For the last month I've been trying to get my JVC GR-DVF21 camcorder to work with my iMac via firewire. I tried three different software programs with no luck (iMovie, VideoShop, and EditDV). Then last night when trying one final time before buying the Sony digital converter, it started to work!! Here's what I think happened: First, last week I upgraded to OS 9.04 from 8.6. Funny thing is that after I upgraded I still could not get the JVC to work. Then last night I think I turned the camera on LAST. Now I can swear that over the last month I've tried a million combinations of boot-up/camera on routines. So maybe it was both things finally coming together. But to sum it up here's what I learned: Get the latest OS 9 with all the related updates. I thought about installing 8.6 again just to see if the problem was the start up routine, but the heck with that. Next, turn the camcorder on last. Here's how I do it: First with everything off I connect the firewire cable between the camcorder and the iMac. Next I boot up the iMac. Then I start up the software. At this point make sure you've configured your software for handling DV. In iMovie you don't have to do anything. For VideoShop you have to change a couple of settings. For EditDV you have to disable two quicktime extentions (quicktime DV Enabler and quicktime DV Support) and reboot. Once you have the software up and running you can then turn on the camcorder ( turn the function dial to "play"). I tried it again this morning and everything worked fine. Now a quick word about the software. Over the last month I've been using the aboved mentioned software. iMovie is the reason I got my camcorder. It is the absolute coolest of the three. The interface is so simple it's almost toyful. But the results are amazing. Also, you can control the camcorder from the software. Once I loaded a tape I never had to touch the camera again. Very nice. Getting video to and from the computer was flawless. I'll be using iMovie a lot. Then comes EditDV. I've been using the trial version and I find it a wee bit intimidating. Don't get me wrong. It doesn't seen too complicated, I just didn't have time to really learn it. It also will control the camcorder via firwire and video transfer was perfect both ways. It's nice software but I can't see myself using it. Then comes VideoShop. Not quite as easy as iMovie but easier than EditDV. I really like VideoShop alot. Although you can't control your camcorder with it, it makes up for it by ease of use and the number of transitions and effects. The interface is a little quirky but I had very little trouble finding my way around without the manual. I plan to use VideoShop almost as much as iMovie except for one small problem: I can't get it to export to the camcorder. It records my clips with no problem at all. But when I try to send something back to the camcorder VideoShop crashes every time. Anyone else with this problem??? I would like to make VideoShop my "main" editing software if I could solve this problem. Any help would be appreciated. So, there you have it. JVC owners don't give up. The camcorders WILL work with Apple's firwire ports. If I missed anything specific please e-mail me.

cabana

You experience sounds very familiar to me, I purchased a new G4 and a new JVC DVF21 digital camera so that I could use final cut pro and /or imovie to do DV editing.

I have not had such a miserable experience with an apple product in my whole life!!! I tried every possible combination of turning camera on, computer on, pluggin, unplugging, etc. Basically, SOMETIMES it would just work, and MOST of the time it just won't. I have got it to work SOMETIMES on a DV iMac, SOMETIMES on two different G4's, but every time it is a battle to make it work, a combination of crazy reboots, plugigng, unplugging, etc, etc. sometimes it takes hours to get it to work, sometimes it never works. Recently, I have updated to 9.0.4 and the latest firmware updates, firewire 2.4, etc, and my camera STILL doesn't work ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES it works, but still MOST of the time it does not. I just recently downloaded a couple of hours of footage from tape and it worked very well, so well in fact that I'm scared to try and connect my camera again. however, I am completely confident that when I do, I will have just as many problems/reboots/plugs/unplugs as always. My advice? STAY THE HECK AWAY FROM JVC!!!! Yes, the camera is nice, yes it is inexpensive, yes the features and quality are fine, but if it won't work with my mac to heck with it!

I still have hopes for another firewire/firmware update that will make it work for me, and if you really want a JVC camera for $100 you can get Digital Origins firewire card that SUPPOSEDLY works fine, I have not tried it. However, for that matter my JVC cam is SUPPOSED to work with the iMac DV, SUPPOSED to work with my G4, SUPPOSED to work with Mac OS 8.6, SUPPOSED to work with 9.0.4. I have got it to work with 8.6, 9.0, 9.0.2, 9.0.4, on an iMac DV and on two different G4's. However, most of the time it was only ONCE, and took a heck of a lot of work to get it to go!

I have called apple support 3 times, I have called Digital Origin support twice, and I have called JVC support twice. JVC says it works fine on their PC, which is true. Digital Origin says it supposed to work, and that I can buy their FireWire card if I want. Apple says it's supposed to work, but that they haven't tested all 3rd party cameras and can't guaranteee it will work. I have tried to return the camera, no luck. So, I am stuck with a camera which although I am able to get it to work with my G4 SOMETIMES, causes me to cringe every time I have to sit down and work with it.

Rant compleated!

:-)

Originally posted by cabana:
For the last month I've been trying to get my JVC GR-DVF21 camcorder to work with my iMac via firewire. I tried three different software programs with no luck (iMovie, VideoShop, and EditDV). Then last night when trying one final time before buying the Sony digital converter, it started to work!! Here's what I think happened: First, last week I upgraded to OS 9.04 from 8.6. Funny thing is that after I upgraded I still could not get the JVC to work. Then last night I think I turned the camera on LAST. Now I can swear that over the last month I've tried a million combinations of boot-up/camera on routines. So maybe it was both things finally coming together. But to sum it up here's what I learned: Get the latest OS 9 with all the related updates. I thought about installing 8.6 again just to see if the problem was the start up routine, but the heck with that. Next, turn the camcorder on last. Here's how I do it: First with everything off I connect the firewire cable between the camcorder and the iMac. Next I boot up the iMac. Then I start up the software. At this point make sure you've configured your software for handling DV. In iMovie you don't have to do anything. For VideoShop you have to change a couple of settings. For EditDV you have to disable two quicktime extentions (quicktime DV Enabler and quicktime DV Support) and reboot. Once you have the software up and running you can then turn on the camcorder ( turn the function dial to "play"). I tried it again this morning and everything worked fine. Now a quick word about the software. Over the last month I've been using the aboved mentioned software. iMovie is the reason I got my camcorder. It is the absolute coolest of the three. The interface is so simple it's almost toyful. But the results are amazing. Also, you can control the camcorder from the software. Once I loaded a tape I never had to touch the camera again. Very nice. Getting video to and from the computer was flawless. I'll be using iMovie a lot. Then comes EditDV. I've been using the trial version and I find it a wee bit intimidating. Don't get me wrong. It doesn't seen too complicated, I just didn't have time to really learn it. It also will control the camcorder via firwire and video transfer was perfect both ways. It's nice software but I can't see myself using it. Then comes VideoShop. Not quite as easy as iMovie but easier than EditDV. I really like VideoShop alot. Although you can't control your camcorder with it, it makes up for it by ease of use and the number of transitions and effects. The interface is a little quirky but I had very little trouble finding my way around without the manual. I plan to use VideoShop almost as much as iMovie except for one small problem: I can't get it to export to the camcorder. It records my clips with no problem at all. But when I try to send something back to the camcorder VideoShop crashes every time. Anyone else with this problem??? I would like to make VideoShop my "main" editing software if I could solve this problem. Any help would be appreciated. So, there you have it. JVC owners don't give up. The camcorders WILL work with Apple's firwire ports. If I missed anything specific please e-mail me.

cabana