iMovie DV Cam Control problems

[AndyR]

Hi all,

I've used iMove HD to copy my Mini DV tapes from my Sony PC101 camera to my Mac without problems. However, I now want to get my old Hi8 tapes from my old camera onto the Mac. What I did was connect the Hi8 camera into the DV camera and then the DV camera to the Mac. The camera supports passthru so should work.

However, when I click IMPORT in iMovie it starts the DV tape. If I take the DV tape out it just says insert tape?? I know I have to press play on the Hi8 camera but iMovie just keeps trying to play a DV tape.

I have done this before on XP now problems using Pinancle as there was an option to not have the software control the camera. Is there a way I can do this in iMovie??

Thanks
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[cinemafia]

I don't think iMovie can do this, I believe you're going to need FCE, Avid Xpress DV, or something similar.

[AndyR]

[chrishch]

If your MiniDV cam can do pass through, you can still use iMovie to import old Hi8 tapes, but you won't get camera controls, as iMovie can only control your MiniDV cam. You have to make sure you enable the pass through option on your MiniDV cam.

You will also have to take the tape out of the MiniDV, and then the Import button would work. However, you will have to manually press the Play/Pause/Stop buttons on the Hi8 camera. Just press the Import button and then press Play. You can always cut off the few seconds of "black" when editing your movie.

I do this all the time with my PVR. I hook up my PVR's output to my MiniDV and use iMovie to do the capturing. Just have to make sure that you take the tape out of the MiniDV or iMovie will get confused.

[AndyR]