importing in iMovie

[Hapster]

Hey Mac users.

I'm using iMovie to create a music documentary to show to my friends. I downloaded this quicktime video clip in .mpg format from the internet that I want to use for my documentary. The only problem is, I can't import it to iMovie. I was able to import a quicktime video clip recently but it was in .mov format. Plus, I can't import any .mov clips larger than 2 GB.

How do I solve this problem?

[victorpanlilio]

Hapster,

If you have QT Pro, export the downloaded mpeg clip into DV NTSC (standard definition) format, which iMovie/iMovie HD can import.

I think the 2GB limitation was removed in iMovie HD, but I haven't tested it yet.

Hope this helps.

Icky

[Edited on 3-14-2005 by victorpanlilio]

[wildcard]

first of all convert the mpg file into quicktime using your favorite converter. if you have final cut pro HD or Apple DVD Studio pro installed, Use Compress. pls note that there will be some quality loss. I tried to import a large 2GB file on ImovieHD, and I think the limiter has been removed. I cancelled the process though because it took a long time to import it.

[El CaMOTe]

A friend of mine is digitising some VHS tapes into DVD for me. He is using a Dazzle Bridge Analog to DV converter.

Thing is, he is importing it using iMovie, on a QuickSilver 800 PowerMac with enough RAM I guess. Thing is, importing the clips is very erratic, sometimes it just stops importing and so he has to rewind to the 'stopped' portion and import again, and again... He is using the latest iMovie 5 (?).

[archiepaul]

Guys,

I have digital8 sony with firewire and wanted to capture my video into my emac via imovie.

My question is,

1. What is the resolution I will get if I capture it via imovie? 2. Will there be any loss data on the capture process? If so, 3. What capturing software/hardware I need?
4. Do I have to invest on a new hardware or my firewire port on my emac will do?

Thanks very much !

Regards,
Archie

[Kenneth]

1. Standard NTSC DV 720x480.
2. No, just be sure you aren't doing anything else on your mac whilst the capturing process is running. Just to avoid frame drops. Also, your HD must be at least 7200 RPM which I think the stock already is.
3. You only need iMovie or FCP and the iLink/Firewire cable (4 to 6pin)
4. No, your firewire port will do quite nicely.

[archiepaul]

Wow!

Thanks Kenneth!

I installed a Final Cut 4 last night and tried to capture some video. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but eveytime I click the capture now button, there is black pop-up screen that is being displayed in front of me and it says in the bottom, "Waiting for Timcode". Then I press esc to abort expecting that I have captured some clips. But I cannot see any captured clips in the "Log bin".

If not too much to ask, what should I know before capturing any video, and can someone provide me a step by step procedure?

I think I will buy a book on final cut to have complete reference. Where is the best place to go and look for final cut pro book? and What title would you recomend?

[Kenneth]

It seems that you haven't set your videocam settings in FCP properly. My guess is you tried to capture the footage manually, in this mode, when you clicked on "capture now", FCP starts capturing, and then your next step is to press "play" on your videocam so it starts feeding footage to your mac. You should see your footage being captured.

But what you should have done is set the IN and OUT capture time and log the clip. FCP will automatically control your videocam to capture the footage.

Read the manual on how to do this. There should also be a PDF version of the manual thats either installed or on the CD installer. There's a quick start tutorial there.

[archiepaul]

Hi Kenneth!

Well what happend was that I was playing a Video8 recorded tape on my Digital8 video cam. FCP for unknown reason, at least by me, cannot detect the timecode in the tape.

Apparently, I was able to record some clips in the same video8 tape using my digital8 videocam. When I was waiting for the FCP to kick in for capture, the clips I recorded flash in the LCD and FCP was able to recognize that it was from a digital8 recording.

So I think that FCP cannot recognize clips recroded via video8 even if you are playing it in digital8 cam for capturing purposes. But imovie can recognize it and can even capture it. I don't know, maybe there are some setting I need to check.

Anyways, thanks for the help and I will definitely bump this thread again.

Archie

[activeingredient]

Having some problems with iMovie on this 17" PBook... tried to import the video from the DV camcorder, but it doesnt show the video on iMovie. Says camera is connected and the buttons function well... if i click play from the iMovie screen.. it plays the video on the DV camcorder but nothing in the iMovie screen.
Kinda weird cause from another PBook which is a 15" screen, no problems.
Any suggestions?