An affordable alternative to iMovie?

is there an affordable alternative to iMovie? I do not need anything as professional as Final Cut but would like more effects than are offered in iMovie08 (since they took some of the stuff away from the previous version)

iMovie version 6 (available free to iLife 08 users)?
QuickTime Pro? A powerful authoring, editing and conversion tool ($30).
Final Cut Express?

Similar Messages

  • Another alternative to iMovie

    I use iMovie a lot for creating DVD slideshows of photos with no video in them at all. The Ken Burns affect is pretty important but its been heavily documented that the Ken Burns does export to DVD too well because of some interlacing issue that causes it to get all wavy.
    I like iMovie but this problem is a deal breaker. I need something that works pretty much the same way but does not have bugs like this. FInal Cut is great and all but creating a Ken Burns affect is no where near as simple as clicking a check box.
    Any thoughts?

    Hi Kevin - also check out Still Life:
    http://www.grantedsw.com
    This is fully compatible with iMovie but can also stand alone. It is cheaper than Photo to Movie, and maybe not quite so versatile, but still does the Ken Burns effect very well.

  • Newbie needs help, advice and alternatives to imovie

    Hey all,
    I am running into problems using imovie 08. Here is the project: Importing large amounts of VHS footage using a canopus input device. I have no problem importing. the problem exists when I try to delete rejected footage. I know this has been posted before, but i really did not notice a solution. I hear things like, "be patient. it takes time" but I am getting spinning wheel that wont go away. I click on the imovie icon in the toolbar and it says, 'imovie not responding" in the greyed out area of the box. So i am forced to shut down or force quit.....losing not only the clip, but the entire import.
    Is there any way to avoid this? it is a fairly new imac, so its not as if the cpu or memory cant handle the project.
    Now part two.....I want to import all these ideally with imovie, then edit ideally with idvd. First, i want to import everything (i am borrowing a work imac for winter break) and later (summer?) i want to edit. but, i dont think i will be able to do this since i cannot get rid of the scenes...or do i just wait and do this in idvd? IS there an easier way? snap pro? final cut? i want to avoid the rendering times (takes imovie over an hour just to open!) and the freezing. my end product will be DVD's slideshows,
    Could I easily, using these programs, simply make a copy of the DVD's on a LG dvd recorder (stand alone) and edit this video later? or do i have to then import that in DV format, and end up with the same problems? eventually, i want to do lots of editing so the stand alone is not a good permanant solution. I also dont get it: are these DV files or MOV files? the computer shows both. what else imports this format that may allow me to edit the video in an easier, non freezing way?
    thanks for reading. meanwhile, i will continue to scan the forums.
    Mike

