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General discussion

Best Editing Program for Canon Vixia HV30?

Mar 17, 2008 1:58AM PDT

My company just purchased the Canon Vixia HV30. We currently have AdobePremiere 1.5 and 2.0. I'm wondering if these editing programs are compatible with the HV30. If not, what are my options?

We have PCs here.

Discussion is locked

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Canon vixia hv30
Jan 15, 2009 11:41AM PST

After having read numerous comments about editing software for the vixia hv30 I am still confused. I have a Mac OS X, 10.4.11, Processor 1.8 GHz Power PC G5 with 512MG DDR SDRam. I have Imovie '08 which I don't find very intuitive to use. I am able to get it recognize the camera, but while capturing the video and audio, it does not run smoothly or in real time. Should I be using a faster operating system? I also have a PC (Viao VGN-FS680, XP, Intel Processor 1.86. RAM 1GB) that has DVGate Plus software. Unfortunately, it doesn't recognize the camera even with a firwire (ilink) attached. I finally was able to use Moviemaker after reading one of the blogs on this website where I locked the DV into place, but again, the footage is downloading much darker than is on the camera, but at least it is running in real time. I am new to the editing so doing alot of research. I am curious what version of Mac you are using where the footage on your HV30 seems to be downloading effectively. I too bought the camera because it was highly recommended, but did not consider what editing software would be used.

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I am in a similar boat - so I feel what you are feeling.
Jan 15, 2009 1:07PM PST

I am running a flat-panel iMac 17" G5 2 GHz PPC with OSX 10.4.11 with 2 gig RAM. The machine was new 4 years ago when HDV was first coming to consumer camcorders. I learned the stuff that follows the hard way.

I will try to take on each of your items in order.

You need to increase the RAM. 512 meg is OK for running the operating system and was probably the stock RAM that was included with the machine in the box, and maybe a few lightweight applications - and a browser. Editing video - especially high definition video - is very demanding on the CPU - and LOTS or RAM and available hard drive space is required. You need to increase the amount of physical RAM you have. It should be at a minimum of 2 gig. This will mean, most likely, replacing the 2-256 meg DIMMs with 2- 1 gig DIMMs. If this is the Mac I *think* it is, it maxes out a 2 gig RAM. A new, current, machine running an Intel CPU will be very helpful - but not a requirement if you have your expectations set appropriately.

iMovie 08 has received many complaints. It is less-featured than its predecessor. Version 6 is available for download for you to use:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/iMovie_HD_6

The reason iMovieHD can - but can't - recognize the HV30 - or any other miniDV tape based camcorder when you try to import HDV is because a codec is missing. iMovieHD will recognize and deal with DV (as you have found) with nothing additional. The codec you need to install is the "Apple Intermediate Codec" (AIC). Using the OSX system disc, do a "Custom Installation" of Quicktime Components. In there, checkmark the "Apple Intermediate Codec" and finish the installation.

Capturing DV is in real time. It is 1/4 the information of HDV. HDV will not be realtime unless you get a faster computer. My iMac, at 512 meg, captured HDV at about 1/8 realtime with regular bursts into 1/4 realtime. After upgrading the RAM to 2 gig, it regularly captures at about 1/2 realtime to occasional dips to 1/4 or even 1/8 realtime. Yes, it takes a while to import HDV, but I generally do not sit there and impatiently stare at it - I design the DVD artwork or the DVD menu background or mow the lawn or clean the pool... If I MUST have real-time import, then I need to use a new, fast computer with a Core 2 Duo Intel chip. One of the new iMacs would be fine. A MacPro tower is overkill, but will be REALLY fast.

Importing one hour of DV will use about 13-14 gig of computer hard drive space. Importing one hour of HDV will use about 44 gig of computer hard drive space. You should NEVER allow a hard drive to fill completely - it is STRONGLY suggested to ALWAYS have at least 20% of hard drive as available space. An external hard drive (minimum 250 gig for DV and minimum 500 gig for HDV) is STRONGLY suggested. This entire paragraph is for Windows and Macintosh computers.

When the camcorder is connected to the computer with the firewire cable - and the AIC is installed... when you launch iMovieHD and name the file and select the hard drive destination for the iMovie Project file, there is a drop-down menu that allows you to select DV and DV widescreen - and after installing the AIC, you will have the added selection of HDV.

On the Windows side, MovieMaker running under XP cannot deal with HDV. Only the MovieMaker version running under Vista (Business or Pro, I think) can. If you want to stay in the XP environment, there are a number of applications that can handle HDV, but the same cautions apply: Your Vaio does not have enough RAM, the processor is on the slow side, use an external drive for the video project storage, it will not be a real-time import process.

I've been trying to think of a useful analogy to what you are trying to do - essentially using older computing platforms to handle very high calculation intensive data processing with a brand new camcorder... The best I can come up with is that you are wanting to very quickly heat up microwave-able food - but you are using a conventional oven... At least in the case of these computers, there are some things you can do to get it to work, but without replacing the computers with new ones, things will take a little longer - even if you have the right tools.

