joleyne 0 pts

November 8, 2006 11:34 PM

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how do i record using the dcr sr 80 to an apple power book g-4?

i have an apple power book g-4 and a dcr sr 80. they do not work together why? and what do i need? where can i find it?

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58446 pts

November 9, 2006 12:46 AM

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Well, you're running into several hurdles. Firstly, there's the fact that MPEG2 is what the SR80 records in. Secondly, most macs use firewire to capture which may or may not be compatible with Sony's iEEE 1394 standard. There's other restrictions as outlined in the Sony FAQ:

Information on SonyÂ® digital camcorder compatibility with AppleÂ® MacintoshÂ® computers.

SonyÂ® MiniDV and Digital 8 camcorders have an i.LINKÂ® port for the transfer of audio and video. The i.LINKÂ® protocol is based on the IEEE 1394 standard which defines a high performance serial bus connection. This standard was written by The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. The AppleÂ® MacintoshÂ® uses the AppleÂ® Fire WireÂ® serial bus for this high-speed serial bus connection. Provided that the version of AppleÂ® Fire WireÂ® serial bus used in the AppleÂ® MacintoshÂ® computer conforms to the IEEE 1394 protocol, SonyÂ® camcorders should be compatible.

SonyÂ® MICROMVâ¢ camcorders export video as MICROMVâ¢ format through the i.LINKÂ® or USB connections. Sony does not currently offer AppleÂ® MacintoshÂ® software compatible with the MICROMVâ¢ format. Sony is not able to recommend any specific third-party software to allow video transfer from the camcorder to the computer.

USB streaming video or video transfer is not supported in an AppleÂ® MacintoshÂ® environment. When exporting video from the AppleÂ® MacintoshÂ® to the digital camcorder, the information needs to be sent in Digital Video (DV) compressed mode.

SonyÂ® DVD camcorders do not have an i.LINKÂ® connection and the USB connection on these camcorders is not compatible in the AppleÂ® MacintoshÂ® environment. The finalized DVD disc can be viewed in the AppleÂ® MacintoshÂ® computer provided it has a DVDROM drive installed.

It then goes on to suggest capturing using analog connections and a bridge like ones that Pinnacle put out.

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Trevor Inkpen 4 pts

January 20, 2007 1:01 AM

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iLink and IEEE1394 and Firewire are the same thing. That's not the issue. In fact, it is not even relevant to the question because the DCR-SR80 doesn't have Firewire. But saying that iLink "may or may not be compatible" sounds good, even if it means nothing.

Sony provides software for Windows but not for Mac. Mac users can purchase software from Sony, or can use MPEG Streamclip http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/24055 to convert files to a usable format for Quicktime and iMovie.

It is not Mac problem (as you repeatedly parrot from Sony), its a SonyNotProvidingSoftwareOrDrivers problem.

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Dave Amspoker 2 pts

January 31, 2007 7:56 AM

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I purchased the DCR-SR40 30g HDD sony camera. I wish I would have done a little more homework. You have to buy additional software from a third party and the cost will ad $100 to your overall purchase price of the camera. That is, if you want to use it with a Apple/Mac computer.

Does anyone have experience with this software?

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Joe 31 pts

February 14, 2007 7:40 AM

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Dave, I just got a DCR-SR80 and a little searching found that you can use iSquint (free converter) to convert the movie files. Just plug in the camera in HDD mode so it mounts it like an external hard drive on your Mac. Navigate to the MP_ROOT folder and inside the folders in there you wil find your video files. Just drag those out to your desktop and use iSquint to convert them to mp4 files that can be edited in iMovie/QuickTime/etc. Its pretty quick, and apparently the next version of QuickTime will support mpeg2 so the camera will just work, so this is only a temporary workaround.

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dave 0 pts

February 18, 2007 12:40 AM

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ah.. that's what i've been searching for.. someone who can tell me how to initially get the footage off the camera, then I can worry about formats from there. Joe, you mentioned plugging in the camera in HDD mode so it mounts like an external hard drive.. I'm unsure what that means.. are you doing this using the USB? and if so, my mac doesn't show any sign of recognition. Sounds like there's a back-end way to get to it, but I'm unclear. thanks!

