iMac DV Special Edition and iMovie Help

Help for the iMac DV Special Edition with iMovie / Sony Digital 8 HandyCam System

A. Using the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam: basic information

B. Moving video from the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to the iMac

C. Moving video from a standard VCR tape to the iMac (via the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam)

D. Basics of iMovie video editing

E. Moving video from the iMac to Sony Digital 8 HandyCam

F. Moving video from the iMac to a standard VHS tape (via the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam)

G. Moving video from the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to a standard VHS tape

H. Displaying the iMac desktop on the T.V.

A. Using the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam: basic information

1. Turning on the camera

a. Power Settings

1. CAMERA
Set the power button to CAMERA when you want to use the digital camera as a video recorder.

2. VTR
Set the power button to VTR when you want to use the digital camera as a video player.

2. Videotaping

a. Set the power button to Camera.

b. Set the START/STOP switch to STANDBY.

c. Press the RED button to start taping. Press the RED button again to stop taping.

3. Viewing video with the camera

a. Set the power button to VTR.

b. Now you can use the video controls at the top of the camera as you would your VCR.

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B. Moving video from the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to the iMac

1. Connections

a. The only connection necessary is the FireWire connection from the iMac to the digital camera. The FireWire cable should always be plugged into the iMac.

2. Preparing the camera

a. Connect the Fire Wire to the DV IN/OUT slot located on the bottom left corner when the camera lens is facing you.

b. Connect the external power source cable to the DC IN slot located just below the camera's battery. You do not need to connect the external power source, but it will save the battery from draining.

c. Set the power button to VTR.

The camera is now ready.

3. Preparing the computer

a. Open iMovie

b. Select New Project

c. Select the location where you want your file to be stored

d. Name your file

e. Click the Create button. Your screen should now say "Camera Connected". This lets you know you are in Camera Mode. Play back or capture footage from your camera in this mode.

f. To move through your videotape, while in Camera Mode, use the iMovie video controls as you would a VCR.

g. Press Play to view your tape.

h. To capture video click the Import button to start capturing and press the Import button again to stop capturing. Your clip will be placed in the iMovie shelf to the right of the viewing window. To view a clip in the iMovie shelf click on it to select it and use the iMovie video controls. Viewing clips in the iMovie shelf will switch you from Camera Mode to Edit Mode. Edit clips and audio and produce your movie in Edit Mode. While in Edit Mode the Import button is not available. To capture more video clips you will need to switch back to Camera Mode. When the iMovie Shelf is full more clips cannot be imported until some have been cleared from the shelf by dragging clips onto the Clip Viewer or deleting from the shelf. Dragging clips from the iMovie shelf to the Clip Viewer will also switch you from Camera Mode to Edit Mode. Use the iMovie video controls to view clips in the Clip Viewer.

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C. Moving video from a standard VCR tape to the iMac (via the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam)

1. Connections

a. External power cable (to save on HandyCam battery)

b. "Video from VCR" cables

2. Preparing the VCR

a. Place the tape in the VCR

3. Preparing the camera

a. Connect the external power cable

b. Set power button to VTR

c. Find a spot on the digital camera tape where you want to start recording

d. Connect the Video from VCR cables

e. Now use the VCR controls to play the VHS tape. When you play the tape you will also see it playing on the digital camera's LCD display panel. When you want to start recording to the digital tape press the two record buttons on top of the camera. You are now recording from your VHS tape to the digital tape

4. Moving video to the computer

a. Follow the steps for Moving video from the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to the iMac

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D. Basics of iMovie video editing

1. Cropping
2. Splitting
3. Transitions
4. Titles
5. Adding sound effects
6. Recording sound

For specifics on the above topics use the iMovie Help files.

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E. Moving video from the iMac to Sony Digital 8 HandyCam

1. Connections

a. The only connection necessary is the FireWire connection from the iMac to the Sony Digital 8 Handy Cam. You may also connect the external power cable if you do not wish to run off the battery.

2. Preparing the camera

a. Make sure you have stopped the tape at a spot that is open or at a spot you don't mind taping over, because when you send video from iMovie out to the camera the video starts recording to the tape at the spot you left off and you don't want to accidentally tape over footage you need. To be safe you could record to a different tape.