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Thanks - very helpful
Jan 15, 2009 11:21PM PST

Your comments were very helpful. I have been thinking about buying a new Mac, but did not want to buy it so soon! I bought the G5 17" about 4 years ago and have had a couple of problems with it since then. SO, before I go forward I must think this one through more clearly. Many thanks for your response!

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Four years old
Jan 16, 2009 12:00AM PST

and jumping to HDV... I am saving my money for a new machine...

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HV30
Feb 2, 2009 11:26AM PST

Any insite on how to get my new HV30 to be recognized my newer Mac running OS 10.5.6 /iMovie'09.
I have a newer desktop Mac w/Intel duo 2 core w/ 2.4 GHz. I've purchased and installed a new 4 prong> Firewire cord & turned on "DV locked" in the menu (as suggested by another CNET user)
My Mac doesn't respond or recognize the camera....?
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks,
Bruce SF,Ca

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I don't know why you went to "DV locked"
Feb 3, 2009 2:50AM PST

As I understand it, if you do that, you will not get high definition video into your Mac. Only Standard Definition DV. Sort of defeats the purpose of having a camcorder recording HDV. If you have recorded to DV, then the computer will understand that... if you selected DV (or DV widescreen, as appropriate) if that format was selected in the "Name the file" window...

When you launch iMovie, one of two things can happen... Either, the last project you were working on opens or the window to name the project, select the iMovie video file destination and select the video type (HDV, DV, DV widescreen) opens. Once you fill in these items, the iMovie editing screen/windows are presented.

If the last project opens... We don't know what you selected for the "last project". If you selected HDV but are "DV locked" iMovie will not recognize the camcorder. Close this "current" project; a window asking what you want to do (open existing project, create new project) will be presented. If you want to stay with standard definition DV, then you need to select DV or DV widescreen (since HDV by definition is widescreen). And the Camomcorder needs to be in "Play/VCR/Edit" mode. Whatever it is when it is not in camcorder through the lens recording mode. It is the same mode you would use when you play-back video on the tape in the camcorder when you connect the camcorder directly to a TV (connected with AV, HDMI or component cables).

Personally, I would turn the "DV locked" back to normal (you may need to do this with the camcorder not connected to the computer - power down the camcorder, unplug the camcorder from the firewire cable, turn on the camcorder, make the change, power down the camcorder, plug in the firewire cable to the camcorder's DV port, power up the camcorder... into "Play/VCR/Edit" mode) and let the camcorder and computer communicate - and let you import the HDV format video. The lesson here is to never plugin/unplug the camcorder form the firewire port while the camcorder is on... Always turn it off, first, or you risk killing the camcorder's firewire port.

Of course, this all assumes the Apple Intermediate Codec is already installed. This is a custom install from the OSX system discs that cam with the Mac - it is a QuickTime component and the only thing that needs to be check-marked during the custom install process.

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Adobe Premiere 2.0 should do the job
Apr 18, 2008 1:45AM PDT

It lets you edit HDV files native in the software. No transcoding necessary. Choose HDV 1080i 30(sony 60i) and the type. Just make sure that you change the file name from .m2t to .mpg if you want to see it in Windows Media Player.

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Flip Video
Apr 20, 2008 10:59PM PDT
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video editing
Apr 23, 2008 12:20PM PDT

Does anyone have any thoughts about what results in better video editing (after transfering video to a PC) i.e. from a hard drive camcorder such as the Canon HV30 or from cameras that used mini dvds? One person told me that the cuts (from one clip to another) are not as seamless when done from hard drive (e.g. you can see it "jump" from scene to scene) but I wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on this. I guess i would be using something like ulead video studio 10 or Adobe Premier, and it would be for a webcast.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

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A web cast will be low pixel count, high compression so
Apr 23, 2008 9:44PM PDT

Your choices will be fine.

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So basically Windows Movie Maker will not work?
Nov 9, 2008 12:48AM PST

I've tried Windows Movie Maker will not capture the video HV30...and it won't work....correct?

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Look up?
Nov 9, 2008 12:51AM PST

The answer is up above and you have confirmed again that it won't work without a lot of help or other software.

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If you see what MovieMaker can use,
Nov 9, 2008 6:40AM PST
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Canon HV30 Video Editing
Nov 22, 2009 3:06AM PST

Here is Canon's response when I asked for compatible video editing application for the HV30 Camcorder. "Unfortunately Canon does not make any video editing software. We also do not recommend any software over another. However when doing a web search to find compatible editing software make sure it is compatible with your computer operating system and the HDV format. The HDV format is what this camcorder records to on the Mini DV cassette." Tip: make sure your cable tip seats all the way up into the Camcorder and make sure also to set the playback standard (pg 40 of manual) to HDV, not DV. Either might block capture to a PC.

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video editing
Nov 13, 2010 8:52AM PST

Try going to www.pinnclesys.com, pinnacle makes a whole host of software for video capture and editing. I have downloaded from various video cameras, my vcr and dvd player. look for the dazzle digital device.

good luck