Can I import one chapter of a dvd of old family movies to edit or do I have to import the entire dvd first?

Question

I had an old family film converted toa dvd.
I would now like to use one chapter in a project I'm working on. Can I just import the chapter I want or do I have to import the entire dvd first and then edit. It takes so long to do?

Answer 1

Hi
Most probably not - not at all. I assume that Your DVD plays on any regular DVD-Player and if so the material on it is in a sort of .mpeg2 code and neither iMovie or iDVD can open this so to do what You want it needs to be converted into a codec they can open.
There are no standard way to do this on a native Mac (Yes one might ask why - indeed) so there are ways around this.
I prefer these of two methods
• connect a DVD-player to a miniDV Camera and copy to tape and use this
• or - Roxio Toast™ that can open the DVD and back engineer it into streamingDV that both iMovie and iDVD can use.
Best result is if You go directly to iDVD without any editing. But if material needs to be edited using iMovie HD6 or any version of FinalCut will keep quality as high as possibly. Using iMovie'08 or 09 or 11 will result in a quality loss depending on that they can not deliver interlaced video over to iDVD - so they lose every second line in the picture - less sharp result.
or read my list on
DVD back for future editing
A. don't put a mini DVD into Your Mac unless it’s a tray-loaded DVD burner/reader
B. iMovie’08 prob. 09 can import from DVD (homemade without copy-protection)
C. I prefer one of these two ways
• Copy to miniDV tape from set-top DVD-player --> Camera -or-
• Roxio Toast™ - Can back convert to streamingDV for iMovie or FinalCut
D. Read what Karsten collected.
DVD back to iMovie.
.. and here the complete 'full 9 yards' ... .
//discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3822853&#3822853
DVDs are in a so-called delivery format (mpeg2), which isn't meant and 
made for any processing as editing...  or, as honorable forum member 
QuicktimeKirk stated. [i] I use the analogy of the old Polaroid 
"instant" cameras. Push the button, wait for the print to develop and 
show it off.[/i] ..
for using the iLife apps, you have to convert-'em first, in 
recommended order, choose one of the following tools/workarounds.
• DVDxDV (free trial, 25$, Pro. 90$)
• Apple mpeg2 plugin  (20$) + Streamclip (free)
• Cinematize >60$
• Mpeg2Works >25$ + Apple plug-in
• Toast 6/7/8/9/10 allows converting to dv/insert dvd, hit apple-k
• connect a miniDV Camcorder with analogue input to a DVD-player and transfer disk to tape/use as converter
• Drop2DV (free) a free tool claiming to convert DVDs into dv-stream...
• Use iSquint for your conversions . www.iSquint.org
from. Bobby Keene 
none of these apps override copy-protection mechanisms as on commercial DVD's...
//danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml
//danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6018.shtml
be nice to copy rights ^-^
... and, next time,  try the forum's search-feature...
from Beverly M.
//docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42724
Yours Bengt W