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Sony HDR-HC7 HDV Camcorder

Do You Own or Plan To Own A Sony HDR-HC7 HDV Camcorder?

  • Total voters
    184
I had the exact same problem

With my first big vacation DVD. Was fine on the tape but off on the import.

After switching to 16 bit all has been perfect since.

huggies said:
Thanks ibglowin...I'll check tonight. However, the audio and video are fine/ in synch when I'm watching the actual tape (or connected to tv)...would the 12/16 bit discrepancy you note above affect that? Or would it only affect importing to computer?
Click to expand...
 
Woaa........

Poop.

Now I am really stumped. Like I said, I had the exact same problem and switched it over and no more problem. I would try the apple discussions for iMovie and see if anything pops up. Try google as well. Let us no if you find anything.

huggies said:
DV Audio mode is already set at 16 bit. Any other guesses? :(
Click to expand...
 
Use FW 400 To Connect NOT FW 800

huggies said:
I've had the HC7 for several months now, using it with my iMac 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo (2 GB Ram).

Recently, everytime I try to import into imovie (6 HD), I am getting the audio to be out of sync from the video (audio slightly ahead).

I'm using firewire 800 to connect. Using connect Guide on the camera, it's HDV -> DV conversion set as NO, using i.Link to connect to computer. iMovie preferences are set to input HDV project, frame rate: 29.97fps, filter audio from camera, automatic DV pillarboxing and Letterboxing.

I never seemed to have this synch problem until recently...any thoughts? The current tape I'm trying to import, I've tried 3-4 times now...still has out of synch when watching in iMovie (no problems of course watching on the actual tape).

Thoughts? Things to check? Mega thanks in advance for your help...getting a bit bummed trying to get a nice import going.
Click to expand...
I notice you're connecting the HC7 to the FW800 port instead of the FW400 port (6 pin on the iMac to 4 pin on the HC7). Where did you find a FW800 to 4 pin FW400 cable? I've never seen one before. Link?
 
Multimedia said:
I notice you're connecting the HC7 to the FW800 port instead of the FW400 port (6 pin on the iMac to 4 pin on the HC7). Where did you find a FW800 to 4 pin FW400 cable? I've never seen one before. Link?
Click to expand...

He could be using a 4-6pin with a 6-9pin adapter. However it's pretty pointless. The FW800 bus automatically slows down to 400 when a FW400 device (the camera) is connected, so connecting it to FW800 is pointless.
 
Multimedia said:
I notice you're connecting the HC7 to the FW800 port instead of the FW400 port (6 pin on the iMac to 4 pin on the HC7). Where did you find a FW800 to 4 pin FW400 cable? I've never seen one before. Link?
Click to expand...

Think I got it at Circuit City...if I can locate a link, I'll forward.

zioxide said:
He could be using a 4-6pin with a 6-9pin adapter. However it's pretty pointless. The FW800 bus automatically slows down to 400 when a FW400 device (the camera) is connected, so connecting it to FW800 is pointless.
Click to expand...

Ahh...didn't know that (the camera being FW400 that is).

Regardless, I got my issue fixed! I brought the same cable, same camera to work today to try on a coworkers new macbook pro. No sync issues...leading me to look at my imac.

After googling, found the following page with hints of things to try for audio / synch issues:
http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/iMovie6FixesIssues.shtml

Not sure exactly which one did it, but I:
1. Did repair disk permissions (actually tried that one last night to no avail)
2. Cleared caches using "Cache Out X"
3. Removed an imovie plugin I was no longer using
4. Trashed my iMovie plist files

There are a few more things on that page, but after doing the above...everything is perfectly in sync again.

Bizarre...I've definitely bookmarked the link above, and you may wish to do the same just in case!

Thanks again for the quick feedback...and definitely thanks for letting me know (in a nice way!) my stupidity of trying to connect to FW800.
 
Boy am I starting to get frustrated :(

Exact same thing happened again. Did just the trashing of plist, nothing. Then did the Cache Out application, nothing. Then immediately after doing the cache out, trashed the plist...now it's fine again.

This stinks...nobody else is ever noticing audio out of sync w/ video? There has to be some application on my imac that's causing this or something (nothing else is running but imovie and finder though)....2GB of ram should be *more* than enough, right?

