Questions on making Movies with new camcorder

Hi all,
First, let me say these forums are extremely useful. Thanks for taking a minute to read (and maybe respond). I have a couple of questions / need some advice about making iMovies with my new camcorder.
My camcorder is a Sony DCR-SR40 - it's a 30GB hard-disk based digital camcorder. It creates MPEG-2 files (and connects to my G5 with USB2.0).
1. When I get the camcorder connected and copy over the files, I can't play them in QuickTime 7 (I got an error opening the file). So I spent $20 and bought the QT MPEG-2 plugin - now I can play them but there's no audio. Am I doing something wrong or is there a bug with QT?
2. So I downloaded Streamclip and can happily convert files to a bunch of different formats (what a neat app!). Is there a format that would be best to convert to for making iMovies (iM 6)? DV? MPEG-4? (see next question).
3. When I create my iM6 project, should I create DV or MPEG-4? (Is there a good summary anywhere on all these formats? It confuses the heck outta me.) I want to turn my iMovies into DVDs to watch with my family and QT movies that I can leave as files and watch on my work laptop. What's the best format (DV or MPEG-4) to use?
4. Assuming I create DV iMovie projects, my thought was to convert my MPEG-2 files (from the camcorder) and AVI files (from my digital cam that takes short movies) to DV using Streamclip, then import those into iMovie; all that seems like a bunch of work (I guess I could use the batch function) - but is this the right way of doing things? Or can I just let iMovie do the translation to DV when I import?
Sorry for all the noob questions here, I just don't have a lot of time to tinker (15 month old and newborn) so I'd prefer to just get advice from the folks that know (you all!).
Thanks so much
Steve

Hi Steve,
as you allready realized: the iApps are made for miniDV/D8, … but you have found the workarounds...
1) … you hear no audio when exporting/converting the mpegs with QT... that's no bug, that's due to the nature of mpeg2... the audio and video are "woven together" (tech term= muxxed)... QT supports this playback-format for ... ehm, playback, but "de-muxxing" is not supported by QT....
2) best format for use in iM/iDVD? my standard reply: DV
(I've read in the meantime, some report using the Apple Lossless Codec, you should find in the export options of SC, delivers better results - beauty lies in eye of... needs a powerful Mac and "eats" 4 -5x more diskspace then DV)....
3) DV; mpeg4 is supported to handle iSight "video" and some digi-stills deliver in this format; again, mpegs are for delivery, not for processing.... I didn't found THE website for explaining all that, you can spend hours on wiki and many, many more sites... for the average user (as me), I wrote (still write...) a short summary, click here >> Codexx; an excellent source for background info is forum's member QuickTimeKirk's "book" (=.pdf delivery), you get for 10$ here >> QTpro explained
4) … that IS a bunch of work, because you tought the old dog new tricks... with my miniDV and still-cam all that is done with a single click and works like charm ...
this board is full of Qs concerning support of DVDcorders/HDcorders... One can just speculate, wether Apple will implement the support of these formats... I strongly guess NOT, … we saw in the past e.g. no support of (S)VCD, another popular format (to its time), but not fullfilling the high standards of SJ....
no, you're not a noob - excellent prepared, precise discription of your problems... I wish, all posts are read like that....
have fun with your kids! it's getting better every day!! (my son now is 6y, in two weeks he starts with school....adventure!!!)

