iMovie doesn't accept usb?

sketch · Jul 22nd, 2005, 08:41 AM

Last night, I went over to a friend's house to convert his miniDV tapes to DVD with my PowerBook. Only, iMovie wouldn't see the video camera (a Canon). Instead of getting the Import button, there was a button for connection problems.

So I clicked it and according to the help files, it looks like iMovie doesn't see cameras connected through USB. My friend's camera doesn't have a firewire output. It does have a dv link though.

My question is, how come iMovie doesn't accept USB? I know it's a lot slower than firewire (and I'm assuming the dv link as well) but isn't it just limiting the consumer's options when buying a video camera? Because of this, my friend won't buy a mac which he was hoping to do.

guytoronto · Jul 22nd, 2005, 09:37 AM

Umm...you have a miniDV camcorder...get the FireWire cable.

What's the problem? Your friend "won't buy a Mac" because the FREE software that coems with it requires a $20 cable to work?

Slap him upside the head and tell him to SHADDAP!

gnatsum · Jul 22nd, 2005, 11:16 AM

your friend sounds like the dudes in my school, who say they want macs, but at the first sign of something they don't like, they say "see, thats why i don't use macs"

sure iMovie doesn't take usb.

a) it's free

b) is iMovie the ONLY movie software around?

c) if THAT is why your friend won't get a mac, hope he enjoys all his other problems, i wonder how his usb camera will help him delete spyware.

and yes. DV camera...but which one, i used a Canon DV Camera and all it had was a usb port...thats stupid on the part of the Camera, hope it's usb 2.0...

i think if your friend really wanted to buy a mac, he/she would need to look at their situation. if a camera stops that, then OBVIOUSLY they are not THAT interested...

just from my experience, i've tried converting a lot of friends, but they get suckered in by PC, and they keep talking about mac, and after a while i'm just like ENOUGH. you're not going to, so stop acting like you want one.

they are just jealous that i can use my computer without any everyday worries

ShawnKing · Jul 22nd, 2005, 11:35 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by sketch
	My question is, how come iMovie doesn't accept USB? I know it's a lot slower than firewire (and I'm assuming the dv link as well) but isn't it just limiting the consumer's options when buying a video camera?

Yes - in a good way.

Video transfer rates are just too slow under USB. The consumer would get lots of dropped frames and crappy looking video and then blame the software (in this case, iMovie) and bitch at Apple about it.

By "limiting" iMovie to Firewire, Apple ensures the customer gets the highest transfer rates. Also, when iMovie first came out, there were *no* digital video camcorders that had USB - they were all Firewire and, even now, the vast majority (and all the good ones) use firewire.

sketch · Jul 22nd, 2005, 11:37 AM

Please try to look past the fact that my friend feels he can't use a Mac because his video camera isn't compatible with iMovie

He just bought the camera and it didn't come with other software for the mac. Just for the PC(which he doesn't even have).

edit: ShawnKing: oooOOOOOHHHhhhh, now THAT makes sense. What DOESN'T make sense is how come video cameras come with just USB? Isn't that just... a rip off? I take it the dv link is faster?

Vexel · Jul 22nd, 2005, 12:34 PM

The DV Link is firewire I believe. USB2 is included with the camera's because most PC's don't come with firewire built in. USB2 is not near the quality of firewire however. USB is CPU intensive.. therefore the transfer rates are slow.. and framerates drop. Firewire is a constant connection.. no burst speeds.

guytoronto · Jul 22nd, 2005, 12:35 PM

There is also the possibility the camera won't transfer any video via USB, and that USB is only used for digital stills.

farfisa · Jul 22nd, 2005, 01:14 PM

As a little affirmation for Vexel's statement, I have an older Canon camcorder and its firewire port is labeled DV-IN/OUT, so it's probably the same as the DV-link. I can't imagine what else the DV-link would be, but some products don't say "Firewire" because it's an Apple trademarked name for IEEE-1394 (Sony calls the same think i-Link).

You need a special Firewire cable (it's smaller at one end, a 4-pin connection on the camera end) but yeah, it's firewire.

sketch · Jul 22nd, 2005, 01:19 PM

I am definitely learning a whole new field here

Vexel, if dv cable is firewire, then would I be able to use the 4 pin (M) - 6pin (F) Adapter (at the bottom of the page)? I imagine, the smaller end would be connected to the video camera and the larger end would be connected to my Mac.

guytoronto: I guess that's what you meant by "get the firewire cable"

ShawnKing · Jul 22nd, 2005, 01:23 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by sketch
	edit: ShawnKing: oooOOOOOHHHhhhh, now THAT makes sense.

Well...I try....

	Quote:
	What DOESN'T make sense is how come video cameras come with just USB?

Cheaper.

