iMovie and Canon ZR60

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Level 1

8 points

iMovie and Canon ZR60

I am trying to help out a buddy in connecting a group of Canon zr60 camcorders up for his digital media studio at a local school. The camcorder worked fully with iMovie when they were initially purchased, but shortly after they stopped working. Canon has nothing to say to me since the camcorders are "not supported for downloading video on OSX." I cannot get iMovie 6 to recognize any of the camcorders. I have tried multiple firewire cables, multiple computers (eight different eMacs, one powerbook, and one iBook), multiple camcorders (different brands and models), and multiple versions of iMovie (4.0, 5.0, and 6.0). I have also tried using a DV converter box. In every single case the camcorder is not recognized. I have tried the GarageBand fix, resetting the camcorders to their factory settings, setting the camcorder to the exact time of the computers, rebooting with the camcorder on, resetting the computers to factory settings, repairing permissions, running disk fisrt aid, tech tools pro, and even analyzing the console messages as well. The console message seen is kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Apple ID 31 built-in: no valid selfIDs for more than 2 minutes after bus reset, whenever I check to see if the camcorder or DV box is being seen in the system profiler. I think I have exhausted every possible idea that I can come up with. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Does anyone know of any other OS X compatible software that could extract the video from a firewire camcorder? If that exists, I simply can import the movie from there to iMovie. Are their GIMP drivers that anyone knows of either? I am loosing mind... HELP!

PowerBook 12" 1.33Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.8) 768mb RAM

Posted on Nov 5, 2006 1:20 PM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

Nov 5, 2006 4:26 PM in response to Leshbob

the camcorders are "not supported for downloading video on OSX.

Why are you bothering?

Have you tried importing into Quicktime?

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Answer 2

Nov 5, 2006 5:33 PM in response to Leshbob

Hi,

I have a Canon ZR60 camera and have had one ever since iMovie4. It works fine. One thing you MUST KEEP IN MIND with Canon cameras, particularly those in the vintage of the ZR60, is that they DO NOT play with any other FW device connected to the same FW port as the ZR60. A good example is connecting a FW drive to one FW port and the camera to a second FW port that are on trhe same bus. I have overcome that by adding a PCI card that has both FW and USB2.0 ports and ALWAYS connecting the ZR60 to one FW port on the G5 and then connecting my FW HD to the FW port on the PCI card.

Also, maybe there is something going on with the camera.

Hope this helps.

Bob

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Answer 3

Leshbob Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 5, 2006 6:46 PM in response to Bob O'Halloran

I am connecting the camcorder directly into the firewire port on my powerbook and have tried every port on the emacs as well. Unfortunately, third party cards are not an option with the machines I am working on. The camera is "supported" to work with iMovie and Final Cut Pro (as stated on the canon website), but not supported to import video into a mac (whatever that means). I am fairly certain that it may not be the camera though. I have tried it with four different camcorders (all the same model) and two other camecorders (a canon ZR100 and a sony). I am clueless what could be the problem. I guess I will try going to the apple store in the morning. The only odd thing I could think of is the internal camera battery, but Canon has absolutely no literature about that being an issue. Thanks for the initial responses. If the people at the Genius Bar have anything, I will be sure to let you know what all they said.

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Answer 4

Nov 5, 2006 7:34 PM in response to Leshbob

Here is something that may have a bearing on it. If I remember correctly, and its' been quite a while, but I do remember that certain model cameras, (don't think that it is only canons) that are made outside the US (as in Europe) do not allow pass thru, or maybe its' the ability to take video back into the camera so you can record back onto tape. I'm not real clear on this. But I do distinctly remember that if the camera was made in the US you didn't suffer those issues. It is also that the US made cameras cost more for the very same model as one made in Eurpoe. If my memories sereve me it had something to do with various laws that existed in Eurpoe.

I know that dosen't answer your question but if the ZR100 works but the ZR60 dosen't, I can't think of any other reason.

The ZR60 I have allows me to connect the camera to my mac via FW and open iMovie and import. I can also send it back to the camera and record on tape. I can also use the camera in pass thru mode if I am converting VHS tapes, etc.

Let me know what if anything you find out.

Bob

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Answer 5

Nov 6, 2006 11:28 AM in response to Leshbob

Hi leshbob,

I thought you might try this if you are still having problems. I know yours is a difference camera, but maybe its' symtomatic.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=720383&tstart=0

Let's hear back from you.

Bob

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Answer 6

Leshbob Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 6, 2006 12:01 PM in response to Bob O'Halloran

That thread was a good link, but unfortunately I already have the internal mic selected in my audio settings. I haven't had a chance to trek across town yet to the apple store and see what that pros have to say about it, but this is quite frustrating. I guess I will also give Canon a shout again even though I am sure they will point the finger back at apple again. Worth a shot again though. If you have any other suggestions, let me know and I will try them. I know that this camcorder seems to be specifically troublesome on this message board, but it still doesn't explain why different ones still won't hook up. That kind of tells me that it could be some odd setting that we're missing. Anyways give a shout back if you find anything.

PowerBook 12" 1.33Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.8) 768mb RAM

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Answer 7

Nov 6, 2006 2:34 PM in response to Leshbob

Good Luck,

I'm assumimg that you are using the most current version of iMovie. I do well remember that when iMovie 5.0 came out there were many camcorders that were no longer compatible with that version. The ZR60 was one of them. Apple did a fix that picked up many that were first left out( if I remember correctly, it seemed as though the ones that didn't make it were older camcorders that used the regular tapes as opposed to the mini tapes). The ZR60 was the able to work again. Whe Apple released iMovie HD6, I was very hesitant to upgrade for fear of having the same problems. But as it turns out, the ZR60 continues to work with all versions of iMovie fine. At least for me.

