Codec issue & video editing software HELP

Would be easier to know what Sony model you have.

 

Curious as well as what Sony camera your having problems with.
Importing into Windows tells me that its playing nice with MPG2 or AVI.

 

Have you tried using MPEG StreamClip to convert to a safe option for Mac? Its funny over the years tech such as this camera fares well on the Windows side. The conversion for the Mac side never arrived as well as say DV-NTSC.
Honestly any decent HD camera will be fine for both PC and Mac.
Oh and I dont know if you can still buy Final Cut Express.

 

What's your budget?

Almost any cheap HD camcorder will outperform your old interlaced SD Sony. The discontinued Flip HD cameras are going cheap these days.

PS some stores like Best Buy will give you a trade in value for your old Sony, won't be much but better than nothing.

 

Any chance you can send a screen shot of this grainy look?
I understand the hell you have to go thru with the demux stage.
In some cases we have to take the footage into the Windows world first to get it to a working format using anything from Adobe Premiere and Avid Media Composer. Your talking big bucks for that.
When your viewing the clips, are you viewing from the desktop or the actual record/player source using any NTSC monitor/dispaly?
Some clips tend to look like poop on the Mac side but legal on the actual NTSC side of viewing.

 

That's a decent budget and you should be able to find something (don't forget to get that old Sony traded in)

Many modern digital cameras have excellent 1080 video recording capabilities and often better lenses than camcorders. Take a look at dpreview.com for reviews on just about every digicam made to date.

I'm pining for a Canon S100 ~$450 and it shoots 1080 video.

IMHO avoid superzooms unless you're shooting with a tripod.

 

But what works for your budget. I cant sway you to stay with the Mac but if your planning on buying a PC just for that, then you went over your budget.
Ive seen it all over my years teaching and working in this field. Most of the time its just the dumb things that get on peoples nerve from interlace on desktop to USB not working with Final Cut Pro.
There will always be some form of conversion.
Even with FCPX, Avid Media Composer and Premiere there will be some type of converting from one codec/container to another so that you can use the host software/hardwares capability.
I dont know what you are using on your PC but if that works for you then stay there.
Save your money.

 

Sorry I forgot to mention that most professional apps dont require you to use MPEG StreamClip. This is only for cases with odd formats such as MPG2 (not demuxed), AVI and even weird ones that I cant remember.
Programs such as FCPX for $300 USD will bring any Digital Video camera feed via firewire, usb and mounted media cards into its realm and convert on the fly to ProRes. You can actually start editing right away while it converts in the background.
Now before any of the haters out there try and intervene, keep in mind that I will suggest Adobe Premiere and Avid Media Composer. Premiere being the cheaper option would be the obvious choice but most of us know that purchasing Premiere alone would be not be as beneficial as buying the Production or Master Collection Suite.
Im trying to help this person to get going asap with their home pro-sumer set-up and not confuse them with some Editing room overkill overpriced solutions.

 

Haha your like Apple's dream user Whats your Macs specs? not going to suggest FCPX until I know that
There are some free tutorials out there that you can look into before buying.
FCPX has a 30 day demo.
Check out this site first for tutorials http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html

Have fun

 

So its a MacBook Pro? Yep thats a decent priced software. Now an AVCHD camera would be nice but i have not experience on buying those. I would suggest looking into that format and cross-ref with Adobe Premiere Elements.
your obviously not going to get a DV camera since they are stuck at DV-NTSC Standard Def. YOu can also look into HDV cameras as well.

----------

I think both Adobe Premiere Elements and Apple Final Cut Pro Ten have 30-day trials. Dont buy anything yet just test with camera first.
Some pro shows will let you test at their store with your laptop for situations such as this.

 

I was using the aforementioned Flip HD camcorder but now use my iPhone 4s to shoot video. Awesome video from a phone. Both Flip and iPhone video work well with iMovie. (Video gets pulled into iPhoto, where iMovie can easily access.)

Flips can be had for much less than $100 right now if you want to try one out. You won't be sorry. I stopped using my MiniDV camcorder 4 years ago when we got the Flip...haven't looked back.

For the type of footage you are shooting (home movies of the kids), there is really no need to spend more than $150 to get you spectacular imagery and great sound. The Flip works as well as some 1080p options from Kodak (Zi series). My 4yo and 3 month old have been served well by our Flip, and now the iPhone. Since you already know how to use iMovie and are used to it, I'd recommend an inexpensive HD camcorder (Flip/Zi...etc) instead of investing in all this new hardware and software as others are suggesting. If you don't like it, THEN shell out the bigger bucks.

Amazing results these days from such inexpensive camcorders. My Flip and iPhone blow away anything I was able to shoot with my previous MiniDV camcorder.

 

I have no experience with either. I use XDCAM, RED MX and the occasional Canon MKII for digital video.
At home I use a Go Pro HD

 

No one can say (from everyone else's POV) if the Mac is the issues since none of us can see your actual and factual problems.
Your best bet is not to spend money on software and test first.
Due diligence with the camera. Not sure about return policies with consumer cameras these days.
Haven't bought one since my GoPro.

 

For the things you plan on doing, the Canon S100 is fine. Software wise, I'd suggest iMovie 11. Don't make your life overly complicated.

Those Sony harddrive cams are known to be a #$%& with Macs, but when you check the Apple support forums the might be able to help you.

Grainy footage: Not enough light in the scene.
You lines in the footage come from interlaced footage. You can solve that by exporting as progressive (AFAIK, iMovie does it automatically).