How do I upload my DV videos to my macbook pro if iMovie doesn't recognize a Sony DCR-TRV20?

Hi again kclippard,

Just an update for you. I was a little concerned that my Maxtor FireWire hard drive may fail at some stage, given that I've been using it for several years now (touch wood). So, today I bit the bullet and purchased a Belkin FireWire 800/400 9-Pin to 4-Pin Cable from a local retailer (JB HI-FI).

I'm pleased to report that this cable worked perfectly on my MacBook Pro (early 2009). Like you, I'm running Mountain Lion OS X 10.8.1 with iMovie '11 (9.0.7).

My connection sequence was as follows:

I connected the 4 pin plug to the Sony DCR-TRV20E's iLink port and the 9 pin plug to the MacBook Pro's FireWire 800 port. Before switching the power on (from a power board) and starting the camera, I opened iMovie and waited while it generated Events and Projects. I then switched on power to the camera and started it. Almost immediately, the Import window opened in iMovie, allowing me to use all the controls in the Import window. The camera model was identified correctly by iMovie in the Import window.

Sorry if this leaves you feeling a little frustrated, but it works for me! And at least I now have a back-up procedure if my Maxtor external drive fails.

Try following different connection sequences, as I described in my previous post. Otherwise, you may need to look at a different brand cable, as I suggested. Certainly, the Belkin cable works fine on my system - it's the same one that I linked to on the Australian Apple Store. Here's a picture of the box:

John

I have the same camera (the 20E model) and use iMovie '11 and Mountain Lion (as you do). Nowadays I only occasionally import from this camera as my main one is now a hard drive camera that records in AVCHD format (Sony HDR-SR7).

I have no problems importing from the miniDV Sony DCR-TRV20E. However, instead of using a 9 pin to 4 pin Firewire cable (standard FW 800 to mini FW 400), I use a different connection method.

Fortunately, I have an older Maxtor external hard drive. This drive has 2 FireWire 800 ports and a standard FireWire 400 port (6 pin). I connect the Maxtor to my MacBook Pro using a standard FW 800>FW 800 cable (9 pins each end). I connect the camera to the FW 400 port on the Maxtor using an old cable that I previously used with an iMac that only had a standard FW 400 port. This cable has a mini FW 400 (4 pin) connector on one end (for the camera) and a standard FW 400 (6 pin) on the other end. This arrangement works perfectly and allows me to import directly to the MacBook Pro, the Maxtor itself, or any other FireWire 800 hard drive connected to the Maxtor via its spare FW 800 port.

It appears that some cables cause a problem for iMovie, particularly the type you are using - FW 800 9 pin to FW 400 4 pin. It could be a brand problem. A Belkin cable is available on the US Apple Store, priced at US$29.95 - see here:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H7040ZM/A?fnode=51&p=1

What brand is your cable? I don't have one to test unfortunately. It might be worth trying a different brand cable. Also, there are adaptors available that might be suitable for you. Otherwise keep a lookout for an external FireWire drive that has ports for both FW 800 and FW 400 (probably hard to come by now)!

John

PS. Also see this 9 pin to 4 pin cable on the Australian Apple Store (AUS$29.95):

http://store.apple.com/au/product/H5921ZM/A?fnode=51

Message was edited by: John Cogdell - added PS

kclippard wrote:

It was a rocketfish cable.

That looks to be a good quality cable (I googled it). There should be no reason why it doesn't work.

So even though iMovie '11 says it does not support my camcorder, it should with this other cable?

On Apple's iMovie '11 Supported Cameras page ( see http://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html?lang=en_US ) it states: "iMovie ’11 works with most Mini DV tape-based camcorders using DV and HDV formats, which use a FireWire cable (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) to transfer video."

The supported cameras article used to list all the DV and HDV cameras that were supported. The Sony DCR-TRV20 was on that list and has always worked for me on all versions of iMovie (right back to version 2).

It will be worth trying different sequences when connecting your camera. I just tried mine by firstly connecting the camera, turning it on to VCR mode (while connected to a power point, not running just on the battery), then starting iMovie. After iMovie was up and running, with all Events and Projects visible, the import window did not open. So, in iMovie's menu, I clicked on File>Import from Camera. The camera was immediately recognized and the import window appeared.

Try that start-up method. Otherwise, change things around - for example, start iMovie first then plug the camera in to the MacBook Pro's FireWire port and start the camera in VCR (playback) mode. iMovie may then see the camera and the import window will open.

Of course, I'm using the connection method I described in my earlier post, whereby I connect the camera to my Maxtor's FireWire 400 6 pin port. I'm not using a 9 pin to 4 pin FW cable. So, my circumstances are a little different to yours.

