Need answers or direction

[joerockstar]

I recently purchased an imac 24" with intent of video editting some of my mini dv's. My camcorder is a jvc gr-d375u equip with a 4 pin firewire out. I did some minor reasearch and purchased a 9 pin to 4 pin cable from the apple store. Unfortunately, my mac doesn't see it. I've restarted, etc. checked out importing in imovie and iphoto but it just don't reconize the connection. Any idea's or am I sending the cable back?

[Tower-Union]

This may sound like a really stupid/rude question, but is the camera turned on? Try plugging both ends of the cable in, THEN turning on the camera. It should be recognized by iMovie when you turn it on. . .

[spice weasel]

And you need to put it in playback mode.

[joerockstar]

Originally Posted by Tower-Union

This may sound like a really stupid/rude question, but is the camera turned on? Try plugging both ends of the cable in, THEN turning on the camera. It should be recognized by iMovie when you turn it on. . .

No question is stupid. Failed attempts:
1. plugged cables into both machines and powered up. cam on playback. opened imovie and attempted import from drop down menu.......nothing
2. attempted to import using cam import icon above the editting window. only saw the onboard camera and not the jvc.
3. unplugged and plugged in cords while powered up.....nothing.
4. changed settings on camera and search camera menu for settings related...nothing
5. looked around imovie for some other way for importing video that I may have missed.
6. opened idvd and attempted to create a magic dvd....nothing
7. attempted steps 1-3 through iphoto...nothing

Any more suggestions other then smashing the camera since I'm beginning to go insane. I'm praying for a simple solution since I'm a newbie.

[chown33]

Things you may not have considered:

1. Bad cable.
2. Bad connector on camera.
3. Bad connector on computer.

The only way I know to diagnose such problems is to swap out the item under test. I.e. try a different cable, try the cable and computer with a different camera, try the cable and camera with a different computer. You may have to borrow things in order to test these out.

[joerockstar]

Originally Posted by chown33

Things you may not have considered:

1. Bad cable.
2. Bad connector on camera.
3. Bad connector on computer.

The only way I know to diagnose such problems is to swap out the item under test. I.e. try a different cable, try the cable and computer with a different camera, try the cable and camera with a different computer. You may have to borrow things in order to test these out.

I would eliminate item #2 since my previous PC located the camera and I was able to transfer so much of my video. Unfortunately my FW card crapped out and that was that. I replaced that PC with this mac of course. I got a friend up the street with a mac so I guess I'll be calling him after work. I'm hoping its the cable! Process of elimination although I was hoping I missed some keystroke or some import technique. Can't win 'em all.