Can you recommend a Sony Mini DV tape camera ?

Apple have just released an update to iMovie 11. It is version 9.0.9 :

Includes - fix for iMovie not recognizing certain video cameras.

Not certain if this fix is aimed at mini DV cameras, but give it a shot before buying another camera.

That's good advice from thesurreyfriends. I have the Sony DCR-TRV20E miniDV model and it works fine with all versions of iMovie. However, most of my video now is shot on a hard drive AVCHD camcorder (Sony HDR-SR7) so I import very little tape based DV material nowadays.

John

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.

http://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html?lang=en_US

seeburg220 wrote:

I'm curious why they don't list any mini dv camera models then ?

In the link that Klaus provided, you will see the following dot point under the heading "Additional compatibility notes" near the middle of the page (the 2nd dot point):

"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."

In earlier versions of this article all the compatible miniDV camcorders were individually listed. Apple now list only the modern cameras that use hard drives and memory cards (mostly using the AVCHD format).

I'll respond separately to your other question about my miniDV camcorder.

John

Message was edited by: John Cogdell

seeburg220 wrote:

I noticed your camera is the European model. Is that a different format than the USA version, ie PAL ?

Yes. My Sony DCR-TRV20E is the PAL model (hence the E in the model number). I believe there was also an NTSC model. I purchased mine in December 2000, so over 12 years old now, but still works fine. Although, as I mentioned earlier, I rarely use this camcorder now - really only for importing old tapes.

Just on that note, I will shortly be doing an import of a wedding I shot, edited and archived back to miniDV tape in 2002 (using iMovie version 2). The project was originally copied to VHS tape. The bride would now like some copies on DVD, so I'm going to add chapter markers and author the DVD in iDVD (and perhaps do some other tidy ups). I'll also provide some USB memory sticks.

In a few days, I will report back as to how this works out. I will be importing to iMovie HD 6, not iMovie '11, in this particular instance. With iMovie '11, importing archived edited tapes causes some of the media to be out of sequence, including titles and transitions and some clips. They seem to import in chronological order rather than edited order. I'm pretty sure that iMovie HD 6 imports in edited order.

Regarding the problem you are having with importing, can you provide some information about your method. For example:

• is the camera connected to power rather than being just battery powered;
• what cable and/or adaptor are you using;
• has the camera worked with other versions of iMovie;
• have you set the camera to VCR (playback) mode;
• have you tried connecting then starting things in a different sequence;
• have you waited long enough before aborting the import process (it sometimes takes a while before iMovie recognizes the camera)?

Answers to all these things, and any other information you can provide, may help us to provide a solution.

So don't look at buying a new camcorder just yet - hang in there!

John

Here's a link to Sony's Support article for connecting the DCR-TRV17 via iLink (FireWire):

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&externalId =C86798&fes=true&mdl=DCRTRV17

John

Just a thought: should you not be seeing 'DV out'? You are trying to import from the camera, not export to it?

A further thought:

Open the Audio MIDI Setup (Utilities folder) and set the default audio output to 44100hZ. Then make sure that the audio output of the camera is set to 16 bits and not 12 bits. Try the camera again.

If no luck try these:

iMovie: Cannot See or Control Camera

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1924?viewlocale=en_US

A Sony fix is suggested here:

http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/usage/5020.shtml

Message was edited by: Klaus1

Good point about DV out. That crossed my mind too.

In my camera there is a menu item for A/V > DV OUT. But this is only switched to the ON position when doing a "pass through" from an analogue source through to the Mac. A standard A/V cable (with 3 RCA plugs on one end plus a mini plug for the camera) is connected to the camera's A/V jack from the analogue source (say, VCR). A FireWire cable takes the digital output from the camera to the Mac. But not all miniDV camcorders have this pass through feature.

Regarding normal importing, I couldn't see any other relevant settings in the camera's menu. To the best of my recollection, I simply connect via FireWire, start iMovie and the camera (in playback mode), and iMovie recognizes it. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I'll be starting a project shortly and will take note of my exact procedure and report back.

John

PS I wrote this reply before seeing your edit Klaus - some good info there. I'm off to bed now as it's nearly 1;00 AM here!

Message was edited by: John Cogdell - added PS

To the best of my recollection, I simply connect via FireWire, start iMovie and the camera (in playback mode), and iMovie recognizes it.

That's the way is should work, and as far as I can see from the specs of the Sony DCR-TRV17 that is what should happen, but it does have optional 12 bit or 16 bit audio, hence my suggestion.

Glad you got it fixed! 🙂