How do i import videos from my Sony Handycam?

How to import Sony HandyCam videos onto iMovie?

• Hi. I am currently trying to import videos from my handycam onto imovie. I have it connected to the computer, and all the cam corder has said for the past ten minutes is "connecting... Do not unplug the USB cable. Do not turn off the power." When I go to iMovie and hit file>import or press the little button with the camera, my video camera does not come up. On the little button thing, all that does is the isight. HELP please. Thanks :)

• Answer:

  Handycam is Sony's generic name brand for all their consumer camcorders regardless of storage media type... and miniDV tape, Digital8 tape, flash memory and hard disc drive camcorders all connect differently and have different iMovie requirements. And if the camcorder is standard definition or high definition makes a difference, too... I'll assume it is miniDV tape based - if not, re-post your question with the camcorder model information - it will also help to know which Mac you are using and which version of iMovie is on there... If it is a miniDV tape based camcorder and you want the video off the tape, you need to disconnect the USB cable and use a firewire cable to connect the camcorders DV port to the Mac's firewire port. No, the manufacturer did not put a firewire cable in the box with the camcorder. Since you did not tell us which Mac, we have no way to know if you need a 4-pin to 6-pin or 4-pin to 9-pin firewire cable. The camcorder's DV port is always 4-pin. Almost all Macs made in the last 10+ years have a firewire port. The only exceptions are the newest MacBooks and the MacBook Air - all others have a firewire port. When the camcorder is correctly connected with the firewire cable and in Play or VCR mode (you did not tell us which model Panasonic camcorder, either), launch iMovie, name the project file, select the destination of the file, click create and the iMovie "Camcorder connected" blue screen will appear. Import the video using the camcorder controls in the iMovie window. If you have a Mac with no firewire port, the only workaround I can come up with is to get another Mac with a working firewire port and an external hard drive. Use this "other Mac" just for the video import - and save the iMovie project file to the external drive. When the importing is done, shut down that "other Mac". Disconnect the external hard drive and connect it to the Mac that will do the video editing. Power the drive and the editor Mac up, launch iMove and edit. USB will not allow video importing from a miniDV tape based camcorder. USB-to-firewire cable/hub/converter/adapters will not work.