Importing A sony Handycam into iMovie

[lazzar0]

Paul

My earlier post did that. In more detail:
- first shoot something with the camera!
- plug in camera via USB
- switch on camera
- open screen up (its a touch sensitive screen) and select USB connection marked with the hard drive symbol
- the camera HD should automatically appear on your desktop. Ignore it!
- iPhoto may automatically open (it does on mine but I have photos as well as movies on the camera HD). Close it unless you want to import photos.
- open iMovie'08. Once open, a new window should appear in front of the iMovie window, showing movies on the camera HD and asking if you wish to import them. One click (Yes to import all) will then do it.
- thats it!

Note that if you have a lot of movie files then it may take a while for the new window (above) to appear. The first time I did it it happened almost immediately - but I only had about 5 minutes of movie. My vacation footage was over 2 hours and the new window took several minutes to come up.

Good luck

Smoog

Thank you ! ! !

I'll keep you updated ! I'll buy my new camera during next weekend !

Paul

 

[gannster]

How to export the VR format videos into iMovie

Here is the solution if you had recorded in the VR format:

If it is a Sony camera,
1) use the Picture Package and copy it your harddrive
2) transfer to the Mac
3) converts the videos files into .mov format using Prism.
4) import to iMovie

That's simple. Essentially, you need the .mov format for iMovie.

Problem is that the dates which it is recorded is not captured. Anybody got solution to this?

 

[goaty]

Sony handycam is possible

Hi, Ive been trying for 3 years with mixed results to upload from my handycam dvd653e model, with mixed results. Here is my success formula that works for me everytime on my Black macbook. Tiger os. ilife 08. with mini dvd rw+ discs
1. Record in video not vr mode on the disc.
2. give the disc a title in camera settings e.g seaside instead of the code the camera gives automatically.
3. when ready to upload finalise disc. ensure camera is fully charged.
4. plug usb into camera and mac.
5. switch camera on to playback mode.
6. Turn mac on.
7. Go to imovie
8. Wait 10-20 seconds and it automatically detects and starts processing to upload.
9. Usb 2.0 takes ages maybe 2 hours for a 30 min disc check from time to time to select options.
I think its worth the wait, just find something else to do in the meantime.

 

[rwik78]

Solution

I think I know how to make imovie recognize Sony DVD handycams. Use DVD -RW (very important), make sure it is in video mode (VR mode won't work), finalize and plug in USB. Imovie automatically recognizes and imports video.

For best movie settings, I found Quicktime PAL (make sure 4:3 or 16:9 is same between recorded and output format) works best.

I am using DCR DVD703E and Ilife 11.

 

[Dodgeroo]

when i first got my camera i dindt no how to upload it in imovie either, its actually very easy tho once you get the hang of. open i movie jut like you would do regually. NOTE* YOU CANNOT UPLOAD VIDEO VIA FIREWIRE. YOU MUST USE USB. makesure that the firewire cable is unplugged from your camera. turn ur camera on and put it in play/edit mode. usually the 3rd setting like on my handy cam. Now in imovie take the little slider bad on the bottom and slide it toward the scciors ur screen on imovie should be blue and say that the camera is connected. NOTE* BEFORE DOING THIS MAKESURE THAT YOUR CAMERA IS QUED TO THE POINT YOU WANT TO UPLOAD.

Is this true? Because in the iMovie supported cameras page, it states:

iMovie ’11 works with most Mini DV tape-based camcorders using DV and HDV formats, which use a FireWire cable (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) to transfer video.