Similar Messages

  • Problem making playlists with new Zen Style 300

    /Problem making playlists with new Zen Style 300hI follow this procedure from the support page:
    http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=804
    I also have tried many other options and procedures, but each time the playlist that ends up on the player has only a few of the songs that I put on the play list. all the songs do exist on the player, but seems to randomly select only a small subset of the songs - example: 6 original, 2 get on the list, 30 on teh original, 6 get on the player's play list.
    The odd part is if I go back to the player at some later time and connect via creative central, the correct playlist displays on the PC. However, is still wrong (truncated) on the player. So it seems to remember the correct play list, but just does not display correctly on the player.
    PC OS - win7
    creative centrale version .8.03
    zen style 300 sw version: .0.07
    Anyone get this to work on the zen style 300?
    Norm

    ?After many attempts? (like 6) with creative support to convince them this was a software bug, the end state response was to send the player back. Using better judgement, I waited for a new software release and indeed the problem was fixed in a subsequent release of the software.
    My main frustration here was they seem to not want to escalate problems quickly to the right level of technical support that actually understands the software/debugging? vs hardware? and can look through a set of debugging steps and tests I sent in the first notes and realize it is not something hardware related. Even after citing my degrees in computer science/electrical engineering and having designed/debugged systems much more complex than this, all I got was simple procedural steps to repeat or send it back, it is a hardware problem. Ug!

  • Making movies with SLR stills in FCE4

    Does any one have any sources of information for making movies using still images… not stills captured from movies, but stills taken using a 'still' camera either digital or scanned from film for time lapse movies and multimedia slideshows. I'm particularly interested in issues of quality both importing images and exporting the final product, this is the thing I have the most trouble with. I know it's possible to get fantastic results I've seen them on the web… Magnum in Motion, VII, Media Storm etc but all the advice I can find is not to surprisingly 99% aimed at video movie making.
    One other thing; I'm currently using iMovie 09 which is fine as far as it goes but I'm finding it a bit of a battle and am considering trying FCE 4 as it seems a little more intuitive and capable. I have read in a couple of reviews people complaining about the constant need to render and wonder how much of this is down to developing a sensible work flow and getting the hang of the software. As far as I can see from the tutorials most of the filters etc can be previewed without rendering. How does this particular factor compare with other products out there by Adobe for example?
    Sorry for the long question… I don't expect long answers!
    Matt.

    I recommend Photo to Movie to make movies out of still images. I looked at a number of different products including iPhoto, iMovie, FCE and decided on Photo to Movie. The feature set is strong with good transition, motion, audio, etc features and the usual range of output options.
    It's strong point is the image quality of the output whether for TV, web or computer - seems to be better than most other options at higher prices.
    Learning it is relatively easy to get started but there's enough capability to reach the movie making production of more expensive products. There's the demo option to let to test before buying. It is inexpensive for what you get. Support and advice can be requested and is given quickly and personally.

  • Will iMovie Keep Up with New Camcorder Technology?

    I've been looking at camcorders recently since my Canon ZR60 broke on me due to a failed tape transport.
    There seems to be a lot of camcorders with either DVD or hard drive storage instead of using tape. The HD camcorders are recording using Mpeg and AVCHD which iMovie doesn't work with currently.
    I guess we can only speculate Apple will out with a new version of iMovie/iDVD in January.

    "..The HD camcorders are recording using Mpeg and AVCHD which iMovie doesn't work with currently.."
    Sony HDV - tape-based - camcorders (and JVC ones, too, but I'd stick with Sony) are supported by (..i.e; can be used with..) iMovie HD. In fact iMovie HD was introduced at the MacWorld show the other year by a Sony-wielding Steve Jobs and a Sony man.
    HDV Mpeg works fine with iMovie HD, as long as you have a fast Mac (..G5, preferably multi-processor, or Intel-based..) and can be used to make terrific HD projects. If you use Apple's DVD Studio Pro, the HD footage from iMovie can be burned onto a normal data DVD as hi-res HD video footage and can be played on your Mac as HD video (..but those discs won't play as HD on any kind of standalone DVD Player).
    You can also export edited HD footage from iMovie HD back to a tape in an HDV camcorder, plug the camcorder into a component socket on an HDTV, and watch glorious HD footage which has been edited in iMovie HD.
    "..I guess we can only speculate.." ..Not here: not allowed under Apple's Terms & Conditions for using Discussions!
    "Submissions:
    Search or browse for existing answers before you ask a question. Someone else may have asked your question — it may save you some time.
    Stay on topic. Apple's discussion forums are here to help people use Apple products and technologies more effectively. Unless otherwise noted, don't add Submissions about nontechnical topics, including:
    - That Apple rumor you saw on another website.
    - Discussions of Apple policies or procedures.
    - Speculations/rumors about unannounced products.
    - The status of your 1973 MG Midget restoration."
    (..Shame, really, as my brother's MG Midget restoration is coming along really well..)

