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General discussion

How can I transfer my movies?

Jan 12, 2008 5:39PM PST

Hey Guys!

I bought a Sony MiniDv model DCR-HC38E for my surprise there aren't any softwares to macs (imac Intel Core 2Duo - OS 10.4).

How is the best way to transfer the, connect the and save the files?

Thank you!!!

Rick

Discussion is locked

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No software required,
Jan 12, 2008 9:36PM PST

No, really!

You may need to purchase an IEEE 1394 cable from your local electronics store. Refer to the manual for the camera end configuration. Sony refer to IEEE 1394 as iLink.
Just take the IEEE-1394 cable and connect the small end to the camera. It is probably marked DV or iLink.

Launch iMovie, hit the Play button on the camera, hit the record button in iMovie and all your footage should be transfered to iMovie.

You can then edit it, add music from iTunes, Photo's from iPhoto and create your masterpiece. When you are done editing, send it to iDVD and make yourself a DVD.

Let us know how you get on.

Good Luck

P

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Agree...
Jan 13, 2008 3:47AM PST

IEEE1394 = Firewire = i.Link

You need a 4-pin (camera DV port - not USB) to 6-pin (computer firewire400 port)

The camcorder needs to be in the Play/Edit position.

You do not need to "hit the Play button on the camera". With the camera connected to the computer (with the firewire cable) and in Play/Edit mode, launch iMovie. A blue screen will appear and "Camera connected" will be in the blue screen. If you need to, you can rewind the tape (from the camera or the controls below the blue screen... when ready, click import (at the below the blue screen)...

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I mentioned the Play button
Jan 13, 2008 7:10AM PST

as I saw a camera this week that would not respond to the Play command from iMovie.

It worked fine when the Play button on the camera was pressed though.

Of course, it could have been a defective camera or cable.

P

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Cool!
Jan 13, 2008 4:54AM PST

Thank you very much!!!!

Cheers, Rick

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My Sony HC28 works the same way
Jan 13, 2008 4:27AM PST

of course, and I can say it works very well. My only complaint is that when importing clips, the clips have to play out. They start playing on the camera and on the iMovie window... unless I'm missing something, there's no way to make it speed up importing.

Hopefully you use iMovie or HD, since they will automatically recognize the camera like boya84 said. You will not see the camera in the Finder or on the desktop. With that in mind, it should be very easy for you to use it with your iMac.

-BMF

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MiniDV tape camcorders do
Jan 13, 2008 10:45AM PST

import real-time - This is not OS dependent, but seems to be something related to the media. Since DV (and HDV) compress so much less than the internal drives or flash memory (or DVD) based camcorders, miniDV continues to provide the best video quality available (especially for editing)... and the miniDV tape provides an "automatic archive" which internal drives or flash memory don't do, so it is tolerated.

DVD based camcorders should be crushed, and recycled and anyone who purchased one should get their money back. That particular item needs to be removed from the public eye...

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LOL.
Jan 13, 2008 11:00AM PST

I see. Well for most people, they're still just camcorders, Wink.

-BMF

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They are not
Jan 13, 2008 1:04PM PST

worthy of the title.

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I second that
Jan 13, 2008 8:52PM PST

Those things are a waste of space.

P

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danke
Jan 20, 2008 4:04PM PST

This is great advice. Thanks to all. Been wondering about these issues myself.