Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Sony HDR-HC7 HDV Camcorder
- Thread starter Multimedia
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
HDR-HC7 and iMovie HD6
For those of you worrying about the compatibility of the HDR-HC7 and iMovie HD 6....don't. This is especially true if you are using a MacBook Pro with a duo core Intel processer. iMovie imported the HD video I shot on my new HDR-HC7 in real time with little or no effort. The resultant video clips are no different in picture quality than the raw video in the camera.
Here's some information you might find useful....
-Follow the steps listed on other forums on how to connect your HDR-HC7 correctly to your Mac. Naturally, the camera has to be set to output HD over the firewire connection and iMovie HD6 must be set to capture 1080i HDV. I didn't fool with the frame rate setting which defaulted to 30 FPS.
-The initial import of your HD video into iMovie may appear washed out in the preview/play screen of iMovie. I was a little worried about this, but after the import, the resultant video clips retain the color fidelity and depth of the original footage.
-All of the iMovie editing functions for HDV video are identical for DV video, although some of the transitions may take a little bit longer to render. However, this slight delay in rendering time is practically unnoticeable.
-Don't expect "shake free" video from your camera even with Sony's optical stabilizer turned on. Be prepared to use a tripod - alot. I shoot most of my video footage using a monopod with usually good results. But my HD video magnified camera movement, even with the stabilizer on and using a monopod. I think this is just inherent in HD - the precision of the resolved images is more subject to camera movement.
-When you import HD video into iMovie HD 6 you won't hear the audio you captured on your Mac. You will, hower, hear it from the camera as the import progresses. Don't worry....when you play the clips you will hear your recorded audio.
-Be prepared for large file sizes. I believe my 10-minute HD video "example" is between 12-15 gigabites in size. My solution will be to dump the rendered video back to tape for playback and storage and then remove the file from the MBP. The alternative, in the future, will be for me to get a large external storage drive for the MBP.
Finally, did I forget to mention what the video looks like? Well, to my old eyes it's really not much different than the video you see on Discovery HD Theatre. Depending on the subject matter, exposure, lighting, etc., it can be that good.
Have Fun!!
For those of you worrying about the compatibility of the HDR-HC7 and iMovie HD 6....don't. This is especially true if you are using a MacBook Pro with a duo core Intel processer. iMovie imported the HD video I shot on my new HDR-HC7 in real time with little or no effort. The resultant video clips are no different in picture quality than the raw video in the camera.
Here's some information you might find useful....
-Follow the steps listed on other forums on how to connect your HDR-HC7 correctly to your Mac. Naturally, the camera has to be set to output HD over the firewire connection and iMovie HD6 must be set to capture 1080i HDV. I didn't fool with the frame rate setting which defaulted to 30 FPS.
-The initial import of your HD video into iMovie may appear washed out in the preview/play screen of iMovie. I was a little worried about this, but after the import, the resultant video clips retain the color fidelity and depth of the original footage.
-All of the iMovie editing functions for HDV video are identical for DV video, although some of the transitions may take a little bit longer to render. However, this slight delay in rendering time is practically unnoticeable.
-Don't expect "shake free" video from your camera even with Sony's optical stabilizer turned on. Be prepared to use a tripod - alot. I shoot most of my video footage using a monopod with usually good results. But my HD video magnified camera movement, even with the stabilizer on and using a monopod. I think this is just inherent in HD - the precision of the resolved images is more subject to camera movement.
-When you import HD video into iMovie HD 6 you won't hear the audio you captured on your Mac. You will, hower, hear it from the camera as the import progresses. Don't worry....when you play the clips you will hear your recorded audio.
-Be prepared for large file sizes. I believe my 10-minute HD video "example" is between 12-15 gigabites in size. My solution will be to dump the rendered video back to tape for playback and storage and then remove the file from the MBP. The alternative, in the future, will be for me to get a large external storage drive for the MBP.
Finally, did I forget to mention what the video looks like? Well, to my old eyes it's really not much different than the video you see on Discovery HD Theatre. Depending on the subject matter, exposure, lighting, etc., it can be that good.
Have Fun!!
really? could you tell me which settings the camera are on? i have it on hdtv but the colours look washed out and shaky - should Xv colour be switched on?
HDR-HC7 and iMovie HD6
I'm not sure which setting you are referring to - the settings of the camera while you were shooting or importing footage into iMovie HD 6. For my situation, I almost always shoot in the Auto mode with excellent results. Depending on the environment and lighting conditions, I will set the exposure and white balance manually, and often the focus as well.
