Hardware :: Using Camcorder With Firewire: Mini DV Versus HD
Apr 16, 2008
I have problem connecting my camcorder (a mini DVD-based Sony DCR-608E) with I-Mac 20". Based on the many threads I've been reading, I guess it's best for me to get a new camcorder.
Am currently considering to buy a camcorder with a firewire port but haven't decided between Mini-DV based or HD. My main consideration is the image quality and cost effiency.
Anybody using i-Movie has any recommendation? Should I go for Mini-DV or HD? What are the upsides/downsides?
I'm attempting to use a Canon Optura 300 MiniDV camcorder as a webcam for Skype on a current-generation Intel Mac Mini, running Mac OS X 10.5.6 Server with the latest release of Skype.
Connected via Firewire (1394a 6 to 4 pin) Skype recognizes the camera without any problems and the image is crystal clear, but it does not recognize the camera's built-in microphone as a sound input option. Testing with iChat, Apple's software does recognize the on-camera mic as sound input (and passes-through fine), but it never actually appears as an input option in the System Preferences' Audio panel, which I think is the root of Skype's problem.
The Optura, with a wide-angle lens attached, gives us a wider field of view than our external iSight, making it more useful for showing off our newborn, from the comfort of our living room (without having to huddle around the MBP), to friends and family currently far afield. (Plus, since the Mini in question is our media server, we can Skype via our HDTV.)
I have a Canon Optura 20 and I wanted to know if it was possible to turn it into a webcam for use on a mac and pc? If so how do I do that? Is there some special software needed? Is there freeware out there that can do the trick? Also, would I need a firewire connection or just a usb 2.0 connection?
I know USB 3.0 is coming out and would like to know if it will be faster than Firewire 800?
It 's confirmed some of computer providers will be releasing their products with USB 3.0 ports on this month, January. like Lenovo Thinkpad W510
I'm thinking of returning my iMac for the refund and wait til new iMac comes with USB 3.0 ports (if it is a lot faster than firewire 800) and of course wait til Apple has eliminated all current problems for this iMac.
People have told me that FireWire 800 is faster than USB 3.0, and I believe them based on my low trust for USB's promised speeds (USB 2.0 claims to be faster than FW400, but that is a complete lie). Of course, I know that USB 3.0 has a faster promised speed than FireWire 800. I like how FireWire is truly peer-to-peer, allowing for faster data transfers, and I'm wondering if something like USB can actually beat that. Has anyone tried a test comparing USB 3.0 to FireWire 800? I heard that there are USB 3.0 adapters for Mac Pros. Or maybe someone has a non-Mac with FW800. I want to know just how fast USB 3.0 is compared to my long-time favorite FireWire.
Info: iMac6,1 (Late 2006 iMac Intel), 3 GB RAM, 2.33 GHz Processor, 2 TB internal HD, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Minor GUI mods, a lot of stuff connected with FireWire or USB
My borrowed Sony mini DV Handycam output wire has no suitable input on my Early 2009 Mac Pro.I have a couple of assorted cable but no match.Is there such a thing?
I want to add a second external drive, either 500 GB or 750 GB. It would be partitioned into one partition for cloning, and the other for TimeMachine when I upgrade to Leopard. Currently my external drives are all Firewire. Would there be any significant advantage for me to buy a SATA controller card for my G5 and then go to eSATA rather than Firewire? One online dealer I contacted said that the speed advantage for the SATA for my uses would be minimal, but the possible headaches of eSATA over Firewire could be signifcant. I"m conisedering the 750 GB LaCie d2 Quadra drive.
Information: G5 Dual 2.0, 2GB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.10) also running IMac Intel 2.0/2
I'm sitting here trying how to figure out how to transfer video off this camcorder I have to my computer so I can edit the footage. It's my friend's camera so I'm not familiar with it at all. It has a cassette tape in which the video was recorded onto. The camera also has a USB connector. So I figured my computer would simply recognize that the camera was connected and I could get footage from the camera to the computer that way but it didn't work. camera is a Panasonic PV-GS35, for reference.
how I could connect my mini dv camcorder to my mac and transfer the video to the computer. My camcorder only came with cord for playback on TV and the power cord, but nothing for the computer, especially a Mac. The manual refers to a Dv cable (hURL....) and says "When using a DV cable, be sure to use the optional JVC VC-VDV206U or VC-VDV204U DV cable depending on the type of DV connector (4 or 6 pins) on the PC". Currently running Mavericks with Thunderbolt and a FireWire 800 port.