    But, let me see if i understand you correctly: import with imovie, but THEN use QT or Mpeg streamclip? or do i import with those programs.
    Actually, I would probably use Vidi (free) to import the source files. It is an older utility and does just one thing -- it captures the raw DV footage and stores it wherever I want. This is handy if I have yet to determine which video editor I plan to use. Once the raw footage is stored on my hard drive, and can perform preliminary cuts of footage I definitely don't plan to use. This saves time importing/re-rendering the content I do actually keep and plan to use, as well as, the thumbnailing of content if it went directly to iMovie '08.
    also, can you explain why this is what you call destructive editing?
    Destructive editing is editing that actually modifies the source file. All versions of iMovie have the ability to "split" the source content into smaller segments and trash ones you don't want. By this I mean it actually divides a source clip into smaller segments, re-writes the segments you want to keep, and deletes those you don't. This is destructive. Once the segments are deleted and the project updated, they are gone for good. iMovie '08, FCE, and FCP, on the other hand, are intended to be used non-destructively. This means You can select a segments and add the segment to one or more projects one or more times without physically changing the source file. In other words, there is no real need to physically remove content you don't want since you can simply tell the project which frames to include in the project. Think of it as either copying the source frames you want to project. In actually, in iMovie '08 you are just copying frame references to the project and not the physical content itself -- which is why I call it "by-reference" editing. Since not actual footage is copied to the project in iMovie '08, the project files are much smaller. In addition, unlike iMovie HD, your edits do not have to be rendered to physicals which also ad to a projects size. Instead, in iMovie '08, the status of the project is simply rendered in real time for viewing which is why the CPU requirements are so high for this application.
    do i loose quality on this?
    Generally speaking, you lose quality every time you transcode your content. Since there is no physical intermediate file in iMovie '08, every frame in our output is transcoded at least once. In iMovie HD, only the titles, filters, transitions, special effects and such are re-rendered (re-compressed to the default project compression format) which means that all other content is exported as a "reference" file pointing to the original source content as it was imported into the project. This is why you will probably see a lot of talk about DVDs made with iMovie HD looking better than those made with iMovie '08.
    a lot?
    That really depends on what you are doing and how good the original content is in terms of quality. If you are importing content that is automatically transcoded or manually transcoded as part of the import and then re-render it part of a special effect and then convert it to a target compression for a particular use, then you could end up with the equivalent of a third generation copy of your original content. If the original content was of outstanding quality, then you may see little or no visual deterioration. If starting with something like QVGA digital camera content, then you may be tearing your hear out when you see the finished product.
    do i really need to jump thru all these hoops just to primarily delete rejected clips? a process that imovie 08 should be able to handle quite easily, but does not.
    The best approach you be for you to do your preliminary editing as you import. Since you will be importing manually, you can plan ahead and only import the content you actually plan to use by starting and stopping the import process manually. By blocking or importing individual segments manually and allowing them to thumbnail independently, you should not be constantly running into the problem where the computer locks up for hours because you are importing an hour plus of content all at once. I have never run any timing tests, but it often seems that the import time sometimes grows geometrically with the amount of content imported simultaneously and not linearly on my rather old G5. (It may just be my imagination, but I'm not sure.)
    the second comment i get. So, i can really keep all the cruddy stuff in my import, and simply do not add it to the idvd project?
    Normally, each project you create in iMovie will end up as a separate "title" on your DVD. You can crate a single long movie or several shorter projects than can be selected as independent playback selections in your DVD project. The basic function of iDVD is to take the files you send to it and convert them to MPEG2/PCM content to be burned to a DVD along with the interactive menus needed to play them back on a commercial DVD player which access content written to specific types of files. While an application like DVDSP will offer limited editing options, they are nowhere as good as what you can do in the video editor. Use iMovie to create the file as you wish to play it back and use iDVD to write those files to your DVD.
    that might help me avoid the issue i am having, but will not help me save drive space.
    As I have already said many times before, the best way to save drive space is not to import content you don't really want. The average DV25 file video content alone takes up an average of about 28.5 mbps for or about 12.825 GB of hard drive space for every hour of imported video plus whatever space is needed for your audio. (There are different "flavors of DV but most often it is imported as DV/DV for iMovie.)
    that might help me avoid the issue i am having, but will not help me save drive space.
    The best way to see what is going on is to simply open one of the files and look at the "Inspector" window. The "Format:" entry should tell you what compression formats were actually used to create the files. The DV file will be DV video with DV audio. The MOV files will likely depend on the actual source file and/or the default project type selected in the case of iMovie HD imports. Basically, if the import routine automatically transcoded the content, it will often end up in an MOV file container as explained previously.
    i like the sound of vidi and will check it out now.....ok. did that. looks good! so, basically, i get one big file at no signal loss, that i can mess with first, then bring into imovie?
    Exactly.
    any reason i would NOT want to do that?
    Probably not as long as you import and do your preliminary editing one tape at a time. In this way you can get rid of most of the dross immediately. If however, there is a long segment you know you'll never use, why import it at all.
    I only have so much time off work here, and hope to do it all during my vacation. this issue was causing me a headache. hopefully this will now make things a little easier.
    Best of luck. Consider it a "learning experience." (I.e., "no pain, no gain.")

  • Free alternative to imovie?