Have you played your footage back from camcorder directly to your hi-def monitor before attempting to import it into iMovie? This will tell you what kind of video you captured and if the exposure, white balance, and focus are O.K.
As I mentioned previously, when importing your HDV footage into iMovie, the video on the preview screen will appear washed out. But the individual clips will look fine once you play them within iMovie. You will also hear no audio during the import, except from the camcorder. At least this was my experience.
If you are experiencing washed-out video, you may have an incorrect setting on the camera as you are shooting subject matter. You might want to press the "Easy" button and shoot some outdoor scenery in bright sunlight. Then play it back on your monitor either through the component or HDMI connection. If it looks okay, import it into iMovie - make sure the camera is exporting HDV and that iLink conversion on the camcorder is set to "Off" iMovie also needs to be set to import HDV (1080i) as well.
Good Luck!
P.S. The xV setting is only for playback on certain Sony HDTVs. I don't use it.
I'm not sure which setting you are referring to - the settings of the camera while you were shooting or importing footage into iMovie HD 6. For my situation, I almost always shoot in the Auto mode with excellent results. Depending on the environment and lighting conditions, I will set the exposure and white balance manually, and often the focus as well.
Have you played your footage back from camcorder directly to your hi-def monitor before attempting to import it into iMovie? This will tell you what kind of video you captured and if the exposure, white balance, and focus are O.K.
As I mentioned previously, when importing your HDV footage into iMovie, the video on the preview screen will appear washed out. But the individual clips will look fine once you play them within iMovie. You will also hear no audio during the import, except from the camcorder. At least this was my experience.
If you are experiencing washed-out video, you may have an incorrect setting on the camera as you are shooting subject matter. You might want to press the "Easy" button and shoot some outdoor scenery in bright sunlight. Then play it back on your monitor either through the component or HDMI connection. If it looks okay, import it into iMovie - make sure the camera is exporting HDV and that iLink conversion on the camcorder is set to "Off" iMovie also needs to be set to import HDV (1080i) as well.
Good Luck!
P.S. The xV setting is only for playback on certain Sony HDTVs. I don't use it.
I have the camera and I love it. No problem so far.
4 questions...
1. I have a 1080p tv. Now when I connect the camera using the audio and video cables and not a HDMI cable... does it still show it in 1080i?
2. When I transfer my footage from the mini-dv tape to the computer (I have Windows XP)... does it delete the footage of the mini-dv tape? If not then how can I get it then?
3. If I want to get the footage back on to the tape... how can I do it?
4. If I have a normal mini-dv tape [not the hd tape] will it still record HD footage?
Thanks
Crazysah
4 questions...
1. I have a 1080p tv. Now when I connect the camera using the audio and video cables and not a HDMI cable... does it still show it in 1080i?
2. When I transfer my footage from the mini-dv tape to the computer (I have Windows XP)... does it delete the footage of the mini-dv tape? If not then how can I get it then?
3. If I want to get the footage back on to the tape... how can I do it?
4. If I have a normal mini-dv tape [not the hd tape] will it still record HD footage?
Thanks
Crazysah
Crazysah....
I'll take a shot at some of your questions.....
-I'm guessing that, even though you have a 1080p display, it is capable of displaying 1080i images, such as those produced by the HDR-HC7. I'm not sure if some of these newer displays convert interlaced signals to progressive or not. But it shouldn't matter. You should be connecting your HC7 to your display using the component input cable (supplied) or via HDMI (you have to get this cable yourself). Assuming you shot your video in HDV (not DV) and have the camera set to output HDV, you should be good to go.
-Transferring footage from the mini DV tape to your computer does not erase the footage on the DV tape. The audio and video signals are imported into the computer where they are split into clips for editing purposes. The original video remains on the tape. This is true for both Windows Movier Maker and iMove HD.
-Assuming you have edited your movie either within Windows Movie Maker or iMovie HD, you have the choice to "share" or export your completed movie back to your camcorder. You hook up your HC7 to your computer in the same manner you did when importing the raw video. The software guides you through the export process. Keep in mind, at least with iMovie, an encoding process needs to occur to get the rendered HDV movie in your computer back to tape in the camera. This exported video, recorded on to a blank tape in the HC7, is your new movie with titles, effects, audio, etc. which you can then play back for friends and family by hooking up your HD7 to your monitor.
