I don't know if I'm using a FireWire port or a USB port

To use your video camera to import directly into an iMovie HD project, you must connect it using the FireWire ports on your video camera and your computer. Some cameras label the FireWire port "iLink" and some hide the port under a cover or door. Some cameras have both FireWire ports and USB ports (for downloading still images to iPhoto, for example). The illustration below shows what FireWire cable connectors look like. Plug the 4-pin connector into your video camera and the 6-pin connector into your computer. If you're still not sure if your video camera has a FireWire port, check its manual.

Keep in mind that you need to switch your video camera to VCR, VTR, or camera mode and turn the power on when you import to iMovie HD. It's a good idea to plug in your camera's AC adapter to prevent the battery from running down while you're importing.

If you camera uses an MPEG-4 solid-state card or has a USB port and not a FireWire Port, you can transfer your video a files to your computer via the USB port. When you connect your MPEG-4 device to your computer using a USB cable, your camera or device appears as a hard disk on your desktop. You can then open the device's icon and drag the MPEG-4 files into your iMovie HD projects.

For more information about getting video cameras to communicate with iMovie HD, click "Tell me more."