Converting AVI movie files for editing in iMovie

I have a bunch of .avi movies from an old Flip Camera that I'd like to import into iMovie. I can play the videos using MPlayerX, but how do I import them into iMovie? iMovie doesn't recognize these files. I'm working on an iMac. Thanks for your help

Thanks I downloaded MPEG and I think I'm able to convert it, but iMovie still isn't recognizing the video even after saved it as a .mov. Maybe there's a wrong format? I'll look into Perian. thank you for your help

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I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?

I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?

I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?
Both the AVI and the MOV file extensions refer to the file container and not the compressed data the file contains. Both are generic file containers in that each may contain any valid combination of audio and/or video data that is compatible with the codec component configuration of the system on which the file was created. On the other hand, whether a file is playback compatible, conversion compatible, and/or edit compatible depends on the data actually contained in the file container. So, you are basically dealing with two separate issues here—the container and what is inside it.
Basically, if you want to make your files ediit compatible with iMovie, you must change your file container to one that is acceptable to iMovie and convert the data to edit compatible audio and/or video compression formats as may be necessary. The best approach is to determine what codecs were actually used to create the original AVI files and add them to your system if possible. In most cases a codec package like Perian can be added to your system's codec component configuration to may the AVI file playable. Once they are playable, in the QT 7 app then they can be chnged or converted to file types and compression formats that can be edited in iMovie. (While Perian handles most codecs commonly used to create AVI files, it does not handle all possibilities and, while the Perian codec package still works under cureent Mac OS versions, its development group has decided to drop further development/support of the package.)
Background: AVI is a file container originally developed by Microsoft back in 1992 but for which official support was discontinued about 11 years. Despite its limitations, Windows users still tend to use this file based on its open source ease of use and generic nature, thus, making its use so popular that most users are unwilling to switch to more modern but less generic file types. Since some AVI legacy compression formats have never been transcoded for the Mac or use beyond OS 9 or OS X PPC platforms, it is often important to know what specific compression formats are contained in the AVI file to know which codecs to add to your system and which not to add in order to avoid possible codec conflicts.
You can use many different converters to convert AVI files to iMovie edit compatible files. Most third-party apps contain their own buit-in codecs which do not relay on the Mac codec component configuration. Free ones, like HandBrake, usually have limited conversion capabilities while those that have more varied outputs are usually commercial in nature and will cost you additional cash. QT 7 Pro or the free MPEG Streamclip app allow you to access you own system's component configuration and use any available codec component like DV, AIC, MPEG-4, H.264, Photo JPEG, etc.—all of which are iMovie compatible for editing purposes—but only after making the AVI file QT 7 player compatible.
In order to determine what compression formats wewre used in your AVI files you can
1) Try checking the Finder "Info" window,
2) Use the "Inspector", "Media Info", or "Properties" window of any player app that will open the file, or
3) Use a general media utility app like "MediaInfo" to read the file characteristics.

Convert AVI movie files for burning to DVD ..

Hey .. what is the simplest way to convert AVI files to a format that can be burnt to DVD for playback on a regular DVD player ?? I know Toast Titanium is the standard but is there any other way ??
Cheers guys.
Message was edited by: bigdazzler

what is the simplest way to convert AVI files to a format that can be burnt to DVD for playback on a regular DVD player ?
QuickTime Pro or MPEG Streamclip can convert them. Some AVIs require that Perian be installed, while others can't be converted in Mac OS X through any means; AVI is a container, not a format.
(45672)

I'm sorry, I have to convert the mov file. for use with fce and / or imovie11, better ProRes422 or intermediate codec?

I'm sorry, I have to convert the mov file. for use with fce and / or imovie11, better ProRes422 or intermediate codec?

FCE only used AIC for HD.
Al

Converting h.264 files for editing

When you convert h.264 files to edit, does it matter if you convert them to apple intermediate codec or prores? I'm going to export the finished project back to h.264 anyway so I just wanted to know if it made a difference, and what the advantages and disadvantages of converting the footage to either of those two codecs are. Thanks.