-It doesn't matter. You can shoot your HD videos on this camera using the regular Sony premium DV tape (blue package) or use their high-end HD DV tape. I have used both and don't see a difference, although I'm told the more expensive tape might produce a slightly better and longer-lasting image.
Hope this helps.
I'll take a shot at some of your questions.....
-I'm guessing that, even though you have a 1080p display, it is capable of displaying 1080i images, such as those produced by the HDR-HC7. I'm not sure if some of these newer displays convert interlaced signals to progressive or not. But it shouldn't matter. You should be connecting your HC7 to your display using the component input cable (supplied) or via HDMI (you have to get this cable yourself). Assuming you shot your video in HDV (not DV) and have the camera set to output HDV, you should be good to go.
-Transferring footage from the mini DV tape to your computer does not erase the footage on the DV tape. The audio and video signals are imported into the computer where they are split into clips for editing purposes. The original video remains on the tape. This is true for both Windows Movier Maker and iMove HD.
-Assuming you have edited your movie either within Windows Movie Maker or iMovie HD, you have the choice to "share" or export your completed movie back to your camcorder. You hook up your HC7 to your computer in the same manner you did when importing the raw video. The software guides you through the export process. Keep in mind, at least with iMovie, an encoding process needs to occur to get the rendered HDV movie in your computer back to tape in the camera. This exported video, recorded on to a blank tape in the HC7, is your new movie with titles, effects, audio, etc. which you can then play back for friends and family by hooking up your HD7 to your monitor.
-It doesn't matter. You can shoot your HD videos on this camera using the regular Sony premium DV tape (blue package) or use their high-end HD DV tape. I have used both and don't see a difference, although I'm told the more expensive tape might produce a slightly better and longer-lasting image.
Hope this helps.
Does this look too good to be true?
Brand new Sony HDR-HC7 for $549 with free shipping!
I found the link to this site from within CNET.com : http://www.bestpricecameras.com/prodetails.aspx?prodid=860050
Supposed to be brand new with US warranty.
Sony has it for sale for $1299. Amazon.com for $999.
I really want to pull the trigger but have never heard of these guys (best price cameras)
Brand new Sony HDR-HC7 for $549 with free shipping!
I found the link to this site from within CNET.com : http://www.bestpricecameras.com/prodetails.aspx?prodid=860050
Supposed to be brand new with US warranty.
Sony has it for sale for $1299. Amazon.com for $999.
I really want to pull the trigger but have never heard of these guys (best price cameras)
Amazon.com
Should I get the camera for $1100, or the camera plus kit for $1150? It seems like a pretty good deal for $50, or am I dumb?
Thanks
Alex
$1150: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HDR-HC7-...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1182378774&sr=8-4
$1100: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HDR-HC7-...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1182378774&sr=8-1
Should I get the camera for $1100, or the camera plus kit for $1150? It seems like a pretty good deal for $50, or am I dumb?
Thanks
Alex
$1150: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HDR-HC7-...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1182378774&sr=8-4
$1100: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HDR-HC7-...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1182378774&sr=8-1
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Just purchased an HC7!
Hi guys...
I just purchased an HC7 from Circuit City. I was constantly going back and forth between this model and the SR7. I really wanted to be able to transfer HD video directly to my PowerBook ("Leopard" MBP come October) and edit using iMovie HD and FCP. Although I like the idea of HDD-based storage in a camcorder, the HDD will experience more wear being that ALL recorded video touches it (eg. can't swap it out... at least I don't think so). As for the AVCHD compression, I'm not willing to take a chance on a relatively new compression technology without knowing all the limitations (% loss, quality preservation, degree of support in applications, etc.) Furthermore, what's up with the lack of firewire connectivity in the SR7? I'm just venting... never mind me on that. I'm still waiting for the HC7 to arrive, then I will definitely be posting video clips for you guys to check out.
Peace out!
~Ryan
Hi guys...
I just purchased an HC7 from Circuit City. I was constantly going back and forth between this model and the SR7. I really wanted to be able to transfer HD video directly to my PowerBook ("Leopard" MBP come October) and edit using iMovie HD and FCP. Although I like the idea of HDD-based storage in a camcorder, the HDD will experience more wear being that ALL recorded video touches it (eg. can't swap it out... at least I don't think so). As for the AVCHD compression, I'm not willing to take a chance on a relatively new compression technology without knowing all the limitations (% loss, quality preservation, degree of support in applications, etc.) Furthermore, what's up with the lack of firewire connectivity in the SR7? I'm just venting... never mind me on that. I'm still waiting for the HC7 to arrive, then I will definitely be posting video clips for you guys to check out.