  • Basic questions from techie thicko with 'new' G4

    I've looked but can't find the answers to these basic questions.
    My new (reconditioned) computer as below came with just the operating systems and something called 'Cloner' plus some Utilities.
    A) What is the best way to switch between OSX and Classic?
    (It defaults to X on start-up and I can get to X from Classic by re-starting pressing 'x'. If that's the right way to do it, what is the approved way of getting into Classic?)
    B) I'm not sure (after reading about it!) what I can do with Cloner and how.
    C) I have AppleWorks on OS9. Can I update this for OSX? Failing this, is there a Software Download that will give me a basic DTP facility until I can afford to buy an advanced programme? I also have Pagemaker 7 in Classic.
    D) I have been transferring stuff to Classic from my iMac DV 9.2.2 with my card reader and this seems to work well. Anything to watch out for?
    There's more but I can't impose on members' kindness too much!
    For future reference, is it possible to post pictures on these boards and if so how please? I have Photoshop and hosting sites.
    Sorry to be a pain but I really am an idiot about techie stuff.
    Thanks for any help.

    I'm not sure what Cloner does. It sounds as if it may clone the hard drive, a bit like Carbon Copy Cloner:
    http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
    I'm wondering whether it was just used to put the operating systems and utilites onto the drive in the first place when they reconditioned the computer. Perhaps they use a 'master' drive and just clone it to the drives in the computers they're reconditioning, rather than installing everything separately and repeatedly.
    I think version 6 of AppleWorks runs under both OS 9 and OS X natively. If you have an earlier version, I'm not sure whether it's a free downloadable upgrade or whether you have to pay for it.
    I'm sure the card reader works fine, although you could network the two computers together with an ethernet cable and create a small network. With two computers you just need a crossover cable to create a crossover network:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106658
    If you're thinking of keeping your iMac, that may be a better long term solution. You could then use the iMac as your OS 9 machine and the PowerMac as your OS X machine if you wanted to.

  • 2005 Apple Cinema displays not able to show movies with new iTunes

    ITunes is giving me the following error when trying to watch movies on my 2005 Apple Cinema display(s).
    The selected movie won’t play on one of your connected displays.
    This movie can be played only on displays that support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection).
    Try moving the iTunes window to a different display. Make sure the entire window is on the supported display.
    I called the Apple support, they said my displays can not support HDCP. Can anyone else comment on this?
    Is this true to the best of your knowledge?
    Is there anything I can do to make my movies play again? Other than buy new monitors of course.
    Thanks...

    Hi,
    Highlight one of the applications that cannot be updated and click File> Get Info. Make sure you are signing-in to the iTunes Store with that Account Name shown in the Get Info window.
    Then sign-in to the iTunes store and verify the account information as described here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1918
    If the issue persists, try to reconfigure the security software or remove the SC Info folder as others have in this related discussion: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1939036
    Message was edited by: Jason L

  • Trouble with sending texts and making calls with new Verizon iPhone 4S

    A friend of mine just upgraded from a 3G on AT&T to a 4S on Verizon. She sync'd her contacts via iCloud. She is having an issue where if she takes the 1 out of a contact's name from her address book, txts don't send. If she leaves the 1 in, it doesn't recognize the name, and just lists the 1 (201) xxx-xxxx at the top instead. Worse, when making calls, if that contact does not have a 1 before the area code, it tells her her plan isn't set up for international calling and that it can't complete the call. I am on AT&T so I can't help her. My phone has the international assist option, I assume Verizon's does too.
    I can edit my phone number on my AT&T phone; it appears she cannot edit hers to either add or delete the 1 before hers.
    Surely this is easily fixable -- just thought I'd see if anyone knows what's going on here. Thanks all.

