appears to have a 4 pin IEE1394 output.

I looked at the firewire 9 pin male connector and it did not look like the pin layout would match the firewire 800 female in the back of the mac mini (mini is about 2 years old). Obviously it must, but really wanted to clear it up before buying what may have been the wrong adaptor / cable. I want to get all my old DV tapes onto a HDD.

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Answer 3

Fe4nd

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Jun 17, 2012 4:33 PM in response to sloppyrocks

Also see this picture: techspecs_ports.jpg . Firewire 800 is the rectangular one slightly larger than the old 6 pin connector (helpfully labeled by Apple as FireWire 800 in this picture, though not on the actual machine).

Or here: http://www.unm.edu/~tbeach/terms/images/firewire.jpg

The 9 pin to 4 pin should be what you want.

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Answer 4

sloppyrocks Author

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Jul 3, 2012 4:12 PM in response to Fe4nd

OK, I have tried to transfer DV from the Sony DCR-HC96 using firewire but the Mac Mini cannot see a camera connected.

I know the firewire works as I have used it since from the same camera to a Panasonic HDD recorder.

However I must use a 4 pin top 9 pin firewire adaptor to connect to the mini. So either Macs do not like the DCR-HC96 video camera or the new adaptor is faulty. I have tried the same cable and adaptor in a new mac book pro. Same result. Cannot see the camera.

I can transfer still pics from the camera using USB. Trying DV via USB to the mini is either not supported or not recognised.

I'll just have to buy another 4 to 9 pin cable (assuming my adaptor is faulty) and try that. I have seen a few other posts regarding my model camera but results are not conclusive.

Any other advice welcomed.

Thank you.

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