Hope this isnt too early as we are just getting info about mac mini server.
i have 3 devices/computers in my place right now that i would like to all run off the same itunes database. I.e. my ATV downstairs would be able to access anything from this database as would my MBP in my bedroom etc. My initial thought was to run a mini as a server where my itunes music/movies are stored and then my 2 computers and ATV can run off this single database via the mini.
But then i saw the mini server come out today and was wondering if this is a better option. now its almost twice as much money so i am not sure,
I have a Mini 2.53 I'm using as a HTPC and It's great. I also have a 17" MBP 2.66 which never leaves my desk. I do mostly photo editing. Anyone know if I'm gonna see much difference if I slim down to just the Mini? I'm thinking of selling the MBP for the cash.
Also, I can run my dual Apple 23" Displays on the mini and cant on the MBP.
If there is ever going to be a new Mac mini, I think it will also lose FireWire. Apple has conceded that FireWire has lost as an general consumer computer interface. This maybe so. Still, if the new Mac mini loses its FireWire port, this will cause people to have less choice when purchasing a new Mac in case they still have an old or new FireWire-based DV or HDV camera. I have a nice Sony HDV camera, and I would hate to sell it. Apple is now telling me I should (but I won't). It is strange to see this new development at Apple, just when other manufacturers are adopting FireWire (an Apple conceived technology) as standard in their offerings.
I work at a photo studio, and we just bought a new mac Mini to power a rather old Phase One digital back. This device requires quite an amount of power, and it appears that Apple made the voltage output of the FireWire port drop with 200mV on the new intel motherboards. My question is: Can you, in anyway, get that voltage output up again? If this means playing around with dangerous settings, then be it. We just need it to work! We tried to buy a Lindy FireWire 800 Repeater, with an external power supply, but doesn't work at all. Perhaps it's just a poor repeater? Is there any other devices out there, that could make it work? Perhaps some solution with a battery attached to the FireWire cable it self.
Relevant newbie to the mac world. I have a MBP late 2009. I bought a third party Mini display port to HDMI converter so I can hook the MBP to my 46" Samsung screen.
This works fine, no major issues here. However the picture is not great. I compared watching a standard definition TV show through the MBP then burnt it onto a DVD. The DVD (using the PS3 as my DVD drive, connected via HDMI) had superior quality than through the MBP.
Also the picture does not quite fill the screen. There is a small black border running all the way around the screen. Does not sound significant but when doing the same comparison as above, you notice the difference when via DVD the movie fills the screen. I have played around with the resolution settings. Those that fill the screen chop bits of the mac desktop off, so thats no good either.
So I am wondering why this is? Is it because the mini display port is not a DVI port, hence I am not getting true HD quality picture? How can I overcome this if at all. I'm thinking of getting a mac mini as a media hub/HTPC but want to ensure I dont encounter the same problems.
Since video/graphics out is achieved through graphics cards with dvi ports...
surely a card with mini displayports would make exisiting mac pro's compatible with apple's new LCD displays?
Am i wrong?
Would this be difficult to do for a graphics manufacturer to do (forgetting that this obviously would be a card aimed mainly at Apple users and probably not worth the effort....)?
I have been through 4 attempts (and returns) with the new 27" i5 Imac and returned them for multiple reasons:
1) iMac #1 had the 1tb Seagate drive, loud and grumbly 2) iMac #2 also had the loud 1tb Seagate drive, plus yellow tinge plus gray line at bottom of screen 3) iMac #3 (upgraded to 2tb drive, but yellow tinge (worse) and gray line at bottom of screen 4) iMac #4 had bad yellow tinge (most of screen) and gray line at bottom of screen
I have two mac mini's set up side by side, and I want to connect them together with firewire so I can quickly send files from the new one to the old one, acting as a storage hd. What type of firewire cable do I need? one mini the old one has max output of 400, and the new one is 800.
I'm wanting to connect my DV Camera and an External Firewire HDD to my mini. I really only need two firewire ports: one for the camera and one to daisychain any further Firewire HDD. This is all in aid of being able to digitize HD Tape footage with the mini using FCP so I can do all the editing etc of the Mac Pro. I've found a few online such as:The Belkin Firewire 6 Port Hub, Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and Firewire 6 Port Hub and the 1Lynx 800 Advanced Firewire Hub (99MO018202).The stackable Belkins look great