If trying different connection sequences still doesn't work for you, it may be a cabling problem, as we've already discussed. Perhaps you could borrow another cable, or try one at an Apple retail outlet. Otherwise, come back as I may have some other possible fixes (such as trashing iMovie's preference file).

John

kclippard wrote:

Hi John,

I tried several different combinations but I still had no luck so I returned the cable to Best Buy. It was a $42 cable, after all!

Do you think it is worth trying the Belkin cable or should I just pursue other ways of getting my video tapes recorded digitally? You mentioned adaptors before - can you tell me more about that? Or "trashing iMovies preferences"?

Kristin

Hi Kristin,

Sorry to hear that you are still not able to import your miniDV clips into iMovie '11.

The adaptor that I was thinking about is this one:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TW748LL/A/moshi-800-to-400-firewire-adapter?fn ode=51&p=1

It would be useful only if you already have a FireWire 400 cable that has 6 pins on one end and 4 on the other. Connect the 6 pin plug to the 6 pin female connector on the adaptor. The other end of the adaptor (with 9 pins) plugs into the FireWire 800 port on your MacBook Pro, of course.

Regarding the Belkin cable - as I mentioned earlier, I now have one and it works perfectly. It might be worth trying. Rather than initially purchasing one, you may be able to firstly try one at an Apple Store or other retail outlet in your area. Hopefully, they may have a spare lying around!

Regarding trashing iMovie's preference file, here's some info for you that I've posted previously in other topics:

Go to your User (Home) folder Library/Preferences (not the Library folder at the top level in Macintosh HD). Similar to Lion, on Mountain Lion (10.8.2), the User Library folder will be hidden (unlike pre-Lion OS X versions). To access it, click on Go in the Finder menu bar, then press and hold down the Option key - the Library folder will appear in the drop down list, enabling access to it.

In the Home/Library/Preferences folder, locate a file named "com.apple.iMovieApp.plist". With iMovie closed, drag this file to the Desktop. When next opened, iMovie will create a fresh preference file with the default settings. If iMovie runs OK, you can change these settings in the menu item "IMovie>Preferences" if desired. Also, it's now safe to drag the old preference file to the Trash. Trashing the file will not harm your existing Events or Projects.

I've just had a visitor call in, so will give the problem some more thought a bit later this evening. Following Bengt's good advice (where relevant) may also help.

John

Hi

My long notes on this

NO CAMERA or A/D-box

Cable

• Are You sure that You are using the FireWire Cable - USB-Cable will not work for miniDV tape Cameras

FireWire - Sure not using the accompany USB-Cable but bought a 4-pin to 6-pin (or 9-pin) FW one ?

• Test another FW-Cable very often the problem maker.

Camera

• Test Your Camera on another Mac so that DV-in still works OK

• Toggle in iMovie pref. Play-back via Camera (on <-> off some times)

• Some Cameras has a Menu where You must select DV-out to get it to work

• Camera connected to "charger" (mains adaptor) - not just on battery

• Camera set in Playback mode - NOT Recording mode

Does Your Camera work on another Mac ?

Sorry to say it is to easy to turn the 6-pin end of the FW-cable 180 deg wrong.

This is lethal to the A/D-chip in the Camera = needs an expensive repair.

(Hard to find out - else than import/export to another Mac ceased to work

everything else is OK e.g. recording and playback to TV)

A/D-box

• Is the dip-switches set right ?

• Set to same standard as recorded/editing e.g. NTSC 29.97fps or PAL 25fps

• Try resetting it

Connections

• Daisy Chaining most often doesn’t work (some unique cases - it’s the only way that work (some Canon Cameras ?))

Try to avoid connecting Camera <--> external HD <--> Mac but import directly to the Mac then move

the Movie project to dedicated external hard disk.

• FireWire-port - Can be re-setted by - Turn off Mac and disconnecting Mac from Mains/Power for 20-30 minutes

External device’s (hard disk’s)

• Should be FireWire as USB/USB2 performs badly and so does Airport or Net-work connected ones too.

• MUST BE - Mac OS Extended formatted - UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange - DO NOT WORK for video due to 4Gb barrier.

Mac

• Free space on internal (start-up) hard disk ? Please specify the amount of free space.

