Crystal A
I am PC savvy, not MAC savvy so I'm struggling trying to figure out how to transfer the video off my Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 as the DVD's are the small ones that you cant put in your CD/DVD drive or they will get stuck or jammed, and when I use the USB to plug in the Mac thinks it's a DVD and wants to write to it as if I had put a new DVD in the CD/DVD drive. Sony doesn't have software for the Mac, only for the PC with Windows, and I've done a lot of reading and I've seen people say use the Firewire, but there isn't any Firewire ports on my camcorder so that is out.
So can someone please give me a valid and workable answer that they know from experience and please put the URL if I need to download something. I have tried using IDVD and IMovie, but again the programs think it's a new DVD and doesn't recognize the camcorder. I do own VM Fusion software, but I need to reinstall my Windows because of Windows crashing, go figure.
thank you in advance for your help!
I have an internal DVD/CD writable drive, and no access to an external nor can I afford to go out and purchase one at this time.
Answer
The only way around your issue - that I know of - is to use an external drawer loading DVD drive. I got one from LaCie for a project to get video off the small (8cm) DVDs because most Macs us a slot loading DVD drive that can break if fed one of the small DVDs.
In the consumer grade area, only digital tape has firewire (miniDV and Digital8).
So... assuming you get an external DVD drive you will also need a DVD ripper. I like HandBrake from www.handbrake.fr
1) Finalize the disc in the camcorder.
2) Take the disc out and put it in the Mac's drawer loading DVD drive. If DVD Player launches, quit DVD Player.
3) Launch Handbrake (or whatever ripper you install).
4) Rip the video to a decent low compression format that iMovie can deal with. MOV or MP4 file types are best.
5) When the ripping is done, quit HandBrake and launch iMovie for editing.
6) Drag the ripped video to iMovie and start the editing process...
iDVD is for burning DVDs - not reading or ripping.
iMovie is for video editing, but the video needs to be in a useful format - not VOB files as they are on the DVD. For what it is worth, you would follow the same process if you were running Windows. This is not a Mac-only issue.
And a clarification: "MAC" is a network acronym, "Media Access Control". An Apple Macintosh is a computer some folks call "Mac" - not all caps because it is not an acronym.
The only way around your issue - that I know of - is to use an external drawer loading DVD drive. I got one from LaCie for a project to get video off the small (8cm) DVDs because most Macs us a slot loading DVD drive that can break if fed one of the small DVDs.
In the consumer grade area, only digital tape has firewire (miniDV and Digital8).
So... assuming you get an external DVD drive you will also need a DVD ripper. I like HandBrake from www.handbrake.fr
1) Finalize the disc in the camcorder.
2) Take the disc out and put it in the Mac's drawer loading DVD drive. If DVD Player launches, quit DVD Player.
3) Launch Handbrake (or whatever ripper you install).
4) Rip the video to a decent low compression format that iMovie can deal with. MOV or MP4 file types are best.
5) When the ripping is done, quit HandBrake and launch iMovie for editing.
6) Drag the ripped video to iMovie and start the editing process...
iDVD is for burning DVDs - not reading or ripping.
iMovie is for video editing, but the video needs to be in a useful format - not VOB files as they are on the DVD. For what it is worth, you would follow the same process if you were running Windows. This is not a Mac-only issue.
And a clarification: "MAC" is a network acronym, "Media Access Control". An Apple Macintosh is a computer some folks call "Mac" - not all caps because it is not an acronym.
where can I find a driver for the sony camcorder DCR-HC26 for Mac pro 10.5.8 OS X?
mafalda
Answer
The camcorder connects by Firewire. There is no need for any driver. The link posted by the other answerer will not show any drivers for any version of OS X.
Most MiniDV camcorders work with iMovie. The link below shows tapeless camcorders that are known to work with iMovie 9. Your Sony DCR-HC26 uses tape, so it probably works. Have you tried it? Open iMovie, connect the Firewire cable between the camcorder and the computer, turn on the camcorder and see if iMovie responds to it. You may be pleasantly surprised.
If your camera has an automatic power off feature that activates after a minute or two of not pressing any buttons, you may need to turn off that automatic feature to enable extended transfer time.
The camcorder connects by Firewire. There is no need for any driver. The link posted by the other answerer will not show any drivers for any version of OS X.
Most MiniDV camcorders work with iMovie. The link below shows tapeless camcorders that are known to work with iMovie 9. Your Sony DCR-HC26 uses tape, so it probably works. Have you tried it? Open iMovie, connect the Firewire cable between the camcorder and the computer, turn on the camcorder and see if iMovie responds to it. You may be pleasantly surprised.
If your camera has an automatic power off feature that activates after a minute or two of not pressing any buttons, you may need to turn off that automatic feature to enable extended transfer time.
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