Is there any easy way to edit footage from a HDD camcorder on a Mac?

Question

I had a nightmare experience a few weeks ago trying to edit and publish footage taken with a JVC Everio (Not my camera). It imported as .MOD, which wouldn't open in any program. I tried changing the file extension to .MP2, which showed me video, but no audio. I then tried MPEG Streamclip to convert it to .MPG, but still no audio. I ended up having to rerecord the movie with my MiniDV camcorder.

I'm looking to upgrade to an HD camera, but I've been limiting myself to MiniDV camcorders. I'm almost set on the Canon HV30, but I've heard complaints of motor noise. I need to know if I can use a Hard Drive camera to abolish this problem.

Answer 1

Yeah - JVC and their .MOD (modified MPEG2) files...

Since you are considering going the miniDV tape route with a camcorder and your Mac, some things to know:

1) We don't know which Mac you have - but chances are good you will need to install the "Apple Intermediate Codec". It is on the MacOSX systems discs and needs to be a "Custom Installation" of that particular quickTime component. Without it, neither iMovieHD nor FinalCut (pro or express) will be able to do anything with the HDV data strea.

2) You will need to also buy a 4-pin (camcorder DV port) to 6-pin (Macintosh firewire 400 port) cable. Firewire, IEEE1394a, DV and i.LINK are all the same thing. USB will not allow DV/HDV import to iMovieHD or FinalCut.

3) The Firewire port needs to be active. System Preferences: Network: Network Configurations... there needs to be a check mark in the Firewire box.

4) ALL Macintoshes made in the last 10 years or so have a firewire400 port. Some newer Macs also have a firewire 800 port - you want to stay with Firewire 400. NOTE: The new MacBook Air is the exception: no firewire port.

5) DV uses about 14 gig of hard drive space per hour of imported video. HDV uses closer to 44 gig of hard drive space per hour of imported video. Another drive (internal or external) just for your video prohects is recommended. 500 gig is a good starting place.

6) Minimum 2 gig RAM is suggested - more is better.

7) Motor noise on the HV30: Look at the camera. The tape drive mechanism is about 2 inches away from the built-in mics. There is no camcorder with good built-in mics. In a very low audio envirironment, ALL camcorders that use motors - miniDV tape, hard drive or DVD - will have morotor noise - especially if you do not use the manual audio control feature. The good news with the HV30 is that is has a mic jack so you can use external mics AND it has manual audio control. The only other camcorders in this price range that can boast this are the Canon HV20, Sony HDR-HC7 and HDR-HC9. All of these camcorders also have a headphone jack for monitoring the audio you are recording.

8) I don't think any of these camcorders has an accessory shoe - so you will need to add one if you go down the external mic path...

http://www.amazon.com/Bower-Shoe-Video-L...

This has two standard accessory shoes - one for a mic, one for a light. Plus it almost makes you shoot two handed which results in a more steady shot (though use of a tripod is preferred).

9) Using a hard drive based camcorder from Canon or Sony may be a bit different as far as the hard drive motor noise is concerned, but they have their own issues... They do not like vibration - so recording loud bands might be an issue. The vibration from the loud instruments can cause more viration than the camera likes resulting in trying to save video to a buffer. When the buffer fills (because the hard drive heads parked due to the vibration), then you get a buffer overflow error and nothing is saved to the hard drive. They also do not like high altitude. The hard drive heads actually need air to "fly" over the spinning hard drive platters. Over 9600 feet - I think - and the camera can decide to not operate. In either case, it might be worth downloading the manual of the camcorder you are interested in and reading through it...  

Answer 2

You may try this video converter for mac, I always use it to convert video to mov video for further editing with iMovie, it's easy to use and works pretty well for me. If you interested in it, here is a step by step guide for you

http://www.mac-dvd.com/mac-guide/how-to-...

If you have any other questions, feel free to email me.