Connect Canon VIXIA HV40 camcorder to MacBook Pro (Early 2015)

[Aahz]

Hello,

I would like to connect and capture video from Canon VIXIA HV40 camcorder (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OI2Z4Q/?tag=macforums0e4-20) via FireWire (IEEE 1394)

to MacBook Pro


I've been searching and reading about so many various cables and adapters that got totally confused at the end.

Could anyone please be so kind to point to the proper cables and adapters would i need to buy (links if possible).

Mention: I am using Windows 8.1

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[chscag]

Welcome to our forums.

The Amazon link you provided shows an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter that you can buy from them. However for your information, the 2015 MacBook Pro you have does not contain a video input, only output. As far as I'm aware, you can not capture video from the Canon directly to your MacBook Pro. Perhaps someone else may have an idea or method that will work.

 

[Slydude]

I had an idea that might work. I followed it up by reading answers to a few user questions on that Amazon page. The answers suggest that the files can be read in QuickTime and one user claims to have used iMovie HD (old iMovie version) so the newer iMovie versions should work as well.

The Amazon description says this camera can output direct to an HDTV (I assume via HDMI) it also appears to have a Firewire connector so try the following and see if it works. If not let us know and I can work on this a bit later in the week.

1. Connect the camera to the Mac via either a Thunderbolt to HDMI connector and cable or Thunderbolt to Firewire connector and cable. Either one should work.
2. Start something playing on the camera just as a test. You can rewind to the actual footage later.
3. Launch QuickTime Player X and select File>New Movie Recording.
4. A QuickTime Player X window should appear with a red recording button. Next to the button is a small triangle. Select that triangle and look for your camera in the drop down men. Select the camera as both the audio and video source.
5. Press record in QuickTime Player X and let things go a bit. Then stop the recording and play it in QuickTime Player X.

If this works capture the footage you actually want. the capture will be in real time so it may be time consuming.

If the camera is recognized and you get picture and sound the file can be edited in QT Player X. The same capture procedure should work for iMovie if the camera is recognized.

 

[chscag]

Very good idea Sly. I thought that there might be a way to do it but since I'm not into video at all, I couldn't think of an easy way.

 

[Slydude]

The user answers on the Amazon site suggests that there is software available for the camera. I haven't had a chance to check and see if the software is available for Macs. If this idea doesn't work I'll see if there are other options. I'd suggest VLC's options but that feature is only functional under Windows IIRC.

 

[Jonzjob]

I have a Canon Legria HFG25. It look a bit similar. After using it for a while and doing the file transfers by USB2, which took a while, I decided to do my recordings to the 'A' SD card, there are 2. Then it's just a case of removing the card and slotting it into my MBP. It's a Mid 2010 MBP.

Before I started using the 'A' card I did an internal transfere in the camera from the internal memory to the 'A' card. But that too took longer.

Something similar may be possible with your model? I haven't had a good look at the manual for it, but I see that it also uses mini DV tapes. If you are interested I have about 18 or 20 of them left over from my Sony camcorder. I have no idea where you aare but if you are interested they would cost you the post? As you can see, I live in France. It just seems a shame to bin them?

 

[Aahz]

Thank you for kind replies everyone

As far as I'm aware, you can not capture video from the Canon directly to your MacBook Pro.

I was wondering how can any further advice work, considering that no video signal can technically go IN to my notebook

1. Connect the camera to the Mac via either a Thunderbolt to HDMI connector and cable or Thunderbolt to Firewire connector and cable. Either one should work.

So far i don't have any cables, and started this topic hopping to find out which one is proper to buy :Blushing:

I'd suggest VLC's options but that feature is only functional under Windows IIRC.

If it's possible to have somehow the video signal go IN MacBook, finding a proper software should not be an issue i guess

I decided to do my recordings to the 'A' SD card,

That is a mistake I've done when selecting camera, did not pay attention to that functionality, my camera can record video ONLY to DV tapes.

If you are interested I have about 18 or 20 of them left over from my Sony camcorder.

That is very kind of you, thanks, i actually got about 20 tapes, and barely using half of them.

 

[badshoehabit]

Sorry; re-read last answer - my response is irrelevant as I was talking about how to import from an SD card..

