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Sony Handycam and Mac

M

msharpmu

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 17, 2006
104
0
Well *****. I have been trying to convince my Dad to get an iMac for himself for about 2 years. Right now he uses a 5 and 1/2 year old HP and it is draggin'.

Anyways, he finally decided to get a mac (probably b/c he likes my mbp so much :) ) Well, tonight we realized that his Sony DCR-SR82 60GB Handycam Camcorder is not compatible with a mac. I guess Sony uses "muxed" video which means it is mixed together instead of having seperate video and audio tracks. I have got the run around from a whole bunch of sites and I need help.

I would really appreciate anything, anyone can give me. Does anybody know how to get this to work? Thanks...
 
My understanding is that these HD camcorders use USB 2.0 for the digital connection. I believe you should be able to simply plug the camera in via USB and it will appear as an external hard drive from which you can copy video files.

Apparently, you can only transfer MPEG2 standard-def files using this method. What software will you use to edit the video? I'm not certain, but you MIGHT need the MPEG2 plug-in for Quicktime if you are not using pro apps such as FinalCut Studio. Perhaps someone else can confirm or deny this. Sony also says that the camera has analog (RCA connector) video and audio connections, so you might be able to ingest video that way using a third-party analog-to-USB video capture device such as the ADS Pryo A/V Link. I'm at a loss about transferring HD video.

Good luck. :)

FWIW, a quick search at Sony's support site turned this info up:

To play files recorded in standard definition and transferred using the USB connection, the movie player application must support MPEG-2 playback to open and play these files properly. Refer to the software manufacturer for additional information and any available updates.

At the current time, files recorded in the AVCHD format can be copied and stored on the computer, however, they cannot be played or edited on the computer.


* Turn on the computer.
* With the camcorder turned off, connect the camcorder to the computer using the supplied USB cable.
* Plug the AC power adapter into an electrical wall outlet and then connect it to the camcorder.
* Open the LCD screen on the camcorder.
* Turn on the camcorder.
* The USB SELECT screen will be displayed on the LCD; touch the HDD or COMPUTER icon.
* After the computer recognizes the connection, it will list the camcorder hard drive as NO NAME on the computer desktop.
 
Mac problems with Sony HDD Camcorder SR-42

Hello, I am having the same problems and I have tried the Sony suggested connections, but the Mac never recognizes the Sony HDD (Sr42 in my case)

I have read all the threads here and installed quicktime 7 Pro, the MPEG2 Playback Component, MPEG Streamclip, and ffmpegx. They were all installed in the applications folder although possible not in the right order. Regardless - I feel like an idiot asking but can someone explain to me step by step how I pull a movie from my HDD camcorder onto my Mac. I have tried pulling it in thru iMovie, thru Quicktime Pro and merely looking to pull a movie to my desktop. The cable is good because I tried it on an IBM compatible and movies came over fine. Unfortunately I bought the camera to use with my Mac. Any help would sure be appreciated - this just all seems too hard. Mark
 
mfgroga11 said:
Hello, I am having the same problems and I have tried the Sony suggested connections, but the Mac never recognizes the Sony HDD (Sr42 in my case)

I have read all the threads here and installed quicktime 7 Pro, the MPEG2 Playback Component, MPEG Streamclip, and ffmpegx. They were all installed in the applications folder although possible not in the right order. Regardless - I feel like an idiot asking but can someone explain to me step by step how I pull a movie from my HDD camcorder onto my Mac. I have tried pulling it in thru iMovie, thru Quicktime Pro and merely looking to pull a movie to my desktop. The cable is good because I tried it on an IBM compatible and movies came over fine. Unfortunately I bought the camera to use with my Mac. Any help would sure be appreciated - this just all seems too hard. Mark
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll help you out here. Ok so you've downloaded the MPEG Streamclip, MPEG 2 Playback COmponent and don't know what do do next. First connect the Sony Camcorder to the Mac, second find the designated movie file in the camcorder drive. Third, open up MPEG Streamclip. Fourth, drag the movie file into the streamclip. Last, Export the movie. If you need any help finding the right codec to export the movie in please contact me at legs.twb@gmail.com
 
Sony Hard Drive Camcorder and MACS

I have the Sony DCR-SR80. (60 gig Hard Drive). I have had the same problems of importing my movies to my macs. I had to do a work around to achieve this. Mostly involved using VLC. However, yesterday I got my new version of iLife '08. iMovie now supports the ability to import from this camera. I assume other versions of Sony's Cameras as well.

I was very happy to find this out. I did not buy iLife for this purpose. I was upgrading anyway. I thought I would give it a try and it worked. I am happy that Apple picked up where Sony left off.
 
