How Do I?> transfer digital video from my camera into iMovie?

How do I transfer digital video from my camera into iMovie?

Answer

Use the firewire cable to connect the camera with a Media Studio Mac.

Contents

Introduction

The first step to creating your own movies is to capture your digital video from your camera onto a computer. In the HSL Media Studio, use iMovie and one of the digital video Macintosh computers.

Step-By-Step

  1. Make sure your camera is plugged in or has a fully charged battery. Set the camera to the VCR mode (look for the setting near the power switch), then rewind the tape to just before the video you want to import.

  2. Connect the camera to the computer using the firewire cable. Find the DV out slot on your camera and insert the small end of the firewire cable into it. Don’t force it - it should go in easily. Plug the other end of the cable into the firewire slot on the back of iMac.

  3. Start iMovie by clicking on the iMovie icon in the dock on the bottom of the screen.
  4. When prompted, create a new project and save it to your Movies folder. If you are not prompted, use the File menu to select New Project to create and name a new project.
  5. Set the toggle switch on iMovie’s screen to camera. iMovie will indicate if the camera is connected. You can then use the controllers on iMovie’s screen to control and play the camera. Click the play button, then Import to capture the video from the camera. The video will be imported to the computer’s hard drive in real time (1 minute of video = 1 minute of importing) When importing is complete, from the File menu, select Save Project.
  6. Start editing your iMovie! See: How do I edit digital video with iMovie?

Resources

Help

For additional information about transfering video, contact the HSL TEC Team at 924-5521 or hsltec@virginia.edu, or if you are in the Library, Ask Rover.

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