Bought a Sony DCR-SR45

[Michael CM1]

I saw some threads on Apple's discussion boards about it working with iMovie, just not how instructions might say. Well yep, it does.

So far, it seems to work nicely. I wanted something that wouldn't require frickin' tapes for if I needed to record something for a while. The salesman said the video quality wasn't any different than a MiniDV, and it looks like he's right. My dog was a little spotty on playback before I exported it, but he is blacker than midnight and it wasn't exactly a fully lighted area. He looked fine earlier in the day.

The sound is also decent. It's not DTS or anything, but it's good for the price.

I'm not sure what to think about USB taking over for FireWire, but it looks like the importing is done much quicker. It doesn't do a realtime playback to import, so that should save countless, um, hours!

Well, just thought someone else might want to know about this camera. It's not listed as compatible with iMovie, but I got it to work just by selecting "Disc Burn" when the menu comes up after plugging in the USB cable. If anybody else uses this model, I'd love to know what you think!

 

[UmpLoop]

I received the same model as a birthday gift and can't get iMovie to recognize it, so now I'm trying to get additional software to convert the format. Would love to know how you did it exactly because choosing "disc burn" function didn't do anything for me.

 

[Michael CM1]

I received the same model as a birthday gift and can't get iMovie to recognize it, so now I'm trying to get additional software to convert the format. Would love to know how you did it exactly because choosing "disc burn" function didn't do anything for me.

First, I was using the almost latest version of iMovie '08. There was an update that I installed afterward.

To get the video, I opened iMovie to begin with. I then turned the camera on and plugged the USB cable into a hub (make sure you're using a 2.0 hub or port, preferrably on the computer itself). It then popped up those 4 options, and I selected "Disc Burn." A window that looks a little like iPhoto's import came up and asked if I wanted to import the video. I did, it did, then I went to editing. Pretty much all I did.

 

[ed1969]

also here - upgrading to iMovie'08 for Sony DCR SR45

Tried to use Sony DCR SR45 with Mac Imovie, but it took a hassle to format files through another PC computer.

Yesterday purchased iMovie'08 and will try in few days - then I let you know.

 

[lmcgill]

Final Cut Pro with Sony Handy Cam

I'm trying to edit some videos for a friend and I can't get my Final Cut Pro to recognize the Sony Handycam DCR-SR45 because it needs to be connected through USB. Any advice on how I can import this footage from the Handycam to my final cut pro program? I'm totally stuck in a rut.

 

[puckhead193]

I'm trying to edit some videos for a friend and I can't get my Final Cut Pro to recognize the Sony Handycam DCR-SR45 because it needs to be connected through USB. Any advice on how I can import this footage from the Handycam to my final cut pro program? I'm totally stuck in a rut.

are you using log and transfer... if the camera shows up on the desktop as a removable drive, you can drag and drop it in the log and transfer window and select the clips you want transfered..

 

[ClimbingZion]

Re: log and transfer...

are you using log and transfer... if the camera shows up on the desktop as a removable drive, you can drag and drop it in the log and transfer window and select the clips you want transfered..

Puckhead,
I am using Final Cut Express HD v.3.5. I'm not sure exactly what/where to find "log and transfer."

Do you have any idea if this function only available in FC Pro?

I'm experiencing the same frustration as Imcgill, trying to import video from my Sony DCR-SR45. There's no firewire port on this handycam and I guess we're feeling a little helpless without that connection!

Any luck with Puckhead's suggestion for you, Imcgill?

Thanks!

 

[puckhead193]

Puckhead,
I am using Final Cut Express HD v.3.5. I'm not sure exactly what/where to find "log and transfer."

Do you have any idea if this function only available in FC Pro?

I'm experiencing the same frustration as Imcgill, trying to import video from my Sony DCR-SR45. There's no firewire port on this handycam and I guess we're feeling a little helpless without that connection!

Any luck with Puckhead's suggestion for you, Imcgill?

Thanks!

Its under File, go down to the bottom-ish and you'll see it. Is this camera tape or hard drive/flash memory? If its tape then this won't work. If its filebased (hard drive or on flash memory then this is what you want. Select long and transfer plug in USB cable and power adapter - turn on camera and turn it on play mode. The clips should appear and you can select and drag clips to be transcoded.