Cool

I did not know that the new iMovie will import from the camera. That is pretty cool. I should be getting my copy of iLife 08 really soon.
 
Sony HDR-HC7 (mini DV) & Mac

I have a Sony HDR-HC7 and would like to import video footage into our mac laptop. I'm new to video, editing, etc and would like to start with iMovie. Does anyone know how get the footage in to edit it? I saw that the new iLife would accept the hard drive Sony cameras, but mine is a Mini DV camera. Any help anyone has is greatly appreciated.
 
Sony Handycam and Mac compatibility???

See the next thread for all Mac/Sony Handycam compatibility secrets...
 
Sony Handycam and Mac compatibility questions answered!

I purchased a Sony Handycam Camcorder (DCR-SR82) and have a MacBook. I had recorded several videos and was anxious to transfer them on to my computer and then burn DVDs. I opened the camera box to find that the software provided with the Sony Handycam is for PCs only---there is no Mac installation disk. So, I began doing research and with some major help from a Mac genius, was able to get it all ironed out. My mission is to spread the word so that no one feels the need to return their Sony Handycam just because they are Mac owners! The first step is to make sure that the processor on your Mac is Intel, as I believe that is one of the requirements for all of this to work. Second is to buy iLife '08, which is around $80. Next, you can import your videos into iMovie without any difficulty and enjoy all of the editing features that iMovie provides. Once you have imported your movies, you can open iDVD and burn DVDs without difficulty. If you have an external DVD burner, which I do, you need to download one program which is free and is called Patchburn. This program will enable iDVD to recognize an external DVD burner. Then, you are all set to enjoy your Sony Handycam + all of the joy of editing movies with your Mac. Have fun!
 
I have a Sony DVD301 and while it's a great camera, I was very close to chucking it out a window because using it with my Mac was a pain. I had to finalize discs in the camera, then use some MPG converter, which didn't bring the full resolution, etc. USB was not recognized.

Today however, using iLife 08, iMovie popped open, saw the camera, made instant thumbnails of the clips, and allowed me to import. Fantastic!
 
VisualHub VisualHub VisualHub

Get this software!!!!

Connect your Sony HDD Cam to your Mac, put the Sony Cam in "computer" mode (which allows a computer to recognize the cam), open up a finder window, wait a few seconds for the finder to show the "No Name" drive (which is the Sony Cam), open it up, select your vid files and drag them into VisualHub (either all at once or individually), select the DVD tab at the top of the VisualHub window, and then press "Start". VisualHub will convert your Sony HDD Cam files into "burnable" DVD files.

I have a Sony HDD (SR-200) and I just converted all of my files last night. Worked like a charm.
 
converting mpg to some other for imove

Hi ! do anyone know a sistem to convert my mpg archives ( generated from my sony handycam... ) to some other extension compatible for imovie ?

...for me is like an imposibble mission !!!
 
Sony handycam and mac

Can someone help me here please!!!!

ok i have an HDR-SR 1 sony handycam and i have HD movies and regular movie formats... i tried to import the HD movies from my camera to my computer and it says that the files are not file movies.... but imovie does recognice the other movies (the ones in regular format) and it imports them fast and easy... can someone tell me what to do and how please!!!!


thank u!
 
Sony DCR - SR55E

Hello, I wonder if anyone can help me please. While filming in a fairly low lit theatre with the spotlights on the stage, a few feet away, the actors moving at a normal pace, the focus kept flickering in and out. Then later when filming the dancing, also fairly close, the focus went completely until I moved the camera and then resumed filming. Another time in a well lit room, also a stage, the colours were mottled during playback.
I am not very good at videoing, my family take the micky out of me, but I would like to do it correctly, for my own piece of mind.....I can take the ribbing!..... so any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks, R
 
Your focus problem is easy to solve - just switch off autofocus while filming in future and set the focus manually (which is what professionals do). There's nothing you can do about the out-of-focus parts of the material you have already filmed.

As for the mottled colours... no idea. Can you post a screen grab to demonstrate what you actually mean? Unless there is an actual fault with the camera, colour problems are usually down to incorrect white balance, but I wouldn't describe the results of that as being "mottled".
 
Dcr-sr55e

Thanks for you reply, actually , my son did say that maybe I should have used the back light. Would that have made any difference?
I have to read up on white balance. Perhaps mottled is not the right description, it was not clear, defined colour but I suppose pixely. It disappeared when I turned the contrast down but then there wasn't much colour left, mmm...post a screen grab.....now there's a mission!
 
red2 said:
Thanks for you reply, actually , my son did say that maybe I should have used the back light. Would that have made any difference?/
Click to expand...
Debatable. The backlight control affects exposure, not focus. It's possible that increasing the exposure might have helped the autofocus lock on properly, but it's just as likely that it would have made your footage look overexposed.

