Need Help Troubleshooting DV 8mm transfer into iMovie
I have several old 8mm tapes that I want to transfer into iMovie. I purchased an 8mm Sony camcorder that has a DV output expressely for this purpose. I connected it to my iMac24 using a 4-pin(DV) to 6-Pin(400) Firewire cable. iMovie recognizes my camcorder but can't seem to import the footage. The import screen identifies the status of the camcorder(ie-pause,play,stopped)on the upper left of the preview screen, but cannot display the video from the tape. In other words, i see the video playing on my 8mm camcorder's viewscreen but not on the iMac import screen. All I see on the import screen, besides the status on the upper left, is a blue screen. However, when the camcorder is set to record mode I do see the preview images from the viewfinder of the camcorder on the preview screen of my iMac. I've tried iMovie in both automatic and manual import settings with no luck. Can anyone steer me in the right direction as to what to try next?
Note: I have been successful using the same connection from my miniDV camcorder to the iMac, using the same cable and ports, to transfer video from those miniDV tapes. Anyone have a clue as to what's causing this? I do not have Final Cut Express so I'm not sure if the same problem would occur if I tried that program. I'd hate to spend the $$ on FCE only to have the same thing happen. I'm a MAC newbie and would like to get used to iMovie before moving on to FCE.
Thanks in advance,
Luis
Note: I have been successful using the same connection from my miniDV camcorder to the iMac, using the same cable and ports, to transfer video from those miniDV tapes. Anyone have a clue as to what's causing this? I do not have Final Cut Express so I'm not sure if the same problem would occur if I tried that program. I'd hate to spend the $$ on FCE only to have the same thing happen. I'm a MAC newbie and would like to get used to iMovie before moving on to FCE.
Thanks in advance,
Luis
Comments
I have several old 8mm tapes that I want to transfer into iMovie. I purchased an 8mm Sony camcorder that has a DV output expressely for this purpose. I connected it to my iMac24 using a 4-pin(DV) to 6-Pin(400) Firewire cable. iMovie recognizes my camcorder but can't seem to import the footage. The import screen identifies the status of the camcorder(ie-pause,play,stopped)on the upper left of the preview screen, but cannot display the video from the tape. In other words, i see the video playing on my 8mm camcorder's viewscreen but not on the iMac import screen. All I see on the import screen, besides the status on the upper left, is a blue screen. However, when the camcorder is set to record mode I do see the preview images from the viewfinder of the camcorder on the preview screen of my iMac. I've tried iMovie in both automatic and manual import settings with no luck. Can anyone steer me in the right direction as to what to try next?
Note: I have been successful using the same connection from my miniDV camcorder to the iMac, using the same cable and ports, to transfer video from those miniDV tapes. Anyone have a clue as to what's causing this? I do not have Final Cut Express so I'm not sure if the same problem would occur if I tried that program. I'd hate to spend the $$ on FCE only to have the same thing happen. I'm a MAC newbie and would like to get used to iMovie before moving on to FCE.
Thanks in advance,
Luis
Have you tried toggling the "Auto/Hi8" playback mode selector on the camera to "Hi8"?
Also, make sure the camera's TBC (Time Base Corrector) function is on, in case the tapes you are trying to play back are too wonky to track.