Connecting Canon XL1 to iMac?

Question

I'm trying to hook up a canon XL1 to my iMac. I'm pretty competent at editing, but the problem I have is hooking up the right wires (therefore, I'm an idiot) The only possibilities I have are RCA output and S-Video output. do they make an S-video-to-firewire connector?

Answer 1

Snowwillow is correct  - for the most part...

ALL Macs built within the last 6-7 years or so have a firewire400 port. The current exception is the Mac Air.

You need a 4-pin (camera DV port) to 6-pin (Mac firewire port) firewire (IEEE1394a, i.Link - all the same thing) cable. Then iMovie and FinalCut will see the camcorder for importing.

You are not an idiot. If you know how to edit, then you can get this DV imported. But you do need the correct cables.

No, there is no s-video (analog) to firewire (digital) cable... though is you must, you *could* transfer the video using an analog/digital bridge

http://canopus.com/products/videoconvers...

You can download your camcorder's instruction manual here:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contro...

Refer to page 58 or for the location of the DV port on the camcorder. No, a firewire cable was not included in the box with the camcorder.

Answer 2

minidv camera need a firewire connection, so---If you have a mini dv (cassette) camcorder….

Your dv camcorder needs a firewire connection (ieee 1394) in order to download video, your mac probably has a firewire port if it's newer, but if not  you will have to buy one and install it, since most computers (except possibly brand new) don't come with a firewire port, your camcorder did not come with a firewire cord so you have to purchase a cord too. Your camcorder did come with a USB cord and that is used for downloading stills from your camcorder. Make sure your camera is in playback mode.

If it's not a minidv camcorder and instead a minidvd camcorder, ….

You will have to finalize your dvd in the camera and then put the dvd in your computer 's DVD burner (top loading only) and then you will have to convert the files (i downloaded handbrake file converter free) and import them into your editing program. Use the HELP feature in your editing program to learn about editing. Once you are ready to burn, your project will be burned to a different DVD and you can file the original away.