    I'm also a Verizon subscriber - have been with Verizon since the summer of 2001 and when my contract renewed last June, I selected the same phone as my free upgrade.
    I was looking forward to using the same features with my Mac when I discovered that Verizon purposely disabled these features and I'm not completely sure why but it must involve protecting a potential revenue stream for Verizon.
    My existing 2-yr contract with Verizon expires a year from this June and I plan on making the switch to Cingular at that time primarily due to Verizon disabling these bluetooth features but also due to the iPhone. Cingular has excellent coverage in my area - I have a number of friends who are Cingular subscribers that get better reception at my residence than I do and I use my cell phone in place of a land line. The iPhone will have been on the market for a year or so at that time and I expect a new and improved iPhone model to be available by then. And if I decide not to purchase an iPhone, I'm making the switch to Cingular regardless.

  • Licensing question for AD enterprise with new SQL Server

    Hi!
    We have Server 2008 R2 STD where our AD is located and it has enough User CAL's. Additionally we have Terminal server with TS licenses.
    Now we're purchasing a Server 2012 where we plan to install SQL Server 2012 STD where we will install our third party program and this program is going to be used through Terminal server. 
    Now the question is do I only need SQL CAL's or will I have to get both SQL CAL's AND User CAL's for the new server? I'm thinking AD servers User CAL's is enough for the whole enterprise, but I'm not 100% sure and need help with this!
    Thanks!

    Licensing questions should be directed to trained Microsoft licensing specialists instead of a technical forum. 
    www.microsoft.com/licensing. 
    That said, SQL CALs and operating system CALs are sold separately.  Talk with the vendor from whom you are purchasing your licenses.  They should be able to help you sort out the CAL questions.
    . : | : . : | : . tim

  • Doesn't recognize my movies with new firmware

    With the new firmware, I can't go to My Movies, where I have a few movies bought from Apple. I get a blank screen and I have to reboot Atv. All the rest works fine (music, tvshows, rent, etc). I guess there is a problem with that firmware and hope it will be solved soon.

    is your appletv modified in any way ?

  • Folder with question mark upon bootup with new hard drive

    I've decided to be bold with upgrading the hard drive on my Macbook and go from a 60gb to a 120gb drive. I used Erase to format (I believe) the drive and used Super Duper to clone the drive (per the instructions found here: http://www.andybiggs.com/blog/?p=53). However upon startup, it will flash a folder with a question mark. Doing the digging - it's a symptom of not finding the OS.
    A few questions:
    1) Did I do anything wrong with regards to formatting the hard drive to make it bootable?
    2) If the drive is made bootable, do I need to do anything to make the workstation recognize it?
    3) If I need to go back and clone the drive again, is there better software than Super Duper?
    Thanks,
    Nick
    Macbook blanc, 2gb ram   Mac OS X (10.4.7)  

    1. You need to partition the disk using the GUID scheme to use the drive to start up your computer. In addition, the disk needs to be in one of the Mac OS Extended variants or in the UNIX File System format to use it; you should only use the UNIX file system if you have a specific reason to do so.
    2. No.
    3. You should stick with SuperDuper!.
    (14253)

  • Change margins + object move with margins

    Hello!
    We have a catalogue with 300+ pages!
    Margins size for that catalogue are:
    Top: 18 mm
    Bottom: 18 mm
    Indise: 12,7mm
    Outside: 12.7 mm
    Margins Inside and outside must to be change to 20 and 15 mm
    After i change the margins, the objects(incl. contet, tables, text.... etc) is not move with new margins size!
    Enable Layout adjusment.. it is not working like I want.
    How can i change Margins and all object to move with new margins size?
    Thank you in advance!

