How to transfer video to a computer!

Please, choose your Operating System type by clicking one of the below icons.

Macintosh® 

Macintosh®

Transfering video to a Mac computer

Simply click on the list item representing the type of connection you would like to use for the video transfer.

• MiniDV camcorders (IEEE-1394)

  1. Make sure you disabled the standby mode on your computer.
  2. Connect the camera to the mains.
  3. Connect the camera to your computer with an IEEE-1394 cable (optional).
  4. Turn the camera on and set it to play mode (or PC mode), depending on the camera model.
  5. Open iMovie. You can now import video from your camcorder using the controls in iMovie.

  Importing videos to a computer using iMovie '08

  Importing videos recorded on a tape

  
  

  STEP 1: Connecting

  Videos recorded in x.v.Color can be played back with non-x.v.Color-compliant devices, however, an x.v.Color-compliant device is necessary for accurate color reproduction.
  

  1. Turn on the computer.
  2. Insert the tape into your camcorder.
  3. Slide the POWER switch on the camcorder to the [PLAY/EDIT] position.
  4. Set the [VCR HDV/DV] and [i.LINK CONV] menu settings as follows.

     Format recorded on a tape	Format imported to a computer	Menu settings
     		VCR HDV/DV	i.LINK CONV
     HDV	HDV	HDV	OFF
     DV	DV	DV	--

     Note:

     If you use Macintosh, you cannot convert videos recorded in the HDV format to the DV format and import them.
  5. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the i.LINK cable as shown. 

     When an i.LINK cable is connected, the format of the output signal (HDV or DV) will be indicated on the LCD screen of your camcorder.

  
  

  STEP 2: Viewing

  
  
  

  1. Start iMovie '08.
  2. A device where the images are stored is shown.Confirm that "HDV-VCR (HDV)" is selected for HDV format, and "DV-VCR (DV)" for DV format.

     When importing all the videos:

     You cannot import videos from the tape which includes both HDV format and DV format.

     (1) Click [Automatic].(2) Click [Import].(3) Select the location to save, input an event name in [Creat new Event], and click [OK].(4) The tape will be rewound and all the videos will be imported.(5) When [Camera Import Complete] is displayed, click [OK].

     When importing selected videos:

     (1) Click [Manual]. (2) Use the control buttons and rewind or fast-forward the tape to the point you want to start importing. (3). Click [Import].(4) Select the location to save, input an event name in [Creat new Event], and click [OK].(5). Importing starts. Click [Stop] when you want to finish importing.
  3. The list of the imported videos is shown. This is the end of importing. For editing, refer to [Help] - [iMovie Help].

• MiniDV camcorders (USB)

  It is not possible to import movies via USB directly to iMovie.

• Memory Stick camcorders (USB)

   An Intel processor is required for AVCHD video support. Mac OS X version 10.5 (Leopard) or later is required for AVCHD DVD camcorder support. However, to import the HD (AVCHD) content to an Intel-based Mac, you must first erase the SD (MPEG-2) content on the camera.
  To import the video, you'll need to connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. One end of your USB cable plugs into your computer, as shown here:
    Do not attempt to insert mini DVDs or other nonstandard video discs into a slot-loading or tray-loading disc drive on your computer. Doing so may damage your computer.
  

  1. Make sure you disabled the standby mode on your computer.
  2. Connect the camera to the mains and connect the USB cable to the camera (at this stage, do not connect the camera to the computer.).
  3. Turn the camera on.
  4. Connect the camera to the computer with the USB cable.
  5. Open iMovie and wait until the camera is fully detected (this may take several minutes as detection time depends on the movie length.).
  6. When the camera is detected, movie thumbnails and the Import window appear. If the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is full, it may take 1.5 hours.

  It can take several minutes to over an hour for iMovie to import the video and generate thumbnail images of each clip, depending on how many minutes of video you have. The circular progress indicator in the Import window shows you how long it might take.
  

  Importing videos to a computer using iMovie '08

  Importing videos recorded on "Memory Stick Duo" or internal memory

  
  

  STEP 1: Connecting

  1. Turn on the computer.
  2. If you import videos on "Memory Stick Duo", insert "Memory Stick Duo" into your camcorder.
  3. Connect the AC Adaptor and the power cord (mains lead) to your camcorder and the wall outlet (wall socket).
  4. Turn on the camcorder.
  5. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the supplied USB cable as shown. The [USB SELECT] screen appears on the camcorder automatically. 
  6. Select [  USB CONNECT] or [  USB CONNECT] on the camcorder screen. An "Untitled" icon appears on the computer desktop.

  STEP 2: Viewing

  1. Start iMovie '08.
  2. A device where the images are stored is shown. Confirm that "Untitled" is selected in the Camera setting. 

     When importing all the videos:

     (1) Click [Automatic]. (2) Click [Import All]. 

     When importing selected videos:

     (1) Click [Manual].(2) Click and check the boxes under the videos you want to import. (3) Click [Import Checked].
  3. Select the location to save, input an event name in [Creat new Event], and click [OK].
  4. Import of videos starts. When the [Import complete] message appears, click [OK]. 
  5. List of imported videos is shown. This is the end of importing videos.

  • * For editing, refer to [Help] - [iMovie Help].
  • * When disconnecting the USB cable, drag the [Untitled] icon to the [Trash] icon or turn off the computer before disconnecting the USB cable.

  Note:

  • Functions such as "Easy PC Back-up" or "One Touch Disc Burn" cannot be used with Mac OS.
  • If you cannot import videos, update all the software and OS, and try again.
  • AVCHD and MPEG2 videos are supported by iMovie '08 or later.

