Problems importing into imovie

I am having trouble getting AVI files into imovie to edit. I have two files I want to use, one is a "movie" in itunes and they both are playing with quicktime. One of the files I can see in imovie but cannot do anything with. Thanks!!!

I posted a similar question recently and my thread may be helpful. For what it's worth, I ended up buying QT Pro and I have found it a better solution that importing/converting these AVI files.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1983033&tstart=0

Similar Messages

  • Problems importing into iMovie and which is the required space..

    Hi Karsten!
    I could see that you know about video editing. And I have some problems and doubts I would like to ask.
    The thing is that I have just bougth an ibook of 80 Gb hard disk RAM 512 MB Speed 1.67 GHz and I am trying to edit a documentary with it. The thing is that I started to importing images from a HDV 1080i Sony Camcorder into iMovie and the speed wasnt in real time, was slowing down to half of the original speed. I went to visit the help of iMovie it was saying when it happens is due to the desfragmentation of the disk, but I dont know if it is the real problem, it is a new computer, and how I can solve it.
    And I also would like to know if I could have better results in the video importing and editing with an external hard driver other wise I could add more ram and more memory for the hard disk in the computer...
    And the last thing, I would like to know how much space would I need in my computer for install and using Final Cut Pro and if it would be easy with more memory or an external hard drive...
    Please Karsten or whoever who can have knowledge about these matter could help me. I really need it so much to start with my docu...
    Thank you
      Mac OS X (10.4)   80 Gb hard disk RAM 512 MB Velocidad 1.67 GHz

    "..which is the difference between FCP and FCE?.."
    FCE is Final Cut Express, a cheaper and 'cut-down' version of FCP (Final Cut Pro).
    FCE changes HDV (hi-definition) video into a slightly different format called 'Apple Intermediate Codec' when it's importing HDV material - just like iMovie HD does. This means that importing is generally slower than importing ordinary DV, because the movie has to be converted while it's importing. On a G4 PowerBook or iBook HDV might import at half-speed, or take even longer (..maybe 4x 'real time'), as you've found.
    The latest version of FCP can import HDV, and edit it, without any conversion, Apple says. But I don't know if that applies on any Mac, or if that needs a special capture card to be fitted into a PowerMac. In theory, I'd expect that importing and editing HDV using FCP HD 5 (..the latest version..) would be faster than on a PowerBook - because there's no conversion involved - but I can't say for certain till I receive my latest version of FCP (..I just did an Apple "cross-grade" to convert my FCP HD 4.5 into FCP HD 5).
    HDV doesn't take up any more room on a tape than normal DV, because the high-definition is 'squashed' onto the tape, using MPEG-2 compression. Because iMovie HD and FCE HD can't handle this kind of compressed material directly, they convert it into the Apple Intermediate Codec, and that form of the video takes up more storage on a hard disc than the normal DV does!
    So although normal DV uses about 13 gigabytes of hard disc space per hour of running time, the converted HDV (..converted into 'AIC'..) takes up, er ..I'm looking for a recent project ..most are on an external disc ..are here's a simple one: one-and-a-quarter minutes' worth uses 904 megabytes; nearly 1 gigabyte! ..Here's another: four-and-a-half minutes' worth takes up 6.5 gigabytes!
    Using normal DV, 6.5 gigabytes would hold half an hour's worth of video, not 4.5 minutes' worth!
    So you will need a big external hard disc to store hi-def footage. At least, with iMovie HD or FCE HD.
    I don't know if FCP HD 5 would store imported footage in the original HDV format, that is with the same storage requirements of ordinary DV - like HDV tapes. If so, that means that you could store hi-def (..if you're using FCP HD 5..) in just the same amount of space as normal DV ..but I don't know for sure. Maybe you could ask in the FCP Discussions. I probably can't tell you till next week or so..
    Where to get a 300gb hard disc? I'm sure there must be at least one shop, or electronics store, in Istanbul which sells them at reasonable prices. Otherwise, look online. There are many companies which now sell 300gb discs: Maxtor and LaCie, for example. But you do need one with a FireWire connection; not just USB. You don't need to buy from an Apple store: buy one from any computer shop ..an external hard disc for a PC works exactly the same ..but you must format it for use with a Mac, as described before.
    All I know of Istanbul is Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Taksim Square, and the areas around what used to be the floating bridge, and the Spice Market, and round Haigha Sophia, but there must be lots of computer shops somewhere in the city.
    "..I have never used iMovie for editing, I understood it is only good for capturing, sample and concise.." and it's also good for transitions, titles, adding photos and audio, adding video effects and for audio tweaking. And it integrates perfectly with iPhoto, iDVD, GarageBand ..and now 'iWeb'.