Peace out!
~Ryan
$50 additional dollars for all that? I would say go for it, especially if you could use at least 1/4 of what is supplied there...
~Ryan
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Believe me, stay away. I somewhat fell for this and submitted my CC information to this "company" after choosing to purchase the HC7 from them. Thankfully it was on Saturday when I did so (the business was closed on that day). I ended up canceling my CC before the payment went through. Read up on the BBB page if you are interested in customer experiences with this company. I checked the product on their site after a couple of days just for the heck of it... and the price jumped a couple of hundred dollars! Very suspicious. Play it safe and purchase from a company with a good reputation. Hope this helps.
~Ryan
Shot HD Expo Chicago June 6-7 + Web Video Summit Last Week In San Jose
Without the HC7 I would have been dead meat. Used my remote controller the whole two long days last Wednesday-Thursday. Then I shot 3 hours of the iPhone launch in Palo Alto including Steve Job's visit with his stunning wife on Friday.
Without the HC7 I would have been dead meat. Used my remote controller the whole two long days last Wednesday-Thursday. Then I shot 3 hours of the iPhone launch in Palo Alto including Steve Job's visit with his stunning wife on Friday.
HDMI Cable
Just wanted to say how much I like this camera and ask a question. Does the HDMI cable make for a better picture on an HDTV? The YGB component connection is stunning and I did not know if it would be a waste of money. BTW, our trip to the UK was fantastic and the camera worked like a champ. The wide angle lens helped while riding on the bus in that it obviously got a wider angle looking out the window, but it took even more of the jitters out of the picture (just the opposite of zooming in). I would say that the 0.5x lens and the high capacity battery are definite must-haves along with the 4yr warrantyWe never needed the two-battery charger since the high capacity battery lasts so long! Now if I just had a Mac! Was going to buy a MBP in october with the new OS and new Ilife but the rumor about the new ultra-thin MBP has me re-thinking.
Just wanted to say how much I like this camera and ask a question. Does the HDMI cable make for a better picture on an HDTV? The YGB component connection is stunning and I did not know if it would be a waste of money. BTW, our trip to the UK was fantastic and the camera worked like a champ. The wide angle lens helped while riding on the bus in that it obviously got a wider angle looking out the window, but it took even more of the jitters out of the picture (just the opposite of zooming in). I would say that the 0.5x lens and the high capacity battery are definite must-haves along with the 4yr warranty
We never needed the two-battery charger since the high capacity battery lasts so long! Now if I just had a Mac! Was going to buy a MBP in october with the new OS and new Ilife but the rumor about the new ultra-thin MBP has me re-thinking.HDMI can be better. I don't know if the HC7 has a normal HDMI connector or not. If it uses a bastardized proprietary connector, then it's probably not worth buying the cable. If it uses a normal connector, then you can go to monoprice.com to get a cheap cable.
There have been rumors of an ultralight since last year's demise of the 12" Powerbook. I don't know if any of them were ever credible. As much as I would like one, I don't see it coming any time soon. If you were going to do a lot of heavy video work, then a normal notebook would be better.
HC-7 HDMI Port Is Normal Regular HDMI Size
Nothing weird about the HDMI connector. Same size as the one on your HDTV.
The 17" 1920x1200 2.4GHz is the way to go now with 4GB of RAM. I'm gonna wait for it to ship with Leopard and the new 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor so I can say it's more than 5GHz.
That's good to know.
The 17" 1920x1200 2.4GHz is the way to go now with 4GB of RAM. I'm gonna wait for it to ship with Leopard and the new 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor so I can say it's more than 5GHz.
Hopefully the LED backlight would make its way to the 17" as well.
Nothing weird about the HDMI connector. Same size as the one on your HDTV.The 17" 1920x1200 2.4GHz is the way to go now with 4GB of RAM. I'm gonna wait for it to ship with Leopard and the new 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor so I can say it's more than 5GHz.