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58446 pts

February 19, 2007 2:00 PM

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Then you should take it up with SONY Trevor, because that's what I got from them. And while I agree that iLink and Firewire should be the same thing, the fact that they don't have drivers for it, requiring their mac customers to purchase more software is to my point. So you may want to read replies before you criticize them.

Good catch on MPEG Streamclip though.

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Vinny B 0 pts

February 20, 2007 4:06 PM

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I was wondering if the DCR-Sr 100 is compatible with final cut pro? Can I Convert my video and edit it using my mac... and if you know the answer to that question, can I follow the same steps as listed above to digitize my video's? I had a DCR-Sr40 but it was stolen and now I'm looking to upgrade to the 80 or 100... If you have any advice, please let me know.

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58446 pts

February 21, 2007 2:48 PM

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Vinny, as I've said above, Sony isn't very compatible with MAC. IN fact, the requirements don't even mention Macs, and the software they include is listed in the computer application guide as specifically not being compatible with Apple. Period.

Why? I'm not sure but my personal opinion is that it has to do with proprietary spins on the encoding they use. But, what you may be able to do is connect it and have Apple recognize it as a drive. Then, drag and drop onto your Mac's drive and then convert the MPEG2 files (which your computer records to) into a more editable format with something like MPEG Streamclip.

In reality, I'd rather point you to the Canon line of camcorders. Much more compatible with MAC. In fact, I'm wondering if they were designed with MAC in mind.

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dcrsr60 0 pts

April 17, 2007 6:29 PM

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Most of sonys video cameras are strictly running on usb only, the only sony cameras that are actually compatible wiht macs are the ones with firewire connections such as the tape ones...as for the hard drive one just donwload isquint for free and drag all your clips into it and convert to a compatible file that imovie or quicktime will run...i also had herd that mac will be updatine there software so that mpeg2 videos will be compatible..but for now jus us isquint!

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58446 pts

April 18, 2007 11:49 AM

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Theres also Apple's recommendation of MPEG Streamclip.

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isha 0 pts

April 25, 2007 2:48 PM

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i brought sony dcr sr80 from USA and i live in Uk when i connect my comcoder with tv its showing black & white picture on tv.could anyone help me wat should i do for that i can see coloured movie on tv directly in uk. if i want save clip on dvd which dvd i have to use .

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58446 pts

April 25, 2007 4:27 PM

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Well, you may be running into a PAL issue vs. the NTSC camera. NTSC cameras shoot at 30fps, whereas PAL shoots at 25fps.

BTW - Trevor, my post is germaine to the conversation. If you look further into it you find this:

"Sony® MICROMV? camcorders export video as MICROMV? format through the i.LINK® or USB connections. Sony does not currently offer Apple® Macintosh® software compatible with the MICROMV? format. Sony is not able to recommend any specific third-party software to allow video transfer from the camcorder to the computer."

As a little bit of background on the IEEE1394 standard, initially, though similar, Firewire and iLink weren't compatible at all. From Videomaker magazine:

"When Sony initially developed i.LINK, their standard was not exactly the same as IEEE 1394 (or FireWire). This caused a lot of incompatibility issues. In an effort to remedy this, in the Fall of 1998, Sony changed the i.LINK specifications to be identical to the FireWire and IEEE 1394 standard. So now when you see the terms IEEE 1394, FireWire or i.LINK, they all refer to the same standard."

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isha 0 pts

April 27, 2007 7:01 AM

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can i change the setting NTSC TO PAL in camcoder dcr sr80 so i can watch the movie on pal tv.

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58446 pts

April 28, 2007 2:16 AM

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I don't think that's a possibility. I don't know if there are any NTSC/PAL video cameras out there. And once you've recorded it in one format, that's pretty much it.

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how do i record using the dcr sr 80 to an apple power book g-4?

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