How-To Guides
Preparation | Connection | Preparing to Import | Capturing the Video
Capturing Digital Video with iMovie: Capturing the Video
Below is a step-by-step procedure for importing video from a Sony Digital Video Camera to an Apple Macintosh Computer Using iMovie 2.
Once you have create a new project, connect your camera to your computer, and turn the camera on, check to see if iMovie can locate your camera. To do so: first move the slider in the bottom left corner of your window to the DV position.
then the display in the stage area should either say "Camera Connected" or "Camera Disconnected". This should be pretty self explanatory. If the window says "Camera Disconnected" check to make sure the camera is on, and set to VTR mode not camera mode.
You can controll the camera playback by using the control panel below the stage within iMovie. To start recording press "capture". To stop recording press the capture button again or the stop button. You can fast forward or rewind to sepcific scenes using the controlls within iMovie or the controlls on your camera without recording.
When you press the capture button, you will see a new clip appear on the clipboard. Stopping the camera will end that specific clip. When you click capture again, iMovie will create a new clip named sequentially, starting with Clip 1. When you have finished importing your digital video, save your project.
From this point you are ready to start editing.