2010 iMac only has USB Ports, need Thunderbolt (?)

I've spent the past 6 hours scouring the internet to solve a problem and I think I've found the answer, but want to run it past you first before I spend my money.

Problem: I just got a new video editing job, which includes SD tape footage. Unfortunately, I sold my 2008 iMac (which had Firewire ports) and upgraded in 2010 to iMac 10.1 (intel Core 2 Duo 3Ghz).

Solution: Is it a simple matter of purchasing something like a Thunder Pro A/V eSATA,FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB2.0 Interface 2TB/32MB Drive ($350)? And I will run my mini-deck into this, and then plug this into one of the USB ports on my iMac?

Fear: Will Final Cut Pro not recognize the new little drive as my source when I go to Log & Capture? Or will it recognize and I'm good-to-go?

Thanks so much for your advice!

Jeanne

Jeanne Rawlings
Dustlight Video Productions

www.dustlight.com
o - 530-894-3808
c - 530-966-3504

i don't recall an iMac that only has USB ports.
are you sure about that?

i know FW400 was dropped, but there should still be a FW800 port?


nick

Buy a FW 800 drive.
Thunderbolt drives are still few and far between.
I use a Lacie Rugged 320GB drive on airplanes.

This CalDigit drive is on sale for $199.00.

2TB CalDigit AV Drive

Thunderbolt is still an infant. I would contact the drive manufacturers on specs to see if that would work. You want precise Tech Support for your data...not a bunch of editors guessing.

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

Thanks everyone.

I do already have a 2TB Cal-digit AV drive w/FW800 that talks nicely to my iMac via the USB port. My question was if that was the standard work-around. Hopefully Final Cut Pro will see the tape deck through the system and successfully Log & Capture. Will tackle this tomorrow.

Just thought I wasn't the only person out here who had this "Only USB ports on the 2010 iMacs" challenge.

I will contact Apple tech-support if this fails.

Thanks again!

im looking at the specs for 2010 and 2011 iMacs, and they all have FW800 ports.

but yes, the standard routine is to diasy-chain the deck though a drive.


nick

Yeah maybe you're just not recognising the firewire 800 ports? They look like this

You just need a FW800 to FW400 cable/adapter as the cams normally have FW400.
An option could be something like this: [store.moshimonde.com] - you still need a FW800/400 cable.

Andreas

Andreas, Jude, Nick, Grafixjoe, Russ, bj -

I wish I could buy you all a cup of coffee for your help with my problem. I didn't mention that last week I called a tech guy (B and H Photo) and he had basically told me that the new macs had made old tape systems obsolete ("if you figure out how to work around it, let us know" he said).

Thanks for enlightening me. I now see the FW800 port (dumb me) and am getting cable and adapter Andreas suggested.

You are all worth your weight in platinum.

With my appreciation,
Jeanne

> I didn't mention that last week I called a tech guy (B and H Photo) and he had basically told me that the new
> macs had made old tape systems obsolete

This is why I don't ask computer people (like Apple Non-Geniuses) for film and broadcast advice. Anybody who works a few weeks in broadcast knows that tape is anything but obsolete. Just because Apple wished real hard doesn't make it so.


www.derekmok.com

I drink tea... Thanks!

What is "tape"?

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

i would sugest going FW800 into your drive, and then use your old FW400 cable to hook into your camera/deck.
no need for adapters (unless your drive doesn't have a FW400 port)


nick

I just plugged old FW400 cable from cam/deck into Cal-digit 2TB external drive's FW400 port. The drive uses a FW800 cable to interface with the iMac. Success! Final Cut sees the deck!

Thanks again super-much for all your help.
Jeanne