Q: FCE won't log and transfer from Sony Handycam

I have a Sony Handycam and Final Cut Express 4. I used to use this combination on an old 17” MacBook pro from about 2007 with no trouble. I recall vaguely having to download something, perhaps a plugin, to make FCE work with the camera, but I can’t remember. Maybe I didn’t.

I now have a new MacBookPro:

  Processor Name:    Intel Core i7

  Processor Speed:    2.3 GHz

  Number of Processors:    1

  Total Number of Cores:    4

  L2 Cache (per Core):    256 KB

  L3 Cache:    6 MB

  Memory:    8 GB

  OSX 10.9.2

I’ve installed the same exact version/box of FCE and use the exact same camera. But I can’t log and transfer clips from the Handycam.

In FCE 4, my camera loads in the Log & Transfer window but when I add a clip to queue, the status wheel spins for a few seconds, then stops after no progress made. When I click on the clip in the queue, a little red stop sign replaces the status wheel and mouseover says reveals “Error: No Data”

However, the clip will play in Log & Transfer preview. And, outside of FCE, in Finder, I am able to drag the files from the camera HD to my desktop (this is new to me, I don’t recall doing this on the 2007 Mac). The clips don’t appear as separate files though, just one strange, grey Quicktime icon. If I double click that, I get a little window displaying video thumbnails that lets me open one or multiple clips in Quicktime and save as individual mov files. But I can’t drag these from Finder to the FCE project browser.

If I save a clip this way as a mov and try dragging that into the FCE browser, it says “Unknown File”.

I have tried HD and SD recordings on the camera. No difference.

In FCE’s easy setup, there are 3 options for Apple Intermediate Codec. I’ve tried all 3. No difference.

I’ve reformatted the Handycam HD — with the Handycam settings, not with my computer. No difference.

Please help.

Thanks!