Importing / ripping movies from a DVD into iMovie

[carlodl]

Hi guys,

I recently purchased a Sony mini-DVD camcorder and I'm having problems getting the movies i took with it into iMovie! First of all, the bundled editing software that came with the camcorder only ran on a PC (I guess Sony made this for the Vaio). Second, iMovie apparently supports mini-DV camcorders only. I knew I should have sticked with mini-DV but the convenience of the DVD camcorder in previewing scenes is what got me.

Anyway, the final product of the camcorder is basically just a DVD that can be played in any DVD player, which includes my powerbook. Is there any DVD-ripping software available that can get scenes from the DVD without much loss of quality? Also, can quicktime pro do this? Really need help on this... Thanks in advance!

[Henjie]

Uh-oh. You just ran into the biggest reason why mini-DVD camcorders are not recommended if you're planning on editing you home videos using iMovie, etc. etc.

The important thing here is to convert the DVDs to DV streams for use in iMovie. There are a number of ways to go about this. The quality will vary, and success is not guaranteed for some. The good news is that you probably won't have any problems copying the VOB file/s from the DVDs since they're not encrypted/copy-protected (I think). ;-) Just drag and drop the VOB file/s to your hard drive (if needed) and use any of the following methods:

UPDATE 8/24/2004: ffmpegX can now convert/encode VOB files directly to DV. :-)

1. BEST QUALITY:
- Download and install QuickTime Pro and Apple's MPEG-2 component.
- Fire up QuickTime Player (Pro Edition), select File -> Import, then open the VOB file you want to use in iMovie (copy the VOB file to your hard drive first).
- Select File -> Export. In the "Export:" tab, choose "Movie to DV Stream". In the "Use:" tab, just select any of the DV NTSC options.
- Save the file, then import to iMovie.
* Best quality 'coz you're converting directly from the MPEG-2 DVD file to DV.
* The problem with this is that QuickTime Pro might not be able to do the conversion properly. Tested this method just now and my copy of QuickTime Pro's batting average is a measly .200. Problems range from the audio being MIA ('coz of AC3 audio?) to incomplete conversions.

2.) OKAY QUALITY:
- QuickTime Pro still needed.
- Download and install the latest DivX or 3ivx codecs. If you can't decide which one to install, just use both. ;-)
- Download and install the latest version of HandBrake, a DVD to DivX/MPEG-4 ripper/converter.
- Fire up HandBrake and it will automatically detect the inserted DVD.
- Click on "Open". "Output format" should be set to "AVI file / MPEG-4 video / MP3 audio". Modify the "File" field to your preference (file name and save location).
- "MPEG-4 encoder" set to "FFmpeg" or "XviD" (doesn't matter which one). The higher the bitrate, the higher the quality and the bigger the file size. Don't go over 4,000Kbps. Checking "2-pass encoding" will give you better quality but longer encoding times.
- Click on "Rip" to start the conversion process.
- Once HandBrake's finished ripping, fire up QuickTime Pro, import the resulting DivX file, then export to DV. Import the DV file to iMovie.
* Quality not as good as the QuickTime Pro-only method 'coz there's an extra step going from MPEG-2 DVD -> DivX/AVI which leads to a loss in quality.

3. SUPPOSEDLY GREAT QUALITY IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SPEND $80:
- Use DVDxDV.
* Haven't had any experience with this app. There's a trial version available though. Maybe you oughta try that first. :-)

There are MORE ways to get your DVD footage to iMovie. Some are pretty complicated though (demuxing/separating the video and audio track first before encoding, blah blah blah, etc. etc.). Try the above methods first and see if they work for you. :-)

Good luck!


~Henjie

[Edited on 8-24-2004 by Henjie]

[carlodl]

Oh no... never thought it would be this complicated But, thanks so much Henjie for your very detailed reply! I'll try the quicktime method first. By the way, do you think it's worth it to purchase quicktime pro from the Apple Store? I mean, aside from this DVD to DV importing, do you think it will be useful in other things? That's almost around 50 dollars for both Quicktime Pro and the MPEG-2 content so i'm thinking if it's going to be useful in the long run

By any chance, does anyone here have a trial version of quicktime pro that I could test? Hehe that's if there's such a thing (just hoping)

Thanks again so much!

[Henjie]

Originally posted by carlodl
By the way, do you think it's worth it to purchase quicktime pro from the Apple Store? I mean, aside from this DVD to DV importing, do you think it will be useful in other things? That's almost around 50 dollars for both Quicktime Pro and the MPEG-2 content so i'm thinking if it's going to be useful in the long run

It really depends on what you're planning to do with it. If you're gonna stick with your mini-DVD camcorder and plan to edit all your home videos using iMovie, then I reckon the $50 purchase is worth it. Other advantages include being able to save Quicktime movies from the web and creating streaming contents from your video/audio files. I myself think that QuickTime Pro's import/export capabilities are worth more than $30. :-)


~Henjie

[Jumbo]

um is this the same process to follow if ever im going to get some clips from any dvd movie? Im doing a project for my class and i need to show some clips from a certain hollywood movies. Is it possible to get the clips from the dvd and put it in imovie as part of my presentation?