3. Preparing the computer

a. Go to File > Export Movie, choose your settings and click the Export button. Your movie will now be recorded to the tape in the camera

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F. Moving video from the iMac to a standard VHS tape (via the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam)

1. Connections

a. FireWire from iMac to Sony Digital 8 HandyCam

b. External power cable to Sony Digital 8 HandyCam

c. "Video into VCR" cables from Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to VCR

2. Preparing the VCR

a. Put a VHS tape in the VCR

b. Set to VCR or VTR (depending on the VCR brand you have)

c. For the Mitsubishi: set to L2
c. For the Sony SLV-340: set to L and on the switch box under VCR RECORDING push in button 4

d. Find a spot on the VHS tape where you want to start recording

Your VCR is now ready.

3. Preparing the camera

a. If you have not already done so, connect FireWire

b. If you have not already done so, connect the external power cable

c. Set power button to VTR

d. If you have not already done so, connect the "Video into VCR" cables

e. Make sure the tape in both the Sony Digial 8 HandyCam is stopped on a spot that is open or at a spot you don't mind taping over. When you send video from iMovie it has to go through the camera to get to the VCR. Video starts recording to the tape at the last spot you left off and you don't want to accidentally tape over footage you need. To be safe you could record to a different tape.

The camera is now ready.

4. Preparing the computer

A. Go to File > Export Movie, choose your settings and click the Export button. Your movie will now be recorded to the tape in the camera. Immediately press the record button on the VCR. The video will be recorded to the digital tape and the VHS tape at the same time. The digital tape will stop recording when iMovie finishes exporting. You will have to press the stop button on the VCR to stop recording.

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G. Moving video from the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to a standard VHS tape

1. Connections

a. External power cable to Sony Digital 8 HandyCam

b. "Video into VCR" cables from Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to VCR

2. Preparing the VCR

a. Put the VHS tape in

b. Set to VCR or VTR depending on the VCR brand you have

c. For the Mitsubishi: set to L2
c. For the Sony SLV-340: set to L and on the switch box under VCR RECORDING push in button 4

Your VCR is now ready.

3. Preparing the camera

a. If you have not already done so, connect the external power cable

b. Set power button to VTR

c. If you have not already done so, connect the "Video into VCR" cables

d. Press the play button on the camera. The video will be displayed on both the camera and the T.V. When you see the spot that you want to start recording on the VHS tape press the record button on the VCR. You are now recording video from the digital camera to the VHS tape.

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H. Displaying the iMac desktop on the T.V.

1. Turn the T.V. on
2. Set VCR to VTR or VCR depending the VCR brand you have

3. For Mitsubishi: set to L1
3. For the Sony SLV-340: set to L and on the switch box under VCR RECORDING push in button 1

4. Press the Power button on the AverKey300

What is displayed on the computer will now also be displayed on the T.V.

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For comments or questions, please contact gjohnson@lcsc.edu.

This page was last updated on 1/13/2000.

1. Turning on the camera
	a. Power Settings
		1. CAMERA Set the power button to CAMERA when you want to use the digital camera as a video recorder.
		2. VTR Set the power button to VTR when you want to use the digital camera as a video player.
2. Videotaping
	a. Set the power button to Camera.
	b. Set the START/STOP switch to STANDBY.
	c. Press the RED button to start taping. Press the RED button again to stop taping.
3. Viewing video with the camera
	a. Set the power button to VTR.
	b. Now you can use the video controls at the top of the camera as you would your VCR.