(Other hard disks don't count)

I go for a minimum of 25Gb free space for 4x3 SD Video - and my guess is 5 times more for 16x9 HD ones

after material is imported and edited. No Camera or A/D-box

• GarageBands fix - Close iMovie, Open GarageBand, Play some notes, Close GB and iMove can now be OK

• Does Your Mac have a FireWire Port

• White MacBooks - don't

• MacBook-Air - don't

if not then a few Mac’s has a PCM-CIA slot and there are FW-Cards that makes a FW-port this way

else - NO SOLUTION

Only option as I get it is either

• Use another Mac to Capture material (to an external USB2 - Mac OS Extended formatted hard disk - or -

• Change to another Camera that can be used with Your Mac (no there are no miniDV tape Cameras that can)

• If Your Mac-Book has a PCM-CIA Card place - then there are FW-port-Cards and then

You can import via this - but I've not seen this on more modern Macs. My PowerBook G4

has one and this FW-Card-port works greatly.

SoftWare

• Delete iMovie pref. file may help sometimes. I rather start a new account, log into this and have a re-try.

• Any strange Plug-ins into QuickTime as Perian etc ? Remove and try again.

• FileVault is off ? (hopefully)

• Screen Saver - OFF

• Energy Saver - OFF

Using WHAT versions ? .

• Mac OS - X.5.4 ?

• QuickTime version ? (This is the heart in both iMovie and FinalCut)

• iMovie’08 (7.1.?), 09 or 11 ?

• iMovie HD 6 (6.0.4/3) ?

Other ways to import Your miniDV tape

• Use another Camera. There where tape play-back stations from SONY

but they costed about 2-4 times a normal miniDV Camera.

• If Your Camera works on another Mac. Make an iMovie movie project here and move it

over to Your Mac via an external hard disk.

(HAS TO BE Mac OS Extended formatted - USB/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange WILL NOT DO)

(Should be a FireWire one - USB/USB2 performs badly)

from LKN 1935.

Hi Bengt W, I tried it all, but nothing worked. Your answer has been helpful insofar as all the different trials led to the conclusion that there was something wrong with my iMovie software. I therefore threw everything away and reinstalled iMovie from the HD. After that the exportation of DV videos (there has not been any problem with HDV videos) to my Sony camcorders worked properly as it did before. Thank you. LKN 1935

from Karsten.

in addition to Bengt's excellent '9 yards of advice' .. 😉

camera set to 'Play' , not rec/computer/etc.?

camera not on battery, but power-line?

did your Mac 'recognize' this camera before...?

a technical check.

connect camera, on, playback, fw-connected...

click on the Blue Apple, upper left of your screen ..

choose 'About . . / More . .

under Firewire.. what do you read . . ?

More

• FileVault - Secure that it’s turned off

• Network storage - DOESN’T WORK

• Where did You store/capture/import Your project ?

External USB hard disk = Bad Choice / FireWire = Good

If so it has to be Mac OS Extended formatted

----> UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange is NOT Working for VIDEO !

mbolander

Thanks for all your suggestions. What I learned is that I had a software problem. I had something called "Nikon Transfer" on my Mac that was recognizing my Canon camcorder as a still camera and was preventing iMovie from working properly. After un-installing Nikon Transfer and doing a reboot, everything worked great.

I never liked the Nikon Transfer software anyway--I guess I'll get a cheap card reader and use that to transfer photos in the future.

No Camera or bad import

• USB hard disk

• Network storage

• File Vault is on

jiggaman15dg wrote

if you have adobe cs3 or 4 and have the adobe bridge on close that

or no firewire will work

see if that helps

DJ1249 wrote

The problem was the external backup hard drive that is connected, you need to disconnect the external drive before the mac can see the video camera.

MaryBoog wrote

Maybe your problems is solved in the meantime, but for all others this might help as I had the same problem, also have the Sony HDR-HC7, but the 7e (Europe, PAL). I found this link today and it works perfectly

//support.sony-europe.com/tutorials/dime/videotransfer/vtransfer.aspx site=odw_en_GB&sec=DVH&m=HDR-HC7E

What I exactly did.- put camera in play mode - open guide - choose connection guide - choose comp./printer (where to transfer movie to) - select connection.- i-link (on my camera) but equal to firewire - OK - choose HDV - choose NO for conversion of i.link.

Settings are shown then (VCR HDV/DV.- HDV and i.link-conv..- OFF), press OK, OK, END.

Switch camera off. Connect firewire cable to camera & Mac. Switch camera on, in play/edit mode.

Open i-movie, choose import from camera. On screen below the camera connection is shown.- DV (HDV). Now you can import, automatically or manually.

This worked perfectly for me. Took me 2 days to find out. Could not find any clear thread explaining what I had to do on the camera and the manual was not clear either.

Yours Bengt W