 

[Jonzjob]

"That is a mistake I've done when selecting camera, did not pay attention to that functionality, my camera can record video ONLY to DV tapes."

In which case then you are no worse off connecting by USB. Because as said, the dump from tape to MBP is in real time which ever way you connect.

I remember that my old Sony was a lovely camera, but the downloading was a pain in the sit-up-on!

 

[Aahz]

In which case then you are no worse off connecting by USB. Because as said, the dump from tape to MBP is in real time which ever way you connect.

Is the conclusion that the only way i can accomplish my task is via camera's HDMI to MBP's USB slot?

 

[Slydude]

I would try the Thunderbolt to HDMI or Thunderbolt to Firewire connection first. HDMI to USB seems a bit awkward to me and I am not sure it would work I'm going to try and take a look at this tonight and see if can find the manual. Perhaps I will know more after that.

Edit: I found the manual online. In some respects it is about as clear as the view out of an airplane cockpit when flying through a thunderstorm.

The camera has a firewire port so a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter in conjunction with a firewire cable should work. This is a firewire 800 to 400 cable. I think that is what you would need. If the camera has a firewire 800 connecter then a straight 800 to 800 cable will connect the adapter to the computer.

The other option is a thunderbolt to HDMI adapter with an HDMI cable.

if you're copying home movies the HDMI connection should work just as well as firewire. For other material HDMI does not transfer in some circumstances due to efforts to prevent folks bypassing copy protection.

Apparently the software included with the camera is for still images only.

 

[Aahz]

Sorry if i got a bit confused, but this the very first reply made me think that Thunderbolt slots in a Mac are OUT direction only, so no way to have an IN direction signal via Thunderbolt.

As far as I'm aware, you can not capture video from the Canon directly to your MacBook Pro.

That's why i came to conclusion that the only way to have a IN video signal to my MBP is to use USB, as there is not doubts USB is a both directions type slot.

Perhaps i didn't understand properly what was chscag referring to.

 

[Slydude]

BTW whether the Thunderbolt ports are input or output depend upon what is connected to them. Right now I am using one Thunderbolt port on my iMac for capturing some stuff over a firewire cable (thunderbolt handling input) the other one has a second monitor connected (output). I could and have switched the cables before. Either one can be input or output depending upon what's connected.

 

[Aahz]

That's good news Slydud, it means i can stream video from my camcorder to my mac, all i need now is to get advice about proper cables that i'd need to buy, i prefer FireWire exit on my camcorder over the HDMI (see attached photo) (and you have to be logged in to forums, to see the attached photos as i noticed), please advice anyone?

Thanks.

 

[Slydude]

Check the firewire links in my post (#11) above. If I am right about the connection on the camera you need a firewire 800 to 400 cable like the one I linked to. There are many places to get those. Some big box electronics places may have them and I know Amazon and NewEgg do. If one end of the cable looks like it's the wrong size try a freer 800 to 800 cable and the thunderbolt adapter linked to in that post.

 

[Aahz]

Thank you for the links Slydude.

Until now I've been connecting my camcorder to a windows PC FireWire, using a regular cable and an adapter for the camera:



Now I'm questioning my self if this adapter:

will connect properly, in a matter of pins, with this cable that I'm going to buy:

 

[Slydude]

Thanks for that pic. It helped me understand what connection the camera has which is the part I wasn't 100% sure about. Should have thought about the smaller firewire connector. The adapter will probably work as I think the end it needs to connect to appears to be the same as what is on the PC.

Unless you already have that firewire 800 to 400 cable there is another option that would cut the adapter out entirely snd simplify troubleshooting if it becomes necessary. You should be able to connect a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter to a Firewire 800 to 4 pin cable such as one of these and avoid that little adapter.

 

[Aahz]

You should be able to connect a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter to a Firewire 800 to 4 pin cable such as one of these and avoid that little adapter.

Are you sure these two cables can interact without any adapter in between?

 

[Slydude]

Are you sure these two cables can interact without any adapter in between?

Wow I really borked that up pretty badly. I'm going to go put on my dunce cap and set in the corner now. A few more like that and I will be wearing that thing permanently.

What you need is the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter. Connect that to a firewire 800 to 4 pin cable such as one of these.

 

[Aahz]

Thank you for help my friend.