  • Older DV Tapes Will Not Play or Import Into iMovie

    I have a lot of DV tapes shot ten years ago on a JVC camcorder that I want to import into iMovie.
    I have a new Canon Vixia hv 30 and I'm assuming these older mini DV tapes are compatible because these old tapes play fine in the camcorder itself, and also on my TV, but when I try to import them into iMovie, they do not display in the iMovie import window. However, new tapes shot recently with the new hv 30 display and import just fine.
    Is there a problem with the old tapes being incompatible in some way I'm not understanding?
    Dino1956 answered a similar problem in 2008:
    *iMovie Camcorder Import Fix*
    *Connect your camera. put it in 'play' mode (sometimes also called vcr). start up imovie (hd or 08; both work, but i use HD). go to the blue 'import' screen. it should just say 'camera connected'.*
    *Now comes the trick. don't click import, but instead put your camera in 'record' mode. you should now see whatever it is that your aiming the camera at on your computer screen.*
    *QUICKLY put your camera back in play mode. again very quickly press the 'play' button, either on the imovie import screen or on your camera. your DV tape will start to play back.*
    *-On my computer, the video now suddenly shows up in imovie! You can now click the 'import' button in imovie, and imovie will start importing the tape in realtime. This is a bit slower than the normal import method, but hey, at least you can now get your video into imovie!*
    ...but this solution doesn't work for me. I cannot "quickly" click the Play button on the camera monitor or in the iMovie window after switching from record to Play on the camera because there is a 5 second time lag on both the camera's monitor and in the iMovie window while the iMovie screen/camera monitor switches over from Record to Play.
    Is there any way I can get older DV footage into iMovie from my Vixia hv 30? My resources are at a very low ebb right now.

    I found a clue on the www.hv20 website: Old DV tapes recorded before HDV...you need to go into the hv 30 menu and select "DV" rather than "HDV", then the video shows up in the iMovie import screen and imports easily.

  • Why do some AVI files not import into iMovie?

    Some of my AVI video does not import into iMovie. When I try, it gives me a non-specific error message. Is there a way I can import it? Other AVI files import with no problem.

    AVI is a container, not a format; the audio and video in an AVI may use any codec, and some codecs can't be used in Mac OS X. Installing Perian may help.
    (34138)

  • Screen Capture Video Loses Quality When Imported Into iMovie - WHY?

    I am using screen capture software to make a video of my screen at 1024x768. The video is for a tutorial. I want to use iMove to get things like transitions and such into the movie, and to add text and audio. The problem is that, although the video looks great in QuickTime, it loses quality significanly when I import into iMove. The text on the screen is blurry, and the quality of everything else is terrible as well.
    Is this s limitation of iMove? Can screen capture video be imported? Does it only work with DV?
    Also, I tried to convert the file to many other formats, from QuickTime to MPEG-4, so it's not the file type.
    If anyone can help me out, I've be very grateful.
    Thanks!
    iBook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.5)  

    Your dimensions are getting in the way. iMovie converts your 1024X768 to a DV Stream file that is 720X480.
    One workaround would be to set your display resolution smaller. Try 800X600 (if your windows fit that size).
    If you're using Snapz Pro you should set your window capture to 640X480. This size will import nicely into iMovie.
    An even better way would be to do all of the work using QuickTime Pro. Again a 1024X768 QT.mov file would not fit on the most common display settings used. When you add the QT Player window the controller would be below the screen and not accessible for most users.
    800X600 would make a better file (smaller, too). It would still be 4:3 aspect and would also import into iMovie.

  • Trouble opening mpeg movie files and importing into iMovie 08

    Hi, I'd be most grateful if anyone could provide any solutions to the following problem...
    A friend has emailed me two .mpeg movie files which are parts 1&2 of a home movie which I want to edit in iMovie and burn to DVD. The footage was shot on a miniHDV camcorder (not sure which brand).
    Opening in QT 7.6 gives the following warning dialogue: "The movie could not be opened. The file is not a movie file."
    The files will however play fine in VLC Media Player, but not in mpeg Streamclip (the file appears to play but the viewer is blank with no audio/video). Trying to import into iMovie is unsuccessful. The iMovie browser won't let me choose the files or drag/drop.
    Any ideas. I read somewhere that iMovie 08 can't import mpeg-1 files. Do I need to convert the files, and if so how?
    Thanks in advance, and apologies - this is my first experience of video editing.

