How do I import MiniDV tape into FCPX?

[Patrice Freymond]

Your camera does not appear in the compatibility list on apple’s website https://help.apple.com/finalcutpro/cameras/en/index.html?

however, check page 30 of the manual, maybe there’s something in there for you ?

Patrice

[Bill Davis]

Those units have 4-pin FireWire and composite analog outs. So the issue is the input on the digitizing computer. If the computer has FireWire in- that’s best since its a direct digital connection. X should be able to see the FireWire stream if you patch it right. If there are issues, you can use the analog outputs of the player to feed something like a Black Magic Video Recorder dongle and just let that create an H264 copy that X can work with.

Overall, tho, you’re working with decade old tech which is a loooong time in computer years.

Good luck.

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[Andy Mees]

What exactly didn’t work Noel … is it that you Mac doesn’t recognise the deck at all when its attached via FireWire or only that FCP X didn’t recognise and list it in the import window? Or did FCP X see it but the import didn’t work? Have to say that when I attached a generic Sony DV deck the other day (using a 4 pin to 6 pin adapter and a 6 pin to 9 pin cable) it all just worked. I might have just been lucky but it seemed a pretty solid response to a pretty hokey set up.

[Noel Arteaga]

I have a Sony mini DV deck and I have had no luck when I plug the deck in FCPX, it does not recognize it and nothing pop ups when I connect the deck to the Mac? I have the latest Mac OS, the latest iMac (no FireWire inputs just USB 3.0 & thunderbolt) my deck is a Sony GV-dv1000 on the back it’s got a FireWire and USB output i tried to go USB to USB with no result and ordered a FireWire to USB cable off amazon and that also had no results?? I’m lost!

Thanks!!

[Noel Arteaga]

I’ve never heard of this black magic device can you recommend a model

Thanks!!

[Noel Arteaga]

Thank you very helpful !

Thanks!!

[Bill Davis]

You’re facing a combo of a deck that’s too old and a computer that’s too new. They don’t speak the same language.

So here’s what will work. Buy yourself a BlackMagic Video Recorder dongle (https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/videorecorder/)

Take the analog outputs of your hardware video player and connect the Video and audio outputs to the inputs on the BMVR and then plug THAT into the USB port on your laptop.

The BMVR comes with simple to operate software. You launch it and when the deck is playing, you can capture it’s video output into an H-264 encoded video file on your laptop. FCP-X will then be able to easily IMPORT the resulting video file and you can edit it in FCP-X.

To avoid much of the hassle of this process, you’ll probably eventually want to replace your camcorder with one that records to a card-based file rather than to physical tape. If so, it’s likely that with a simple, inexpensive card reader, you can get rid of all the file translation steps and just directly import the card files into your laptop to start editing.

Hope that helps.

Know someone who teaches video editing in elementary school, high school or college? Tell them to check out http://www.StartEditingNow.com – video editing curriculum complete with licensed practice content.

[Jeff Kirkland]

A FireWire to thunderbolt cable should do the trick. All of my DV and HDV cameras seem to work with FCPX fine via one of those. If not, there are plenty of other apps, including QuickTime that can capture the footage.

Jeff Kirkland | Video Producer | Southern Creative Media | Melbourne Australia
http://www.southerncreative.com.au | G+: https://gplus.to/jeffkirkland | Twitter: @jeffkirkland

[Andy Mees]

Hey Jeff

Can you confirm that you are using the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire adaptor, to successfully connect and capture from your DV/HDV camera’s via FireWire … and if not, could you provide a link to whichever cable/adaptor you’re using.

Cheers
Andy

[Jeff Kirkland]

I cant remember where it came from and couldn’t find the receipt but there’s an Apple store ten minutes from me so I’d be 99% certain it was Apple’s adapter. I’m using the thunderbolt to FireWire 800 adapter and then a generic FireWire 800 to FireWire 4 pin cable.

I’ve controlled several Sony, a JVC & a couple of Panasonic DV/HDV cameras using the adapter. It’s also working fine with my old Canopus ADVC100 A/D converter. I’m sure there will be exceptions but so far so good.

~ Jeff K

Jeff Kirkland | Video Producer | Southern Creative Media | Melbourne Australia
http://www.southerncreative.com.au | G+: https://gplus.to/jeffkirkland | Twitter: @jeffkirkland