	1. Connections
		a. The only connection necessary is the FireWire connection from the iMac to the digital camera. The FireWire cable should always be plugged into the iMac.
	2. Preparing the camera
		a. Connect the Fire Wire to the DV IN/OUT slot located on the bottom left corner when the camera lens is facing you.
		b. Connect the external power source cable to the DC IN slot located just below the camera's battery. You do not need to connect the external power source, but it will save the battery from draining.
		c. Set the power button to VTR.
The camera is now ready.
	3. Preparing the computer
		a. Open iMovie
		b. Select New Project
		c. Select the location where you want your file to be stored
		d. Name your file
		e. Click the Create button. Your screen should now say "Camera Connected". This lets you know you are in Camera Mode. Play back or capture footage from your camera in this mode.
		f. To move through your videotape, while in Camera Mode, use the iMovie video controls as you would a VCR.
		g. Press Play to view your tape.
		h. To capture video click the Import button to start capturing and press the Import button again to stop capturing. Your clip will be placed in the iMovie shelf to the right of the viewing window. To view a clip in the iMovie shelf click on it to select it and use the iMovie video controls. Viewing clips in the iMovie shelf will switch you from Camera Mode to Edit Mode. Edit clips and audio and produce your movie in Edit Mode. While in Edit Mode the Import button is not available. To capture more video clips you will need to switch back to Camera Mode. When the iMovie Shelf is full more clips cannot be imported until some have been cleared from the shelf by dragging clips onto the Clip Viewer or deleting from the shelf. Dragging clips from the iMovie shelf to the Clip Viewer will also switch you from Camera Mode to Edit Mode. Use the iMovie video controls to view clips in the Clip Viewer.

	1. Connections
		a. External power cable (to save on HandyCam battery)
		b. "Video from VCR" cables
	2. Preparing the VCR
		a. Place the tape in the VCR
	3. Preparing the camera
		a. Connect the external power cable
		b. Set power button to VTR
		c. Find a spot on the digital camera tape where you want to start recording
		d. Connect the Video from VCR cables
		e. Now use the VCR controls to play the VHS tape. When you play the tape you will also see it playing on the digital camera's LCD display panel. When you want to start recording to the digital tape press the two record buttons on top of the camera. You are now recording from your VHS tape to the digital tape
	4. Moving video to the computer
		a. Follow the steps for Moving video from the Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to the iMac

	1. Connections
		a. FireWire from iMac to Sony Digital 8 HandyCam
		b. External power cable to Sony Digital 8 HandyCam
		c. "Video into VCR" cables from Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to VCR
	2. Preparing the VCR
		a. Put a VHS tape in the VCR
		b. Set to VCR or VTR (depending on the VCR brand you have)
		c. For the Mitsubishi: set to L2 c. For the Sony SLV-340: set to L and on the switch box under VCR RECORDING push in button 4
		d. Find a spot on the VHS tape where you want to start recording
Your VCR is now ready.
	3. Preparing the camera
		a. If you have not already done so, connect FireWire
		b. If you have not already done so, connect the external power cable
		c. Set power button to VTR
		d. If you have not already done so, connect the "Video into VCR" cables
		e. Make sure the tape in both the Sony Digial 8 HandyCam is stopped on a spot that is open or at a spot you don't mind taping over. When you send video from iMovie it has to go through the camera to get to the VCR. Video starts recording to the tape at the last spot you left off and you don't want to accidentally tape over footage you need. To be safe you could record to a different tape.
The camera is now ready.
	4. Preparing the computer
		A. Go to File > Export Movie, choose your settings and click the Export button. Your movie will now be recorded to the tape in the camera. Immediately press the record button on the VCR. The video will be recorded to the digital tape and the VHS tape at the same time. The digital tape will stop recording when iMovie finishes exporting. You will have to press the stop button on the VCR to stop recording.

	1. Connections
		a. External power cable to Sony Digital 8 HandyCam
		b. "Video into VCR" cables from Sony Digital 8 HandyCam to VCR
	2. Preparing the VCR
		a. Put the VHS tape in
		b. Set to VCR or VTR depending on the VCR brand you have
		c. For the Mitsubishi: set to L2 c. For the Sony SLV-340: set to L and on the switch box under VCR RECORDING push in button 4
Your VCR is now ready.
	3. Preparing the camera
		a. If you have not already done so, connect the external power cable
		b. Set power button to VTR
		c. If you have not already done so, connect the "Video into VCR" cables
		d. Press the play button on the camera. The video will be displayed on both the camera and the T.V. When you see the spot that you want to start recording on the VHS tape press the record button on the VCR. You are now recording video from the digital camera to the VHS tape.