    I just realized imove is gone from my computer, and it can't be downloaded for free anymore. My installer disc is scratched. Where can I download any type of software so that I can record movies with my built in laptop cam? I googled and googled, and can only find free pc programs. I don't want to pay for it. only gonna use it once.

    Thank you for that link. At last I have a method for capturing DV video on my Mac Mini.
    iMovie HD has consistently refused to recognise my camera ( http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=454859&tstart=0 )
    Regards,
    H
    I had a look at Hyperengine AV, a free Mac video
    editing software that has an non-standard way of
    constructing your movie (ie: sort of free-style with
    no actual tracks) but allows multiple tracks of
    video, audio, text etc - worth a look, even to do a
    few things that iMovie can't do - like multiple video
    tracks.
    http://www.arboretum.com/products/hyperengine-av/hav_m
    ain.html
    cheers

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  • FCP export settings for import in iMovie '08

    Q: What QT/ Compressor export settings do I need to use in FCP in order to be able to import the MOV file in iLife '08?
    The reason for using iLife '08 is solely for sharing the movie to dotMac.
    (if you know alternatives bypassing iMovie '08 ... be my guest).
    Background:
    I create my footage with a Sony HDR-HC7.
    I capture the footage on my Macs (G5 and MBP) via FCP.
    I edit my sequence in FCP using the HDV sequence presets
    I output using FCP export to Quicktime. MOV file has HDV properties.
    Funny: the captured MOV file with HDV properties can be read by iMovie '08 , the edited sequence with exactly the same HDV properties can not be read by iMovie '08 .
    I tried a Compressor conversion to:
    - Apple preset iTV --> no import
    - Apple preset iPod video --> no import
    - Apple preset m2v and m4v --> both no import
    - Apple preset mp4 --> no import
    iLife help mentiones that it accepts DV, mp4 and some MOV formats.
    Q: what is the list of "some"
    Please help.
    Coen

    Q: What QT/ Compressor export settings do I need to use in FCP in order to be able to import the MOV file in iLife '08?
    Don't have FCP v5/6 but with older FCP/FCE usually use AIC for crossover in MOV file container.
    iLife help mentiones that it accepts DV, mp4 and some MOV formats.
    Q: what is the list of "some"
    I have personally used DV, AIC, MJPEG, MPEG4, H.264 and i believe Photo-JPEG with which another individual indicated he was having problems. As to audio for these files, usually use DV, Linear PCM ("Big Endian" Integer), AAC, or even uncompressed. Avoid Apple Animation and Apple Video compression formats which will import/edit but will not correctly export. However, be advised that there are some caveats. E.g., a "Large or Full" slideshow export from iPhoto places the MPEG4/AAC data in an MOV file container which iMovie '08 will not import. However, if you use the MPEG Streamclip "Save As..." File menu option to save the same data in an MP4 file container. Therefore, would say that some problems here may be associated with iMovie '08 "pre-scanning" of files and possible minor bugs in proper error trapping on compression formats vs file containers.

  • Large photo import to iMovie crashes my computer

    I have about 100gb of photos for a time lapse project. When I import the photos to iMovie (even <20%), it crashes my iMac. Is there a way to reduce the photos' file sizes on import or do I need to work in batches?

    Rather than uploading from iMovie's preset, try exporting first then upload using YouTube's built-in uploader.
    In iMovie go to the menu item "Share". Select Export Movie. Choose an appropriate size (resolution), such as Large, HD 720p or HD 1080p. Save it to the Desktop (or your preferred location). Log in to YouTube and use the uploader at the top of the page. This will allow you to navigate to your exported movie. The movie will be either a .mov or .m4v file, depending on the size you exported as. It will be in the same format (H.264) that iMovie's preset for YouTube produces (so nothing is lost using the alternative method).
    iMovie appears to limit the duration to 15 minutes, regardless of what your YouTube account allows. Perhaps you have a much longer movie - this may be the reason for iMovie's misbehaviour.
    John

  • Upgraded to '11 and it freezes during import, alternatives?