Just switch off the autofocus next time and set the focus manually.

it was not clear, defined colour but I suppose pixely. It disappeared when I turned the contrast down but then there wasn't much colour left, mmm...post a screen grab.....now there's a mission!
Click to expand...
Sorry, without screen grabs (or ideally an MP4 of the actual video) it's difficult to work out what the problem might be.
 
I Got It

i have resarched for some time and i have finally can play my videos with sound and works pretty well with imovie. You need to follow this simple steps...

1. Go to this webpage to download the mpeg-2 quicktime plugin, which costs $20 on the apple webpage, put you can get it free here. This works for video. http://rapidshare.com/files/92237523/quicktime_mpeg2.exe

2. Go to this apple webpage to download the mpeg streamclip, this works for sound. http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html

3. This would be all. All you need to do is open imovie and go to import and if your sony handycam is conected correctly you will be able to see the clips there.

GOOD LUCK, IT WORKED FOR ME :)
 
I downloaded all my videos from Sony HDD cam with iMovie. I believe its the latest version because I have iLife 09. The key step was to wait about 5-10 minutes or so for iMovie to recognize the camera. There were thousands of small movie clips so the system needed time to read them.
Here are my steps:
I opened iMovie. Connected the camera. Clicked on Import From in iMovie and just wait. At first you will see isight but after a while your videos will begin to load. You can either upload all or selected clips.
There is also an option to make a copy/backup of your camcorder file but I chose to import the clips instead.
Good luck!
 
Lola M said:
I downloaded all my videos from Sony HDD cam with iMovie. I believe its the latest version because I have iLife 09. The key step was to wait about 5-10 minutes or so for iMovie to recognize the camera. There were thousands of small movie clips so the system needed time to read them.
Here are my steps:
I opened iMovie. Connected the camera. Clicked on Import From in iMovie and just wait. At first you will see isight but after a while your videos will begin to load. You can either upload all or selected clips.
There is also an option to make a copy/backup of your camcorder file but I chose to import the clips instead.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

When I connect my Sony handycam iphoto recognizes a camera but imovie does not(this is a brand new laptop bought 3 months ago). I tried to let iphoto import the movies but after 30 minutes it said it could not import because they were in an unrecognized format.

Cliffs:
Iphoto registers camera but wont import vids because of unrecognized format
Imovie won't register the camera even has videos on it

ANy help would be greatly appreciated
 
kb22stang said:
When I connect my Sony handycam iphoto recognizes a camera but imovie does not(this is a brand new laptop bought 3 months ago). I tried to let iphoto import the movies but after 30 minutes it said it could not import because they were in an unrecognized format.

Cliffs:
Iphoto registers camera but wont import vids because of unrecognized format
Imovie won't register the camera even has videos on it

ANy help would be greatly appreciated
Click to expand...

Hi,
Try closing iPhoto and keep iMovie open instead. Now that you mentioned it, I remembered that iPhoto opened automatically when I plugged in the camera, even though iMovie was open. Just close iPhoto and stick with iMovie. iMovie should recognize Sony in several minutes. Hope it works for you. Let me know)))
 
Lola M said:
Hi,
Try closing iPhoto and keep iMovie open instead. Now that you mentioned it, I remembered that iPhoto opened automatically when I plugged in the camera, even though iMovie was open. Just close iPhoto and stick with iMovie. iMovie should recognize Sony in several minutes. Hope it works for you. Let me know)))
Click to expand...

Thanks, it worked. Truly appreciate it.
 
same problems.....

hi everybody, i've read the thread and then tried to connect my new handycam.. DCR-SX30.

I followed the instructions for the connections... i've tried to connect the camera to the mac when the camera was turned off and when it was turned on (as suggested on this page ) http://guide.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/mac/ms/it/
the cam recognized the computer and says it's connected.. but my imac doesn't do anything... no disk recognized.. no software opened..

i've a new imac 21.5 leopard and ilife 09
thanx for help!
 
SuperDaddy Wins!

SuperDaddy said:
VisualHub VisualHub VisualHub

Get this software!!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, I have a Handycam DCR SR85 and I had no clue what to do. I do, however, have a wonderful husband who already uses VisualHub and we were able to easily remove and view all our movies with your advice. Thanks, it was easy, painless and I only signed up for macrumors forums to thank you. :):D:apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::)
 
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