>Why won't the exported h.264 have the same settings as the original h.264?
Because the camera records H.264 with a bunch of settings that are specific to that camera. I guess that you can try to match those settings when you export...but to what end? Where will you show your work? How will it be displayed? YouTube/Vimeo doesn't play back video with that high of an H.264 data rate. Nor does DVD...BluRay has it's own spec.
The question is...what will you be exporting to for delivery...for final viewing? You'll be exporting a ProRes 422 as your master source...but then encoding from that the formats you need to deliver. Unless you plan on playing back in the camera, or via a laptop onto a projector...you won't be going back to that original spec.
>And if I converted the h.264 footage to prores for editing, and then exported it with prores, will that finished project be higher quality than the original h.264 footage?
Higher data rate...yes. But it will have gone through one layer of compression. But very good, low loss quality. Your eye really won't see the difference. But it will be better suited for editing and color correction...as H.264 is 8-bit 4:2:0 color space, and ProRes is 10-bit 4:2;2. It will be in better condition for editing and grading, but quality...about the same, ever ever EVER so slightly less quality. Nothing you'd notice.

Converting VOB movie files for iMovie 09

I would like to import movie files into iMovie 09 which are in the VOB format. How do I convert the files to a format for iMovie 09?

I purchased this Mac two days ago. For a work application I purchased this camera 1 week ago. When I bought the camera I asked the vendor if software came with the camera that would allow me to load the videos onto the computer but when I received the camera no software was included and no one from Canon or the camera vendor would help. I had a Canon DC 330 that came with the software last year but someone from my company made off with it. Another story another day.
I've used PC's for years but I've been wanting to try a Mac anyway so I went into the Apple store with a VOB file that the PC would not read. It took a little fussing but the tech loaded the VOB file directly from the 3" DVD (took a few minutes to find a machine that read the DVD) into iMovie. Worked real slick so I walked out with a new Mac. I knew there would be a significant learning curve but nothing ventured nothing gained.
The Apple Store is over an hours drive one way but I suppose I'll have to go back and see if I can figure this out. Not an issue, just time consuming.
Anyway suggestions would be most appreciated. I will try the tip found on this post but any steps I can save would be great.

Need help exporting .mov files for editing in PE3

hi,
i'm trying to export HD .mov files from an Aiptek GO-HD camcorder that seems to record in QT format with some funky codecs. I need to export it into a format that i can edit on a PC using Premier Elements 3.0. The few tests i've run have shown a huge increase in size when exporting from .mov to .avi (100m to 30 GB).
Does anyone have any suggestions or experience doing this?

You just need to open the .mov file with Elements.
You don't need to convert it using QuickTime Pro
first.
Premiere may "convert" it to some other format to
allow editing (I don't know) and that would only take
some time at import.
HD files are anywhere from 10 to 60 MB's per second
(some even higher) so a DV version will drastically
increase in file size.
What, besides editing, is the goal of your work?
that doesn't work with this camcorder. apparently the encoding is called QT, but it really isn't. i have to export into something else in order to edit.
the goal of my work is to convert choppy family video into something clean that i can share with friends and family via CD / DVD (not streaming on net).

Converting .MOD movie file for import into FCP

I have a DVD with .MOD movie files I am editing for a church. The files open in a PC with Windows Media Player, although I can not import them into After Effects in a PC, and they do not open in QuickTime Player.
I would like to edit these clips using Final Cut Studio in my macbook pro. Is there any way to convert these files to .mov???
Thanks for any input/suggestions.

.MOD files or VOB files?
http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html
Export to an easy set up codec.

Convert .wma movie file to play in imovie?

there are some Q&A here about converting .wma audio files, but none for video and i cant figure it out. how can i play .wma video files on imovie? thanks!

Sp Ed wrote:
.. , or do i have to use the use the version that i have to pay for?
the trial allows a few minutes, watermarked conversion with QTpro, Streamclip et al ..
the purchased versions allow no-limits.

Converting FCP .mov files for Final Cut Express

Working in FCP 6, I've transferred P2 footage (720p30) into an edit, via the Prores 422 (HQ) codec. No problems, edit done. But now my client would like the source clips to manipulate in her copy of Final Cut Express (version 4).
FCE doesn't recognize Prores, it seems, so I've tried converting a sample clip via "Apple Intermediate Codec," which does produce a recognizable file, but requires a render. From what I can see of FCE, the AIC codec is the way to go, but obviously I'm missing some setting, because whenI asked her to render, export as .mov, then re-import, and that new clip shows without having to render.
That tells me it's probably some specific codec consideration, but I'm not really familiar enough with FCE to troubleshoot it.
Any ideas about the proper export settings for getting 720p30 HD footage into FCE?
Thanks in advance!

