FCE4, Mavericks, and old DV camera

[mccjim12]

Looking for some help with a capture problem here...

I am running Final Cut Express 4 on a mid 2012 MacBook Pro that is running 10.9.4.

I am trying to capture from a Canon ZR60 via the computer's Firewire 800 port using a Firewire 800 cable connected to a 6 pin adapter that came with it and a 4 pin (iLink DV) adapter, which in turn connects to the camera.

I know 2 adapters is kind of ridiculous but it is what I had at my disposal and I saw no reason why it shouldn't work. But I am kind of a dinosaur with Final Cut. I have not used anything higher than FCP5. So I figured I would reach out.

FCE (and the computer as a whole) will not recognize the camera as connected. I have checked all settings in FCE easy setup. System Profiler does not see it and FCE says no Firewire capture device is found.

Is it just not possible since I have a (relatively) new computer and an old camera? Maybe the camera does not support Firewire 800?

My backup plan is to capture using my PowerBook G4 which of course has a Firewire 400 port. But that would require ordering a new power supply which is not ideal!

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[LethalWolfe]

I have had a ton of trouble on a variety of machines when I've tried to capture from an DV device (even HDV devices too) using FW800. I just stopped trying and, at an old job, we had one tower that had FW400 and we captured everything on that machine.

 

[mccjim12]

I have had a ton of trouble on a variety of machines when I've tried to capture from an DV device (even HDV devices too) using FW800. I just stopped trying and, at an old job, we had one tower that had FW400 and we captured everything on that machine.

Much appreciated. Yeah, I think I might just go that route at this point.

 

[ColdCase]

I am able to capture from cannon HD DVT cameras via FW 800 to a recent rMBP but typically go back to my old MacPro setup.

I use a mini to "normal" FW cable and a 400 to 800 FW cable, a old FW400 enclosure, and a FW to TB adapter. I didn't get there by design, just thats is what I happen to have in the junk box

The mini connector plugs into the camera, the other end into an old FW 400 drive enclosure. I connect the FW 400/800 cable between the drive enclosure and TB adapter and plug the adapter into my early 2014 rMBP (which runs 10.9.5).

 

[Dave Braine]

FCE (and the computer as a whole) will not recognize the camera as connected.

You should have iMovie on your Mac. Does that recognise the camcorder?