Import video and sound from DV camcorder (Sony DCR-PC3E)

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JAD2014 Author

Level 1

7 points

Import video and sound from DV camcorder (Sony DCR-PC3E)

I have an older DV format Sony camcorder which has composite audio/video jack, 4 pin S-Video and Firewire outputs, (Sony DCR-PC3E). I believe I can use a Firewire to Thunderbolt cable to link the camcorder to my iMAC (running Yosemite and iMovie 10.0.9). However, iMovie does not have my camcorder listed as one that it can provide drivers for (possibly) and I have also read that a thunderbolt connection will look for a thunderbolt device at the other end, even if you are connecting via a firewire plug. I am not sure how to progress from here, but I want to import the highest quality DV images as I can without spending a fortune on complex interfaces. Any suggestions or previous experience would be welcome, particularly if Apple or Sony have a suitable driver/interface somewhere I have not found so far. Thank you.

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Sep 3, 2015 11:06 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 3, 2015 12:05 PM in response to JAD2014

You only need the correct cable connection and no "drivers".

You need to buy the Thunderbolt cable connection that fits with your Firewire cable to work with a modern machine.

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Answer 2

JAD2014 Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 4, 2015 7:37 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Thanks, that is encouraging. So I will need to look for a cable +/- adaptors with a Thunderbolt plug on one end and a 4 pin Firewire on the other? I am not sure this combination exists, but I will have a look.

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Answer 3

Sep 5, 2015 3:02 PM in response to JAD2014

I have not seen any Thunderbolt to 4 pin Firewire cables, but Thunderbolt to 9 pin Firewire cables are available from Apple or Amazon, £25 or so.

This will mean that you will also need a 4 pin to 9 pin cable as well but these are available for a few pounds, eBay etc.

The Firewire end on the Thunderbolt to 9 pin Firewire cable is equivalent to a Firewire 9 pin port so the 9 pin on the 4 to 9 pin plugs into this" port".

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MD464ZM/A/thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter

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Answer 4

JAD2014 Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 16, 2015 8:18 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Hi thanks for the advice, I have now got a four pin cable to collect DV out from the camcorder to a Thunderbolt input direct to the iMAC,and lo and behold, iMovie recognises the camcorder's presence and I can view and presumably import video from the camcorder.....brilliant so far.....however there is an annoying flicker on the imported image, about once ever two to three seconds. Any ideas how to stop this???

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Answer 5

JAD2014 Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 16, 2015 8:19 AM in response to thesurreyfriends

Thanks for your detailed advice, perhaps you could see my reply to another guy on this thread about a flicker problem and let me know if you have any knowledge about this issue.

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