[bagwis]

Does the camera have a firewire out? Sorry for the ignorance. If your camera has just a line-out, and you really want to keep it, you might want to get an analog to digital converter. You might be better off selling the cam and getting a new one with mini-DV as it's medium because these converters don't come cheap. Although this is considered a good investment if you would like to open a VHS/Video 8/Betamax (meron pa ba nito?) to VCD/DVD kind of a business.

[Edited on 7-3-2004 by bagwis]

[Henjie]

Originally posted by Jumbo
um is this the same process to follow if ever im going to get some clips from any dvd movie? Im doing a project for my class and i need to show some clips from a certain hollywood movies. Is it possible to get the clips from the dvd and put it in imovie as part of my presentation?

Yup. You can use method no. 2. Do note that it's only legal if you own the original DVD. :-)


~Henjie

[Jumbo]

thanks! would there be any harm done to my laptop or dvd during the process? um what would happen if i use a fake dvd instead of an original?

[Henjie]

Originally posted by Jumbo
thanks! would there be any harm done to my laptop or dvd during the process?

None at all. You're basically just copying and converting the DVD to another file format. Kinda like ripping your CDs to MP3 files.

um what would happen if i use a fake dvd instead of an original?

Fake DVDs, original DVDs, it doesn't make any difference. A DVD is a DVD is a DVD (technically speaking, of course). The issue can be summed up in one word: PIRACY. And it's not condoned here. :-)


~Henjie

[Jumbo]

Originally posted by Henjie
Uh-oh. You just ran into the biggest reason why mini-DVD camcorders are not recommended if you're planning on editing you home videos using iMovie, etc. etc.

The important thing here is to convert the DVDs to DV streams for use in iMovie. There are a number of ways to go about this. The quality will vary, and success is not guaranteed for some. The good news is that you probably won't have any problems copying the VOB file/s from the DVDs since they're not encrypted/copy-protected (I think). ;-) Just drag and drop the VOB file/s to your hard drive (if needed) and use any of the following methods:

1. BEST QUALITY:
- Download and install QuickTime Pro and Apple's MPEG-2 component.
- Fire up QuickTime Player (Pro Edition), select File -> Import, then open the VOB file you want to use in iMovie (copy the VOB file to your hard drive first).
- Select File -> Export. In the "Export:" tab, choose "Movie to DV Stream". In the "Use:" tab, just select any of the DV NTSC options.
- Save the file, then import to iMovie.
* Best quality 'coz you're converting directly from the MPEG-2 DVD file to DV.
* The problem with this is that QuickTime Pro might not be able to do the conversion properly. Tested this method just now and my copy of QuickTime Pro's batting average is a measly .200. Problems range from the audio being MIA ('coz of AC3 audio?) to incomplete conversions.

2.) OKAY QUALITY:
- QuickTime Pro still needed.
- Download and install the latest DivX or 3ivx codecs. If you can't decide which one to install, just use both. ;-)
- Download and install the latest version of HandBrake, a DVD to DivX/MPEG-4 ripper/converter.
- Fire up HandBrake and it will automatically detect the inserted DVD.
- Click on "Open". "Output format" should be set to "AVI file / MPEG-4 video / MP3 audio". Modify the "File" field to your preference (file name and save location).
- "MPEG-4 encoder" set to "FFmpeg" or "XviD" (doesn't matter which one). The higher the bitrate, the higher the quality and the bigger the file size. Don't go over 4,000Kbps. Checking "2-pass encoding" will give you better quality but longer encoding times.
- Click on "Rip" to start the conversion process.
- Once HandBrake's finished ripping, fire up QuickTime Pro, import the resulting DivX file, then export to DV. Import the DV file to iMovie.
* Quality not as good as the QuickTime Pro-only method 'coz there's an extra step going from MPEG-2 DVD -> DivX/AVI which leads to a loss in quality.

3. SUPPOSEDLY GREAT QUALITY IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SPEND $80:
- Use DVDxDV.
* Haven't had any experience with this app. There's a trial version available though. Maybe you oughta try that first. :-)

There are MORE ways to get your DVD footage to iMovie. Some are pretty complicated though (demuxing/separating the video and audio track first before encoding, blah blah blah, etc. etc.). Try the above methods first and see if they work for you. :-)

Good luck!


~Henjie

Hi Henjie i just followed your alternative #2. the file was saved into a .mp4 format using handbrake. now the problem is i dont have quicktime PRO. seeing that i need to purchase it is not really an option for me. can you suggest another way so i can edit the movie? what will happen to the quality? will it be better than a vcd format? thanks dude!