Well, I ordered my setup today. First of all, hats off to Multimedia for this awesome thread; so much great information...it really helped in my purchasing decisions. I will be using my camcorder for both work and personal use on a huge variety of projects. I'm taking a road trip next week cross-country, so it will be a good opportunity to break it in
Here's my list:Camera:
Sony HDR-HC7 camcorder - $1058.34 with free shipping (Amazon)
Sunpak CF-70 37mm UV Filter - $5.99 with free shipping (Amazon)
Batteries:
Sony ACVQH10 dual battery charger - $95.18 with free shipping (Amazon)
Sony NPFH100 high-capacity battery - $110.54 with free shipping (Amazon)
Microphones:
Sony ECM-MS908C stereo microphone - $81.93 with free shipping (Amazon)
Audio Technica ATR-35S lapel mic - $27.83 with free shipping (Amazon; got 2)
Minijack Splitter - $1.95 (MonoPrice; for stereo use with the lapel mics)
Tripod Equipment:
VidPro TT-1000RC LANC 60" Tripod - $46.89 (Digital Innovations)
Hakuba PSTC100 Tripod Case - $32.50
Joby Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod - $49.95 with free shipping (Amazon)
Poor Man's Steady-Cam - $53.95 shipped (Little Great Ideas)
Other Accessories:
Samsonite 708BK camcorder bag - $9.95 (Amazon)
Sony Mini-DV DVM 63-minute HD MiniDV tapes (5-pack) - $49.95 (Amazon)
6-foot 4-pin to 6-pin Firewire cable - $2.96 (MonoPrice)
I found a great little informational site on the camera here:
http://www.hdr-hc7.info/
Based off that site, reading and watching numerous reviews, and reading through this thread, I feel like I got a pretty good deal on my high-def camcorder setup. I use SD MiniDV cams periodically, but the last time I did any serious camera work was about 10 years ago back in high school with a Hi8 camcorder. We were lucky to have some budding Pinnacle digital editing software to use...I can't wait for this to arrive! So as far as the parts list goes, the camera was a given. I also picked up a nice UV filter to both act as a dust filter for the lens and to help with shooting on sunny days. I always pick up a spare battery for my equipment, so a high-capacity model was a no-brainer. The dual charger is mainly for my bag when on the go. I got a couple mics - the Sony to improve on-camera sound and the Audio Technicas for doing sit-down interviews. I picked up a simple mono-to-stereo minijack splitter from Monoprice for quasi-stereo recording so that I could record both myself and my interviewee.
I went a little nuts on the tripods. The first one I got was the VidPro model with LANC controls - great price and nice size. I got a bag to go with it because I hate carrying tripods by themselves along with the rest of my equipment. Also, you may not have heard of Gorillapods but they are fantastic. I have one for my point-and-shoot camera and I absolutely love it. It's basically just a small, flexible tripod. I'm glad they had a large one for using with camcorders! This will also help when recording stuff low to the floor or on tables (I will be taping some electronics reviews in particular). I also ordered a pre-made Steadycam, which was about 3 or 4 times as expensive than making one, but it was still much cheaper than a more "professional" model. Plus I have the advantage of getting one that works out of the box without having to do any of the work, especially since I am lacking a workshop at the moment
As far as the rest of the accessories go, I picked up some bags, some nice Sony "HD" tapes, and a Firewire cable for my laptop. Here's my future purchase list:Final Cut Studio 2 - $699 with student discount (Apple)
Sony ECMHW1 Bluetooth wireless microphone - $179.99 (Amazon)
Raynox HD-5050PRO Wide-Angle adapter lens - $109.95
A few questions on those though...first of all, I have a Santa Rosa-based 2.2ghz MacBook Pro with 4 gigs of ram and a 200gb 7200rpm hard drive. I figure this should be plenty for doing video editing in HD (it's the 128mb vram model). Is Final Cut a good choice to go with? I get a really nice student discount so I figure I can afford it, I'll just jump in and get the whole set - Final Cut, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, Color, Compressor, and DVD Studio Pro. Next, which wireless mic should I get? This will just be for me when I'm doing a video tutorial or a training video. I don't want to have to be tethered to the corded mic when I'm moving around. I've heard some very good things about the Bluetooth mic so that's why it's on the list, but I'm open to other (and cheaper) options. Last but not least, the wide-angle lens. Looks like a fun upgrade to play with down the road, any comments on that? Oh and here is a list of reviews I used for reference:
Text Reviews:
Digital Trends
CNET
Camcorder Info
Video Maker
Video Reviews:
TigerDirect Video Review
Jack Vancouver's Video Review
Aaron Robin's Video Review
CNET Video Review
Some other goodies:
Raw footage at List Video (free sample on YouTube)
Slow Motion Clip #1, Slow Motion Clip #2, Slow Motion Clip #3, Slow Motion Clip #4, Slow Motion Cip #5
Regular Clip #1, Regular Clip #2, Regular Clip #3, Regular Clip #4, Regular Clip #6
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Connecting Sony HDR-HC7 to Macbook
I just purchased my first Mac to download/edit footage taken with my HDR-HC7 using iMovie. I understand the camcorder connnects to the Mac via a firewire cable (aka i.Link). The camcorder comes with an iLink cable which I connected to the USB port on the Mac but the other end of the cable didn't fit any of the jacks on the camcorder. What jack should the firewire cable connect to on the camcorder (HDV/DV, component out, A/V out, or other)? Do I need to purchase a new firewire cable (4 to 6 pin) or is the cabled supplied by Sony sufficient? Thanks.