	Quote:
	Isn't that just... a rip off?

Eh...not necessarily. It depends on how it is sold to the customer. if the sales guy says, "This is just as good as a Firewire DV Camera!" then he's lying his ass off.

	Quote:
	I take it the dv link is faster?

And more consistent. Better overall to go with a firewire-capable camera.

Jul 22nd, 2005, 08:41 AM	#1
sketch Full Citizen Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 381	iMovie doesn't accept usb? Last night, I went over to a friend's house to convert his miniDV tapes to DVD with my PowerBook. Only, iMovie wouldn't see the video camera (a Canon). Instead of getting the Import button, there was a button for connection problems. So I clicked it and according to the help files, it looks like iMovie doesn't see cameras connected through USB. My friend's camera doesn't have a firewire output. It does have a dv link though. My question is, how come iMovie doesn't accept USB? I know it's a lot slower than firewire (and I'm assuming the dv link as well) but isn't it just limiting the consumer's options when buying a video camera? Because of this, my friend won't buy a mac which he was hoping to do. __________________ In case you need to know, I'm using a rev d Powerbook G4 1.67 GHZ 2GB ram OS 10.3.9

Jul 22nd, 2005, 11:37 AM	#5
sketch Full Citizen Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 381	Please try to look past the fact that my friend feels he can't use a Mac because his video camera isn't compatible with iMovie He just bought the camera and it didn't come with other software for the mac. Just for the PC(which he doesn't even have). edit: ShawnKing: oooOOOOOHHHhhhh, now THAT makes sense. What DOESN'T make sense is how come video cameras come with just USB? Isn't that just... a rip off? I take it the dv link is faster? __________________ In case you need to know, I'm using a rev d Powerbook G4 1.67 GHZ 2GB ram OS 10.3.9

Jul 22nd, 2005, 12:34 PM	#6
Vexel Digital DJ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia Posts: 5,282	The DV Link is firewire I believe. USB2 is included with the camera's because most PC's don't come with firewire built in. USB2 is not near the quality of firewire however. USB is CPU intensive.. therefore the transfer rates are slow.. and framerates drop. Firewire is a constant connection.. no burst speeds. __________________ 2.0Ghz '09 Mac Mini www.radioaddix.net

Jul 22nd, 2005, 01:14 PM	#8
farfisa Full Citizen Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 661	As a little affirmation for Vexel's statement, I have an older Canon camcorder and its firewire port is labeled DV-IN/OUT, so it's probably the same as the DV-link. I can't imagine what else the DV-link would be, but some products don't say "Firewire" because it's an Apple trademarked name for IEEE-1394 (Sony calls the same think i-Link). You need a special Firewire cable (it's smaller at one end, a 4-pin connection on the camera end) but yeah, it's firewire. __________________ "I've been known to have a drink to celebrate falling down."--Carolyn Mark

Jul 22nd, 2005, 01:19 PM	#9
sketch Full Citizen Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 381	I am definitely learning a whole new field here Vexel, if dv cable is firewire, then would I be able to use the 4 pin (M) - 6pin (F) Adapter (at the bottom of the page)? I imagine, the smaller end would be connected to the video camera and the larger end would be connected to my Mac. guytoronto: I guess that's what you meant by "get the firewire cable" __________________ In case you need to know, I'm using a rev d Powerbook G4 1.67 GHZ 2GB ram OS 10.3.9

Jul 22nd, 2005, 09:37 AM	#2
guytoronto Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,799	Umm...you have a miniDV camcorder...get the FireWire cable. What's the problem? Your friend "won't buy a Mac" because the FREE software that coems with it requires a $20 cable to work? Slap him upside the head and tell him to SHADDAP!

Jul 22nd, 2005, 11:16 AM	#3
gnatsum Full Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 655	your friend sounds like the dudes in my school, who say they want macs, but at the first sign of something they don't like, they say "see, thats why i don't use macs" sure iMovie doesn't take usb. a) it's free b) is iMovie the ONLY movie software around? c) if THAT is why your friend won't get a mac, hope he enjoys all his other problems, i wonder how his usb camera will help him delete spyware. and yes. DV camera...but which one, i used a Canon DV Camera and all it had was a usb port...thats stupid on the part of the Camera, hope it's usb 2.0... i think if your friend really wanted to buy a mac, he/she would need to look at their situation. if a camera stops that, then OBVIOUSLY they are not THAT interested... just from my experience, i've tried converting a lot of friends, but they get suckered in by PC, and they keep talking about mac, and after a while i'm just like ENOUGH. you're not going to, so stop acting like you want one. they are just jealous that i can use my computer without any everyday worries

Jul 22nd, 2005, 12:35 PM	#7
guytoronto Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,799	There is also the possibility the camera won't transfer any video via USB, and that USB is only used for digital stills.

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