    I have QT Player but it hasn't "kicked in" when I try to import my videos.
    Something called PIXE VRF Browser is supposed to help in the conversion. The QT MPEG-2 thingy won't install until I buy QT Pro, according to what I get on the screen.
    Sounds like you have too many applications trying to do the same thing. Either use the Pixela Pixe VRF Browser or use the Mac applications (Mac OS Finder, Apple QT MPEG-2 Playback Component w/MPEG Streamclip) but not both to do the same job. The Apple Finder should be able to copy multiplexed VOB/MPEG-2 files from either your PC burned DVD or directly from your camcorder DVD to your MAC hard drive where MPEG Streamclip/QT MPEG-2 component can convert them for use in iMovie '08. Frankly, I don't understand your work work flow or why you want to import your files to a GOP editor in the first place if your goal is to do frame level editing in iMovie '08.
    As for Jon's suggestion, I am on dial-up and cannot download big files at 3-4 Kbps snail pace.
    What does this have to do with importing your camcorder files to your PC and re-burning them to DVD for use on your Mac? If I were to make a recommendation here, it would have been to use an external hard drive here rather than DVDs for transporting files between platforms and then only if you want the files available to both. If your goal is only to edit them in iMovie '08 or iMovie HD on your Mac, then why not cut out the "middleman" platform?
    I wish I could purchase these updates on DVDs but the genies couldn't even tell me if there's such a service.
    Totally confused here. Are you saying your DVR-D300 files were commercial produced or that you are dealing with torrent downloads of copy-written material? These are two separate issues with facets beyond the scope of this forum.
    As for "platform", I have iMovie08. iMac does not read the mini RAM disks when I connect the camera to a USB port.
    Are you saying the Finder doesn't read them or that iMovie '08 doesn't read them? Do you "finalize" your DVDs before trying to read them via USB as the manual states may be necessary as indicated on page 150 of your manual?
    How can I find out that iMovie09 will let me import and edit my Panasonic videos?
    You could try going to the Apple site and checking the the tapeless camcorder compatibility chart. The Panasonic DVR-D300 is specifically listed along with a hot link for additional information. However, this still won't help you you don't finalize the content.

  • Movie clip won't import into iMovie.

    Hi
    Ok at the risk of sounding like a complete dumbo...
    I have a JVC Everio G 30Gb Hard disc camcorder. I can't get my clip to import into iMovie. All I get is the following message...
    "The file could not be imported: The file “File Name Here” can’t be imported; QuickTime couldn’t parse it: -2048"
    Can anybody help or know some way around this?
    I sorta figured that like iPhoto, where you can pretty much download from any big brand digital camera, it would be the same with iMovie.
    eMac   Mac OS X (10.4.3)  
    eMac   Mac OS X (10.4.3)  

    Hi iMovieNewbie - welcome to the forum!
    Many people have your ailment!! The problem is that your camera records in MPEG2 format which is really not compatible with iMovie. iMovie's native format is DV, which is designed to be a no-loss, editable format. MPEG is really just a viewing format.
    There are workarounds, but they involve converting MPEG into DV, for which you will need:
    MPEG StreamClip (free):
    http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html
    and
    Apple MPEG2 PlayBack($20):
    http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/
    Read about it all here:
    http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/%7Eshmhav/SVCDon_a_Macintosh.html#edit_convertMPEG
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=267352&tstart=0

  • Why do 4 video clips import into iMovie and one doesn't?

    I attempted to import 5 short clips into my MacBook Pro from the same event, shot with an ipad2.  Four of the clips easily imported into iMovie.  IMovie said that the fifth clip wouldnt import because it is 'not compatible with iMovie'. All of the clips are 1280x720, H.264/AAC, encoding 7.0.2. Importing to IMovie 11, version 9.0.9.  I've read thru some of the strings but haven't quite found this problem. Any ideas?
    thank you

    I think this is an SD memory card camera. It does not work in a format that FCE uses. FCE only works with DV, HDV or AVCHD material. Everything else has to be converted to a format FCE works with.

  • Problems importing to iMovie 10.0.5

    When I import to iMovie 10.0.5 from SD card, I get an icon of a small video camera in each imported frame saying that the media is still associated with the camera and asks me to reimport from File menu, but there's nothing in the File menu allowing me to reimport... How can import from the camera to iMovie? At the moment, I can't finalise or share project as it hasn't been imported properly from the video camera. I've imported no problems before. I just want to get the files off the camera and imported into iMovie.  iMovie detects the video camera (comes up as 'Unknown' in left-hand menu) and asks me to import to an event, which it does - I can see all the scenes I've shot on the camera, but with the aforementioned icon in each frame...