    Hi, I "upgraded" to '11 and it will not open.  It freezes during startup (during loading) and I am forced to force quit.  This is making me nuts and has me seriously reconsidering my near thirty year commitment to Apple. I have scanned the web and while I gather it is a common problem, none of the frequent cures does anything for me.  I deleted my Flip program and don't have Divx for example. 
    So, is it possible to get and install an older version at this point?  I read some say the 2006 version was stable.  Any reasonable alternatives to iMovie?  I am trying to make a time lapse movie using photos taken with the iMotion app on my ipod.   Also, can I get my money back from the app store? 
    I would love some advice or pointers to a thread if this has been covered (hoped it would be in an FAQ somewhere), thanks! 
    David

    I would suggest that you contact Apple at the Contact Us link at the bottom right of this page.

  • Can not export in Mavericks iMovie 10.0.2

    I wish I had never upgraded to Mavericks.
    I am having all kinds of problems with Mavericks' iMovie. One bad thing is that we no longer have options to export to as many different sizes. We get two - one is too big and one is too small. I'm at a loss to understand why this is considered an upgrade.
    But the worst is that I can't export at all. I get through the "Share" dialog boxes, click Next, the dialog box disappears, then nothing.
    Clicking on the blue circle brings up a box that has a line item marked "File" on the left, an X on the right, and nothing else. A few minutes go by, and still nothing.
    Clicking on "Theater" shows me iMovie is "creating the movie" but the progress bar is empty, and remains empty after a half hour. I cannot afford for my iMovie application to be nonfunctional. I need to create and send videos all the time. This is putting me in a very bad panic.
    Any help would be most appreciated.

    I have the same problem - I was able to save a file to my hard drive ONCE and ONE video started to upload to YouTube, though I gave up after the 6-minute video was "processing" for two hours.
    I swear, the bigger this company gets, the more crap it turns out. Such a shame.

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  • Any importation crashes iMovie

    Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me.
    My iMovie was fine until a couple months ago. I used to be able to import Quicktime files, photos, etc into the clips panel, everything was great. But now, any time I try to drag anything into the clips panel, iMovie crashes. When I load the program again, it says files have been moved to the Trash, and if I try to view them, the whole thing just crashes again.
    I left iMovie alone for awhile, since I don't use it much anyway. But I was just testing the program out today out of curiosity and I had nothing imported, I just tried to type a title and drag it to the main playhead.... and it crashed again.
    I know very little about the innerworkings of computers, that's why I like Macs, so I can turn them on and they just work, but I fear there's something seriously wrong with this issue. Back when I first encountered this problem, I tried downloading a third party alternative to iMovie, only to find that importing files into it crashed it as well.
    Can anyone tell me what's going on here? At first I thought it was an issue with Quicktime, but when the photo files crashed it too, that leads me to believe it's something else... God knows what, though. I tried repairing the disk permissions as that had been suggested in other threads, but it didn't help.
    Do I need to reinstall iMovie somehow? Something, anything? Help!
    Thanks in advance...
    Heather

    Hi Heather
    Craches are hard to fix but there are some things to try out.
    - You have repaired permissions - OK thats a good try
    A. What QuickTime are You using: QT 6.5.2 (OK) or QT 7 - 7.1.2 (doubtful) ?
    I would first locate iMovie pref file in User/Library I think and ends with .plist
    something like > com.apple.iMovie.plist < or > com.apple.iMovie3.plist >
    Those I would move to desktop first. Then run "Repair permissions" again.
    If You can start from a CD or ext hard disk then run "Repair harddisk"
    Now restart and then start iMovie to figure out if it starts to behave.
    (If still problems: After re-installing QT6.5.2 I would run DiskWarrior™ and
    after this TechTools™ and as a last resort the hardware test CD that came
    with Your Mac)
    Yours Bengt W

  • I have an image sequence in JPG and when I select open image sequence, select all does not work and I can only highlight one frame at a time.  I want to import these frames into QT7 to make a time lapse clip.  Any suggestions