Good luck.

Bob

still can't understand why a ZR100 will work on your computer and not the ZR60. Also, when you go to the Apple store, bring your camera, cables, etc and see if one of the techs would hook it up and see what happens.

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Answer 8

Leshbob Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 6, 2006 3:03 PM in response to Bob O'Halloran

Step ahead of you on that... I have the camcorder, DV input box, four firewires, AV cables, etc already in a bag ready to go. Thanks for the help and I will get back to you after I stop in. Thanks for the help so far! ps-contacted canon and am waiting their fun answer.

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Answer 9

Nov 6, 2006 10:27 PM in response to Leshbob

I'll bite.... what's a DV input box? That sounds suspiciouly like another device on the Firewire bus. Keep in mind that ALL firewire ports share the same bus. It doesn't matter if you have one or four or more ports, unless you have added a PCI Firewire card, all these ports are on the same bus. If the camcorder isn't the ONLY thing connected via Firewire to the computer, you may (well, OK you are) have problems.

Mike

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Answer 10

Nov 7, 2006 3:04 AM in response to Mike Bisom1

I agree,

Se my specific comments above. The ZR60 is especially prone to not working if there IS ANY OTHER FW DEVICE on the same bus (pci card excepted, again as stated above). That would include but not be limited to external FW HD's, ANY FW input devoce such as a canoplus converters and the such. That camcorder MUST BE ALL BY ITSELF on a bus.

I do think that he indicated that, so we'll see.

Bob

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Answer 11

Leshbob Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 7, 2006 11:56 AM in response to Bob O'Halloran

I only have one firewire port to work with on my Powerbook and two empty ones to work with on the emacs. The ports are not suspect. I have hooked firewire hard disks to it and confirmed that they work by doing firewire networks between two computers as well. So I am nearly certain that the firewires are not the problem. Canon responded to me telling me to try a new firewire cable (ha ha). They also said to check out if the camera is transmitting to alternative devices (TV input jacks). If they don't work then the cameras are dead. The DV box is a Canopus OHC-55. That causes the infamous firewire error (kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Apple ID 31 built-in: no valid selfIDs for more than 2 minutes after bus reset.) in the console so I know that the box could be suspect, but it still doesn't make sense why the camcorder doesn't work. I may resort to checking out some old old versions of iMovie to see if they see the camcorder. This is simply baffling. I will go to the apple store on thursday if time permits. This is really baffling.

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Answer 12

Leshbob Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 7, 2006 12:00 PM in response to Bob O'Halloran

I only have one firewire port to work with on my Powerbook and two empty ones to work with on the emacs. The ports are not suspect. I have hooked firewire hard disks to it and confirmed that they work by doing firewire networks between two computers as well. So I am nearly certain that the firewires are not the problem. Canon responded to me telling me to try a new firewire cable (ha ha). They also said to check out if the camera is transmitting to alternative devices (TV input jacks). If they don't work then the cameras are dead. The DV box is a Canopus OHC-55. That causes the infamous firewire error (kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Apple ID 31 built-in: no valid selfIDs for more than 2 minutes after bus reset.) in the console so I know that the box could be suspect, but it still doesn't make sense why the camcorder doesn't work. I may resort to checking out some old old versions of iMovie to see if they see the camcorder. This is simply baffling. I will go to the apple store on thursday if time permits. This is really baffling.

PowerBook 12" 1.33Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.8) 768mb RAM

PowerBook 12" 1.33Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.8) 768mb RAM

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Answer 13

Nov 7, 2006 1:45 PM in response to Leshbob

I agree,

Based on what you've said, I strongly suspect that the FW port on the ZR60 is dead. It would be worth it to try it in another Mac at the Apple store and see. If none of them work, its' a goner.

Based on the age of the model, I'm sure that its' not worth repairing. I must say that I haven't heard of FW ports going on camcorders, but I guess they do.

Bob

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Answer 14

Nov 7, 2006 2:28 PM in response to Bob O'Halloran

Maybe I'm confused... have you tried the camcorder on a firewire port WITHOUT any other firewire device attached? It doesn't matter that the ports are all ok, if there is another device on the same or different port (which is still the same bus), this can often confuse the bus... even if the ports work. Heck, I have a MBP and a Sony DSR-170... and I MUST daisy chain the camera to get it to work.

Mike

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Answer 15

Nov 7, 2006 2:48 PM in response to Mike Bisom1

Well, the way I have read his posts, I read it that he only connects the ZR60 to his PB or emac using a FW cable to the FW port on the PB/emac and does not have any other FW device connected to the same FW bus as the ZR60.

If it is such that he connects the DVR to the PB or the emac with a FW cable and then connects the ZR60 to the DVR/FW HD, ( as in trying to daisy chain it) then that will absoultey cause connection problems for the ZR60.

So to make clear, if one is using a Canon ZR60, you MUST, repeat MUST connect the ZR60 and only the ZR 60 to the mac using a FW cable to the FW port with no other FW device connecvted to the same bus. YOU CANNOT connect the ZR60 to an external FW devise and then connect that devise to the Mac. If you try that you will not get the connection.

This can be ellivated if one is able to install a FW pci card to the mac. The use the FW port on the pci card to connect the FW HD, etc and use the FW port on the mac to connect the ZR60 to it.

Bob

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