MINI DV Capture after Catalina 10.15.4 Update

[jonathanb31699753]

The year is 2020, and yes I am still capturing SD footage 🙂

I've been capturing my archives the past week and all was working well within Premiere, until I updated my software to macOS Catalina 10.15.4 this morning.

Any ideas on how to solve this? Please don't say I-Movie!

Thank you!

JP

[Ann Bens]

Yes I am going to say I movie or revert to previous OS

DV capture has been removed due to Catalina.

[John T Smith]

I don't do Mac, and this is an old note... but doesn't cost anything to click a link

$20 DV and HDV for Mac Firewire capture http://www.lifeflix.com/

[jgrau]

It looks good, but costly. I'll probably invest the next time I'm ready to import. Just did a bunch of iMovie captures...

[Andy 1968]

John,

I think that solutions requires the OHCI Firewire controler. With the latest OS X update a lot of people have said the OS will not see the OHCI FireWire controller.

[jgrau]

jonathanb31699753

I have the same problem, and yes, I have had to capture my HDV (Mini DV) footage with iMovie. Pain in the butt.

[keithieweithie]

How do you capture footage on a Catalina machine? Haven't most Macs with Catalina abandoned FW?

I have a D-8 camera (SD) and a mini-DV camera (HD), and I want to archive all of that footage. Now, in Windows 10 I can use HDV Split (which I started another thread about, trying to determine if Premiere handles the .M2T format). But, if my USB- and Thunderbolt-ported 2017 iMac can somehow take in that footage, I'd love to learn how. 

Thanks!

[jgrau]

I have a FW to Thunderbolt adapter, and I have to use a "simple" software like iMovie to capture, save to folder, then import in Premiere.

I did look at that software that's been mentioned on this thread, but I haven't tried it yet.

[keithieweithie]

Interesting. Is this within Catalina? The cameras I'd have to use are old and no longer recognized by the newer versions of iMovie.

Thanks!

[jgrau]

The last time I used it (Catalina 10.15.6 on a MacBook Pro from 2012), it worked. Can't guarantee that it will work the next time, but I was able to communicate with my DV camera (playing DV material on tapes), and import the clips I needed. If I remember correctly, this setup did not work from my much newer iMac--so maybe it is also an "older Mac" thing (as Weirdsmobile said)

[keithieweithie]

I got one from 2010. Just needs a new hard drive. Might be a solution.

[John V Knowles]

Adobe apps no longer support DV/HDV capture over Firewire in Catalina. This has to do with changes made in MacOS itself. You can still try iMovie or just plain old Quicktime Pro with your deck plugged in and see if it is recognized. 

Personally, I've repurposed an older Mac for pre-Catalina apps in case I ever need them, and that includes DV capture.

[keithieweithie]

That is a good idea. I have an old 2010 Macbook Pro. All it needs is a new hard drive and an install of a Mac OS version that supports iMovie 9 -- the last one I'd seen that still supports my Canon Vixia HV30. (Not sure about D-8 footage, that I also want to capture). 

[Ann Bens]

As long as the D8 camera has a working 1394 link then you are ok.

[keithieweithie]

But... the 1394 spec, um... wasn't that for FW400? The 2010 Macbook Pro only has FW800 ports. I know of no D-8 camera that has FW800. I don't believe they do. Or, am I wrong?

[Andy 1968]

Weirdsmobile

From what I have read the latest update for OS X has made the OS unable to detect the OHCI Firewire controller.

[keithieweithie]

I assume this is even through the use of a Thunderbolt adaptor, since the new(er) machines do not have FW at all?

[Ann Bens]

I think there are adapters for fw800 to fw400 (or vv).  Not that familiar with a Mac.

[Andy 1968]

The Thunderbolt to Firewire adpater used to work on the Mac but the adapter will not work if the OS cannot detect the OHCI Firewire controller.

[keithieweithie]

Which is why an older machine is needed. Or, a different output method from the camera.