    If the objects are not currently snapped to guides they will not move reliably. If they are all athe same distance from the current margins, however you can, with Layout Adjustment off, change the margins so they snap, then enable layout adjustment and change the margins to where you really want them.
    Other than that, you need to do your moving object-by-object. If they all need to move the same amount it's probably scriptable, and you should ask in the scripting forum for help: InDesign Scripting

  • Streaming movie with HREFTrack

    I have created hinted movie with HREFTrack.
    When I play it in my browser locally, HREFTrack works, but when I put it on Streaming Server, it doesn't.
    Any ideas why?
    OK, I figured it out.
    HREFTrack must be created before hinting the movie, so I had to delete hint tracks, add HREFTrack, and then export as hinted movie (exporting hinted movie to hinted movie with new HREFTrack failed with error -2003.)

    Text tracks (even hidden ones) can't be hinted so they can't be streamed from streaming server software.

  • Creating movie with video from camcorder and an I Phone

    How do you add an I Phone video to I Movie in an existing project filmed with a camcorder and get the same ratio resolution for each clip?

    Howdy, freekatie!
    This can be achieved by cropping the clips that aren't the same ratio. Further information can be found here:
    iMovie '11: Crop video clips or still images
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2232
    You can crop still images and video in your projects to get a close-up of a subject of interest or to eliminate undesirable parts.
    Cropping is also useful if you have photos or video clips that don’t fit within your project’s aspect ratio. In such a case, you can crop them so that they fit.
    Best regards and happy movie-making!
    Allen

  • What format camcorder for video editing. Making movies?

    My 14 yr old son is into making movies. He needs a better camcorder. He makes stop motion movies as well as scripted movies with props. He edits them on his computer and some are really good, especially after he ads special effects to them.
    I want to get him a better camera for filiming. Preferrably not over $600 or so. What is the best format video camera for editing on the computer and one that is good for shooting movies. It should have a spot light on it I assume for low light contitions, even though he sets up lights sometimes when he shoots. 
    Any suggestions as what I should get him? Thanks in advanced.
    Aranon

    The HF200, along with all other decent high definition camcorders that use flash memory, DVDs, or hard drives, uses AVCHD.  And yes, AVCHD is difficult to work with for two reasons:
    1)  Many software packages didn't/don't support it, but this has changed dramatically in the past year.  Apparently Windows Live Movie Maker in Windows 7 supports it.  (Not in Windows Vista or earlier.)
    2)  It requires a lot of CPU power compared to what systems are currently capable of to work with, just like standard definition video did back in 1998-2000.  This will also get easier over time.
    Both of the above are the price you pay for being on the cutting edge in terms of video quality.
    Tape-based HD camcorders use HDV, which is MPEG-2 based.  This is somewhat easier to work with, but I would not reccommend a tape-based camcorder (motor noise, ruggedness, cost of media, etc.)
    *disclaimer* I am not now, nor have I ever been, an employee of Best Buy, Geek Squad, nor of any of their affiliate, parent, or subsidiary companies.

  • Am being prompted to enter security questions when making a purchase on my new IPad.  I don't believe I have ever setup security questions on my apple id.  How to I create new security questions?

    I am being prompted to enter security questions when making a purchase on my new IPad.  I don't believe I have ever setup security questions on my apple id.  I have tried logging into my apple id and have chosen the security and priviacy settings to set up security questions.  However I am prompted to enter answers to security questions and am told they don't match.  How to I create new security questions or reset them? 

    You need to ask Apple to reset your security questions; ways of contacting them include phoning AppleCare and asking for the Account Security team, clicking here and picking a method for your country, and filling out and submitting this form.
    They wouldn't be security questions if they could be bypassed without Apple verifying your identity.
    (104011)

Maybe you are looking for