Sony HandyCam and Macbook

[nickdj]

I recently purchased a Macbook and a Sony DCR HC46 mini dv Handycam. What is the proper way to get video from cam to mac for editing and burning?

 

[CanadaRAM]

Yes. Firewire cable *also called i.link by Sony*.

Typically you need a cable with a 6-pin Firewire port on the Mac end, and a 4 pin miniature Firewire on the camera end.

iMovie (included with your MacBook) should recognize the camera automatically, as long as the camera is set to the rihgt mode.

 

[nickdj]

so it won't recognize the usb the handycam comes with?

 

[CanadaRAM]

so it won't recognize the usb the handycam comes with?

USB is usually for transfer of still photos only, Firewire is for DV

 

[pianoman]

the USB cable should work, especially if that's the only cable it came with. they wouldn't give you a cable that didn't work.

USB works better for still pictures (because they're smaller in size) and FW works best for movies (because they're large files). i've always had better luck with FW than USB, even with something as inconsequential as transferring songs to my iPods.