    Hummm...
    I just opened the clip with Quicktime, and after "converting", it shows the same false 4:3 aspect ratio, so now i think it's not only a iMovie issue.
    Remember: iMovie 9.0.9 KEEPS working OK.
    Quicktime here says its version is 10.3 (727.4)

  • Trouble importing into iMovie from Sony Handicam

    Recently I tried to import video from my sony handicam into iMovie11.  The video imported, but there was no audio. I used to be able to import with this camera no problem.  Did apple do something?
    Anyone have problems importing with thier Sony Handicam DCR - SX43?  Video imports, but audio will not import into imovie anymore.

    hey there tomaswk, welcom to Discussions.
    1) when importing HDV, iMovie/FCE HD converts it on the fly to A.I.C.-Apple Intermediate Codec. you'll need @ least 2 GB of RAM to approach realtime ingest to your MBP. i have 2.5 GB on my DP G5.
    2) the conversion also results in file sizes about 4 times the size of SD video. plenty of RAM is a necessity for HDV in iMovie or FCE HD. sounds like the partition could be the culprit. maybe get an external FireWire HDD for your HDV iMovies.
    good luck.
    Message was edited by: Donna Jones1

  • Movie files suddenly don't import into iMovie

    I have been importing dozens of MVI_   .MOV files shot on a Canon 60D and store on my iMac into iMovie no problem. Now after two months when I choose import movie and select the same  files a box comes up saying the file (approx1 GB files)  is processing and it will take less than a minute but the box disappears after 10 secs or so and no file is imported into iMovie. How can I fix this problem that has developed. I've tried with several different files and restarted iMac. 

    Hi John - welcome to the forum!
    Here's some light reading on the subject!:
    iMovie Cannot See or Control Camera:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000
    http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/vt3/10228
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?forumID=858&threadID=231694
    Useful tip to ‘kick-start’ the connection:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=463729&tstart=0
    esp. see Beverly’s work-around
    The above problem with ref. to QuickTime Versions:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=263662&tstart=0
    The ‘Garage-Band’ Fix:
    I quote QuickTimeKirk:
    ”Open the Audio MIDI Setup application (Utilities folder).
    Try changing the settings to 44100Hz (CD Quality) or to 48000Hz (typical of the iMovie formats).
    Others call this the GarageBand fix. Opening GB also resets the Audio MIDI Setup.”
    This has a good list of ‘fixes’ – from Bengt:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=397899&tstart=0
    G5 Dual 2.0 ghz   Mac OS X (10.4.9)   1.5 GB RAM; VidCam: Sony DCR TRV80E

  • AVCHD Import into Imovie

    So here is my problem, and it a big one. I recorded some video with a sony camera that records AVCHD ( .mts ) So I imported into imovie first try everything was great! So i recored more and now i want to import the footage. Same camera Same computer same program. I connect the usb to the camera and computer. Click connect usb on the camera just like i did before. Now in imovie I see the little circle spinning for a few seconds then quits. No window pops up. Then I click the camera button in imvoie and my webcam comes up. My camera is showing up on my desktop. I dont understant Before I could esaily import every thing. Now I cant? What is the problem? I browsed ever forum on this topic and cant find anything like it... Please help. Im using imoive 09.

    Any ideas? Without converting, say to mp4 or something?

  • Why wont the full length of the chapter in my dvd import into imove. Also I tried to cheat by recording it play off my screen and then import that but it wont record it. Any tips please?

    Ive converted my video to imovie compatible format MPEG-4 so why won't the full length of it import into imovie? I cant record it using screen record either, the recording shows me clicking around and trying to record but after a split second of the desired footage shows it then cuts out to white and grey checkers. How can I convert it better or record it when playing off my screen please?

    Do you have a backup that you can restore from? Your old hard drive seems to be the problem.

  • How can i import into imovie using the camera's built in memory?

    How can I import into imovie from my cannon video camera built in memory.  All that comes up when I connect the USB cable is what is stored on the memory card and it doesn't give me the option to use what is stored on the built in memory

    That is not a feature of iPhoto - suggest to Apple - iPhoto Menu ==> provide iPhoto feedback.
    With the new Photo app later this year the integration between IOS and the Mac will be much greater
    LN

  • Certain mp4 files are not importing into iMovie

    I downloaded various files from the video page at a blog website [ http://www.911blogger.com/ ]; they're mp4 QuickTime. They won't properly import into iMovie, and quickly return a "An Unknown Error Has Occured" message box.
    This is confusing, especially since iMovie can make mp4 movies. And since mp4 is a QuickTime format -- and QuickTime is made by Apple, who also makes iMovie.
    It doesn't matter what size of file; none import. I asked the guys who own/operate the blog website if they put any special locking features on their video file downloads from their podcasts, and they said they (paraphrasing) "didn't do anything except use an iPod video converter" or something to that effect.
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    I have QuickTime 7.1.1 installed, with a license for QuickTime Pro.
    QuickTime Pro shouldn't affect the ability to import to iMovie. All QuickTime Pro does is enable certain movie editing commands in QuickTime Player. It doesn't add any codecs or new elements to QuickTime.
    But third-party QuickTime codecs could certainly be affecting iMovie 6's ability to import a movie. If any are installed, they should be temporarily removed and the Mac restarted.
    They are discussed here:
    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1852869#1852869
    Karl

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