    I have an image sequence in JPG that I want to import into quitck time 7 for making a time lapse clip.   It has an option to open the image sequence, but when I do, it only lets me highlight one frame at a time.  The select all option seems to do nothing when I click on it trying to highlight all the frames. 
          If QT7 is not designed to perform this function, is there another alternative?   iMovie is non intuitive for this kind of operation and I cannot find a clear tutorial for using it to make time lapse clips from a sequence of still frames.  
           The tutorials Ive found on YouTube are well intended, but they all seem to leave out a vital step that eludes detection.  
      Anyway, any help appreciated. 
    Thanks
       I am new to this forum and I'm not sure I can locate this thread again once I'm out of it.
    <Email Edited by Host>

      Yes, I tried that.   The files were ordered by their original numbers as imported from the camera, but I batched them through Phocoshop to downsize all of them into a more manageable file size.   I opened that destination folder from quick time  from where it said select image sequence.   I clicked on the first one and opened it.   The result was a large image with an arrow indicating a movie was ready to go.   When I pressed the arrow, though, I realized it had only imported that one frame so there was no movie.   The files are Jpgs and are about 450 KB each. 
        To your knowledge are there any links to iMovie tutorials or quick time tutorials that may address this situation?  Maybe there will be one I haven't looked at yet. 
        Thanks

  • How to open .mov files in m2v1 format?

    I have a number of video files in the following format:
    'm2v1', 720 x 576 (1024 x 576), Millions
    16-bit Integer (Little Endian), Left, 48.000 kHz
    16-bit Integer (Little Endian), Right, 48.000 kHz
    I have Quicktime 7with the Mpeg-2 component (£15 extra of course) installed as well as Mpeg Streamclip and Perian. I still cannot open these files.
    When I try to open them then I get a blank screen but with the audio alone.
    I don't know the source camera for this footage but its driving me bananas thinking I've got a solution and then finding that I am no further forward.
    I have googled and read through this forum but cannot find any comparable problem or solution.

    You need to re-Google as this is in these forums and suggests Streamclip works for the issue. I think if not you will face iMovie issues as an alternative since iMovie depends on this type of file to be on board the camera with the data files used by iMovie to interpret the content intact, e.g. from the finder the file alone will not import (or apparently play).
    There is a lot in Google about this format one solution being a hex eidtor to change two instances of M2V1 in the file to another (IIRC MP2V).
    From prior posts here: +M2V1 is the FourCC for your raw MPEG2/AC3 files on the camcorder. These files are not edit compatible since they contain I-, P-, and B-frames in a GOP (group of pictures) structure. In order to edit the content, iMovie '08 transforms the files as part of the import process. Basically the content is demultiplexed, the video frames are decoded and the and saved as all I-frames in an MOV file container. Since this essentially turns the MPEG-2 content into Motion-JPEG, the video can now be edited. At the same time, the audio data is also demultiplexed and the individual left and right audio channels are transcoded to individual AIFF (linear PCM audio using "Big Endian" byte order) and stored in the same MOV file container along with the transformed video. A time code track and start and/or end data offsets are then added to minimize possible audio-video drift in the final MOV file.+
    +I suspect your problem is that your Mac Pro recognizes the modified files and can play/process the data using the iMovie '08 installed support while your MacBook Pro does not have this support and relying on the original M2V1 FourCC, is trying to decode the video using the QT MPEG-2 Playback component instead. Since this component apparently will not handle the modified video, all you get is the audio which is "natively" compatible with the base QT structure.+
    +If true, then you have two options. The first is to copy the raw camcorder files to your MacBook Pro and convert them manually to whatever compression format you want using the QT MPEG-2 Playback component you already have together with MPEG Streamclip as suggested by David or you can install iMovie '08 or the missing component(s) to your MacBook Pro to make it compatible with your "iMovie '08 converted" MOV files+

  • Mail does not release attachments to be deleted!

    In Tiger, there was no trouble deleting a file which was attached to an email.
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    In Snow Leopard, i can't delete any file that has ever been attached to an email without first 'Quitting' the Mail application, which i'm used to doing very rarely.
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