• DVD camcorders (USB)

  
  

   An Intel processor is required for AVCHD video support. Mac OS X version 10.5 (Leopard) or later is required for AVCHD DVD camcorder support. However, to import the HD (AVCHD) content to an Intel-based Mac, you must first erase the SD (MPEG-2) content on the camera.

  
  To import the video, you'll need to connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. One end of your USB cable plugs into your computer, as shown here:
  
   
  
  
  
  Do not attempt to insert mini DVDs or other nonstandard video discs into a slot-loading or tray-loading disc drive on your computer. Doing so may damage your computer.
  

  1. Make sure you disabled the standby mode on your computer.
  2. Connect the camera to the mains and connect the USB cable to the camera (at this stage, do not connect the camera to the computer.).
  3. Turn the camera on.
  4. Connect the camera to the computer with the USB cable.
  5. Open iMovie and wait until the camera is fully detected (this may take several minutes as detection time depends on the movie length.).
  6. When the camera is detected, movie thumbnails and the Import window appear. If the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is full, it may take 1.5 hours.

  It can take several minutes to over an hour for iMovie to import the video and generate thumbnail images of each clip, depending on how many minutes of video you have. The circular progress indicator in the Import window shows you how long it might take.
  

  Importing videos to a computer using iMovie '08

  Importing videos recorded on a DVD disc

  
  

  STEP 1: Connecting

  1. Turn on the computer.
  2. Connect the AC Adaptor and the power cord (mains lead) to your camcorder and the wall outlet (wall socket).
  3. Turn on the camcorder.
  4. Insert the recorded 8cm DVD disc into your camcorder.
  5. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the supplied USB cable as shown. The [USB SELECT] screen appears on the camcorder automatically.
  6. Select [  USB CONNECT] on the camcorder screen. A DVD icon appears on the computer desktop.

  STEP 2: Viewing

  1. Start iMovie '08.
  2. A device where the images are stored is shown. Confirm that the camera name is the same as shown in the STEP 1.

     When importing all the videos:

     (1) Click [Automatic].(2) Click [Import All]. 

     When importing selected videos:

     (1) Click [Manual].(2) Click and check the boxes under the videos you want to import.(3) Click [Import Checked].
  3. Select the location to save, input an event name in [Creat new Event], and click [OK].
  4. Import of videos starts. When the [Import complete] message appears, click [OK]. 
  5. List of imported videos is shown. This is the end of importing videos.

  For editing, refer to [Help] - [iMovie Help]. When disconnecting the USB cable, drag the DVD icon to the [Trash] icon or turn off the computer before disconnecting the USB cable.
  

  • Functions such as "Easy PC Back-up" or "One Touch Disc Burn" cannot be used with Mac OS.
  • If you cannot import videos, update all the software and OS, and try again.
  • AVCHD and MPEG2 videos are supported by iMovie '08 or later.

• Hard Disk Drive camcorders (USB)

  
  

   An Intel processor is required for AVCHD video support. Mac OS X version 10.5 (Leopard) or later is required for AVCHD DVD camcorder support. However, to import the HD (AVCHD) content to an Intel-based Mac, you must first erase the SD (MPEG-2) content on the camera.

  
  To import the video, you'll need to connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. One end of your USB cable plugs into your computer, as shown here:
  
   
  

  Do not attempt to insert mini DVDs or other non-standard video discs into a slot-loading or tray-loading disc drive on your computer. Doing so may damage your computer.

  
  

  1. Make sure you disabled the standby mode on your computer.
  2. Connect the camera to the mains and connect the USB cable to the camera (at this stage, do not connect the camera to the computer.).
  3. Turn the camera on.
  4. Connect the camera to the computer with the USB cable.
  5. Open iMovie and wait until the camera is fully detected (this may take several minutes as detection time depends on the movie length.).
  6. When the camera is detected, movie thumbnails and the Import window appear. If the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is full, it may take 1.5 hours.

  It can take several minutes to over an hour for iMovie to import the video and generate thumbnail images of each clip, depending on how many minutes of video you have. The circular progress indicator in the Import window shows you how long it might take.
  

  Importing videos to a computer using iMovie '08

  Importing videos recorded on the hard disk drive of your camcorder

  
  

  STEP 1: Connecting

  1. Turn on the computer. If you use laptop or notebook computer, use the AC adaptor to keep the power source.
  2. Connect the AC Adaptor and the power cord (mains lead) to your camcorder and the wall outlet (wall socket).
  3. Turn on the camcorder.
  4. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the supplied USB cable as shown.The [USB SELECT] screen appears on the camcorder automatically. 
  5. Select [  USB CONNECT] on the camcorder screen. A "NO NAME" icon appears on the computer desktop. 

  STEP 2: Viewing

  1. Start iMovie '08.
  2. A device where the images are stored is shown.Confirm that "NO NAME" is selected in the Camera setting. 

     When importing all the videos:

     (1) Click [Automatic]. (2) Click [Import All]. 

     When importing selected videos:

     (1) Click [Manual].(2) Click and check the boxes under the videos you want to import. (3) Click [Import Checked].
  3. Select the location to save, input an event name in [Creat new Event], and click [OK].
  4. Import of videos starts. When the [Import complete] message appears, click [OK]. 
  5. List of imported videos is shown. This is the end of importing videos.

  For editing, refer to [Help] - [iMovie Help]. When disconnecting the USB cable, drag the [NO NAME] icon to the [Trash] icon or turn off the computer before disconnecting the USB cable.
  

  • Functions such as "Easy PC Back-up" or "One Touch Disc Burn" cannot be used with Mac OS.
  • If you cannot import videos, update all the software and OS, and try again.
  • AVCHD and MPEG2 videos are supported by iMovie '08 or later.