:mad:
 
Sony HC7 and iMovie 6.0.3

Just purchased a Sony HC7 HD video camera. When I imported from the camera to computer using iMovie 6.0.3 the video became choppy and some clips stalled in playback with the audio continuing but not the video. Any suggestions? I'm using a 1.25 GHz powerbook g4.
 
sh5345 said:
Just purchased a Sony HC7 HD video camera. When I imported from the camera to computer using iMovie 6.0.3 the video became choppy and some clips stalled in playback with the audio continuing but not the video. Any suggestions? I'm using a 1.25 GHz powerbook g4.
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure your computer is too slow to handle HDV.
 
Sony HC7-iMove 6.0.3

JeffDM said:
I am pretty sure your computer is too slow to handle HDV.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response - I was looking for reasons to invest in a new computer - you've just given me another one!

Also, you've saved me numerous hours trying to make things work.
 
Have You Tried Exporting DV Instead of HDV?

sh5345 said:
Just purchased a Sony HC7 HD video camera. When I imported from the camera to computer using iMovie 6.0.3 the video became choppy and some clips stalled in playback with the audio continuing but not the video. Any suggestions? I'm using a 1.25 GHz powerbook g4.
Click to expand...
External FW HD might help get it in. I have that model PB as well. Haven't tried it. You need enough horsepower for the computer to transcode to AIC on the fly. Like the others have said our 4 year old model is likely too weak. I use a 2.66 Mac Pro for my HC-7 iMovie 7.1 work.

Short term solution would be to export DV instead of HDV. Is that your only Mac? You might want to think about buying a MacBook after November 6 when the new ones ship and putting 4GB inside.
 
Multimedia said:
External FW HD might help get it in. I have that model PB as well. Haven't tried it. You need enough horsepower for the computer to transcode to AIC on the fly. Like the others have said our 4 year old model is likely too weak. I use a 2.66 Mac Pro for my HC-7 iMovie 7.1 work.

Short term solution would be to export DV instead of HDV. Is that your only Mac? You might want to think about buying a MacBook after November 6 when the new ones ship and putting 4GB inside.
Click to expand...

I have a Western Digital external HD - haven't tried importing to it yet. I'll certainly give it a try. Otherwise my other Macs are older. The reason I purchased the Sony HC7 was for HD video playback and to make DVD's for family members that have 1080 TVs/DVD players. It sorta defeats the purpose of having the HD camera if i downgrade it to DV doesn't it - or am I missing something here? I've been looking into the MacBook Pro but I hate to shell out another $2K just to import HD video. On the other hand I've already spent $1K+ for the HD camera and would like to create HD videos. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
 
Try To Find A Pre-Owned Mac Pro 2.66 After The New Ones Ship

If money is an issue and power is the need you should look at a pre-owned Mac Pro after the new ones ship next month for somewhere in the $2K± range. Or you might be ok with a new Santa Rosa iMac after they go refurb. Lets you put in 4GB ram. Or the next MacBook will have the same 4GB capability for only a little over $1K. This is important for video work.
 
Multimedia said:
If money is an issue and power is the need you should look at a pre-owned Mac Pro after the new ones ship next month for somewhere in the $2K± range. Or you might be ok with a new Santa Rosa iMac after they go refurb. Lets you put in 4GB ram. Or the next MacBook will have the same 4GB capability for only a little over $1K. This is important for video work.
Click to expand...

What new Mac computer configuration would you recommend for high quality HD video editing/DVD creation? I am a amateur photographer and HD video enthusiast. I am also somewhat of a perfectionist (on a budget). I don't mind spending the necessary money on a new computer but want to be sure I'm getting the right computer for my needs. Waiting until the new computers ship next month is not a problem.

Thanks for your comments - I really appreciate your input.
 
sh5345 said:
What new Mac computer configuration would you recommend for high quality HD video editing/DVD creation? I am a amateur photographer and HD video enthusiast. I am also somewhat of a perfectionist (on a budget). I don't mind spending the necessary money on a new computer but want to be sure I'm getting the right computer for my needs. Waiting until the new computers ship next month is not a problem.
Click to expand...

That's not an easy question.