I just purchased my first Mac to download/edit footage taken with my HDR-HC7 using iMovie. I understand the camcorder connnects to the Mac via a firewire cable (aka i.Link). The camcorder comes with an iLink cable which I connected to the USB port on the Mac but the other end of the cable didn't fit any of the jacks on the camcorder. What jack should the firewire cable connect to on the camcorder (HDV/DV, component out, A/V out, or other)? Do I need to purchase a new firewire cable (4 to 6 pin) or is the cabled supplied by Sony sufficient? Thanks.
That's probably a USB to mini USB cable. That is only useful for transferring your still pictures. There may be a door that you haven't noticed. Check your manual.
From what I'm told, no camcorder was ever supplied with a Firewire cable in the box. If you don't already have such a cable, you will need to buy one.
Thanks. I'll buy a cable today. I found the Sony manual absolutely useless when it comes to connecting the camcorder to a PC.
Audio / Video Sync issues?
Hi all,
I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere...I tried searching for it and didn't seem to find right info. I've had the HC7 for several months now, using it with my iMac 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo (2 GB Ram).
Recently, everytime I try to import into imovie (6 HD), I am getting the audio to be out of sync from the video (audio slightly ahead).
I'm using firewire 800 to connect. Using connect Guide on the camera, it's HDV -> DV conversion set as NO, using i.Link to connect to computer. iMovie preferences are set to input HDV project, frame rate: 29.97fps, filter audio from camera, automatic DV pillarboxing and Letterboxing.
I never seemed to have this synch problem until recently...any thoughts? The current tape I'm trying to import, I've tried 3-4 times now...still has out of synch when watching in iMovie (no problems of course watching on the actual tape).
Thoughts? Things to check? Mega thanks in advance for your help...getting a bit bummed trying to get a nice import going.
Hi all,
I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere...I tried searching for it and didn't seem to find right info. I've had the HC7 for several months now, using it with my iMac 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo (2 GB Ram).
Recently, everytime I try to import into imovie (6 HD), I am getting the audio to be out of sync from the video (audio slightly ahead).
I'm using firewire 800 to connect. Using connect Guide on the camera, it's HDV -> DV conversion set as NO, using i.Link to connect to computer. iMovie preferences are set to input HDV project, frame rate: 29.97fps, filter audio from camera, automatic DV pillarboxing and Letterboxing.
I never seemed to have this synch problem until recently...any thoughts? The current tape I'm trying to import, I've tried 3-4 times now...still has out of synch when watching in iMovie (no problems of course watching on the actual tape).
Thoughts? Things to check? Mega thanks in advance for your help...getting a bit bummed trying to get a nice import going.
I think I know the answer to this one.
Check the audio settings in the HC7. Its probably on 12 Bit. Change it to 16 Bit. I don't think there's anything you can do to fix the audio in your movie though. Going forward all recordings should be in sync. As a last hope though. Switch it to 16 Bit and then try to reimport the project. It may or may not be able to fix the issue since it was originally set to the 12 Bit setting when recorded.
Check the audio settings in the HC7. Its probably on 12 Bit. Change it to 16 Bit. I don't think there's anything you can do to fix the audio in your movie though. Going forward all recordings should be in sync. As a last hope though. Switch it to 16 Bit and then try to reimport the project. It may or may not be able to fix the issue since it was originally set to the 12 Bit setting when recorded.
Thanks ibglowin...I'll check tonight. However, the audio and video are fine/ in synch when I'm watching the actual tape (or connected to tv)...would the 12/16 bit discrepancy you note above affect that? Or would it only affect importing to computer?