If you plan to run Final Cut Express or Aperture, Apple's site says that any new Mac should do that job pretty well, but I think you really need to put in at least 2GB for HD. I'd suggest a separate drive for storing your in-process video work. I think it's a good idea to have a 23" / 24" monitor, but that can be an add-on to any model Apple sells.
 
You do realize we can't actually burn anything in HD......

Just trying to make sure that you realize we still have no way of making anything in HD really. You can import your footage edit in iMovie, add cool transitions etc but thats it. You then have to push it back to tape in HD and playback on tape. You can't burn anything in HD to DVD and even though you could buy a Blu-Ray burner iDVD doesn't support Blu-Ray burning. You have to downrez to SD and burn as a regular DVD. I seem to recall that you can make some sort of an HD-DVD with Final Cut Pro Studio but since I don't have it I can't confirm this.

The new hard drive or flash drive based HD camcorders can burn an AVCHD disc on a regular DVD that will play in Blu-Ray drives like a PS3 but I don't think there is any software for the Mac, only PC's.

Anyone know anything different please correct me but I am pretty sure this is the current state of HD Video on the Mac. Perhaps some of this will change this week with the release of Leopard but I doubt it as no one has mentioned anything about any new HD editing/burning features with it.

Toast Titanium 8 supports Blu-Ray disc burning but ONLY for data archival. :(

sh5345 said:
The reason I purchased the Sony HC7 was for HD video playback and to make DVD's for family members that have 1080 TVs/DVD players. It sorta defeats the purpose of having the HD camera if i downgrade it to DV doesn't it - or am I missing something here? I've been looking into the MacBook Pro but I hate to shell out another $2K just to import HD video. On the other hand I've already spent $1K+ for the HD camera and would like to create HD videos. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
 
You do realize we can't actually burn anything in HD......

ibglowin said:
Just trying to make sure that you realize we still have no way of making anything in HD really. You can import your footage edit in iMovie, add cool transitions etc but thats it. You then have to push it back to tape in HD and playback on tape. You can't burn anything in HD to DVD and even though you could buy a Blu-Ray burner iDVD doesn't support Blu-Ray burning. You have to downrez to SD and burn as a regular DVD. I seem to recall that you can make some sort of an HD-DVD with Final Cut Pro Studio but since I don't have it I can't confirm this.

The new hard drive or flash drive based HD camcorders can burn an AVCHD disc on a regular DVD that will play in Blu-Ray drives like a PS3 but I don't think there is any software for the Mac, only PC's.

Anyone know anything different please correct me but I am pretty sure this is the current state of HD Video on the Mac. Perhaps some of this will change this week with the release of Leopard but I doubt it as no one has mentioned anything about any new HD editing/burning features with it.

Toast Titanium 8 supports Blu-Ray disc burning but ONLY for data archival. :(
Click to expand...

No - I didn't realize I couldn't burn a HD DVD. I hadn't looked into it fully. I'm new to the video process. I do have Final Cut Pro but haven't had an opportunity to play with it yet. Bottom line is I like the video quality of the Sony HC7 when played back from tape and will definitely keep the camera. Hopefully, somewhere down the road we'll have the ability to burn HD DVDs from our Macs. My main concern was getting choppy video when I downloaded from the camera to my G4. Thanks to you all, I now know what the problem is. Cheers!
 
I own a HDR-FX1 and I love it. No complaints what so ever. Sony did a wonderful job with their HDV line of cameras. The quality of the footage you get in HDV mode is great. Don't regret getting this camera one bit.
 
You do realize we can't actually burn anything in HD......

sh5345 said:
No - I didn't realize I couldn't burn a HD DVD. ... Hopefully, somewhere down the road we'll have the ability to burn HD DVDs from our Macs.
Click to expand...

The new Sony VRD-MC5 seems to have potential for backing up your tapes in HD, and sharing with friends and family in raw format. But the reviews on Amazon say it cannot connect to a computer via a USB port, so it sounds like it won't work for burning edited video.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SML2BQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The reviews on Amazon also seem to be very positive. Has anyone tried it out yet?
 
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I'm thinking of getting an iMac to do my video editing. I got the HC7 last year and before that had an older Sony that used HI8 tapes. Can the HC7 be used to pass the video off my old HI8 tapes and camcorder into the iMac? Does the iMac detect scene changes like my old software did?

Thanks
 
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