The problem is a little more complicated with DVCPRO HD media because it uses its own anamorphic frame size for 720p media. Open the file you need to convert into the QT player and give the exact specifications from the movie inspector.

How to convert InDesign CS2 files for editing in CS5 (win)

We are a small publishing company with several top-selling language products. I need to revision a title which was published 10 years ago. The files are CS2 and I cannot open them in CS5. Seem Adobe doesn't offer any conversion utility. It seem I need to open them in CS3 then save and use CS4 to convert from CS3 to CS4, then I can use CS5. But I cannot find CS3 for sale anywhere. So I'm screwed. Please offer a file conversion service. It's just code! you can run the old versions on virtualized servers and charge $500 per file. I'll pay! I'm totally screwed. We have to recreate the entire book from scratch. I used to be an Adobe promoter, but now I'm a detractor. this is horrible.
Does anyone have old versions around could be used to get this job done?
Cheers!

OK this is seriously messed up. I just spent the day installing trial versions of InDesign CS3 and CS4 (on a Windows Virtual PC running Windows XP) and converted my files from CS2 to CS3, then C3 to CS4. But when I try to open in CS5, they still crash InDesign CS5! Something is corrupt or incompatible with InDesign CS5 even though they opened in CS3 and CS4. wtf.
Guess I'll just have to edit in CS4 and give up on bring these files any closer to the modern world? Any other ideas?
crash on open
2015-02-13_1940 - maxhodges's library
Cheers!

Converting powerpoint / wmv files for import into iMovie

I have some students [on PC] who have created some slideshows in powerpoint. I am working on a G4 PowerBook, and use iMovie HD, but am having problems converting wmv and quicktimes [using flip4mac] and then importing them into FCP or iMovie.
Can anyone tell me the best settings to use to effect this process - I have tried mpeg4 basic and advanced as well as H264 but the end result is either really pixellated or won't import at all.
Many thanks
Tony

A few links that may help:
http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?q=converta+powerpoint+toquicktime&l=1&mkt=en-US&FORM=QBME1
http://search.support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?catalog=LCID%3D1033&1033 comm=1&query=ppttoQT&pwt=false&title=false&kt=ALL&mdt=0&res=20&ast=1&ast=2&ast=3&ast=4&ast=7&mode= a&adv=1&spid=global
file:///Microsoft%20Office%20X/Office/Help/AdditionalHelp.htm

Importing/converting DVD to .mov file for FCP

I had a friend give me a homemade DVD that I want to import/convert into a .mov file for editing in FCP. I've read the threads on MPEG Streamclip, but it asks to select the file(s) to import (vs one file). Not sure if I'm on the right track.
Here's what I see on the DVD:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s63/jtnacc/ishot-4.jpg
Any help would be appreciated.
John

Hi Piero... Congrats man... your explanation is the best simple explanation of getting material off a DVD into a form where it can be editied in FCP.
Just to make it clear to anyone else...
1- go to http://www.squared5.com/ and download the FREE program MPEG STREAMCLIP.
Install it in your applications folder. Start Mpeg Streamclip, and insert the DVD into your drive.
2- Go to FILE > OPEN and use that to navigate to the DVD, look in the video_ts file and select the first .vob file of a series, e.g. VTS010.VOB; you'll be asked if you want to open all files of that stream, and you answer yes. You'd better also apply the command Edit/Remove Timecode Breaks before exporting.
This takes a minute or three depending on how much material ois on the DVD.
3 - Now go to the Mpeg Streamclip command line and select **Export to QuickTime** (NOT Export to DV)
Use these settings :
Compression: Apple DV-PAL (DV-PAL for UK/Europe, or Apple DV-DVCPRO/NTSC), Quality: 100%,
fps: 25 for PAL or 29,97 for NTSC,
Audio: uncompressed, Stereo, 48 KHz.
AND hit go !
Mpeg Streamclip will promt you to name the new file name and a location for saving.
This can take a minute for every minute of material.. so is a slow process.
I decided to use the "in" and "out" markers on Mpeg Streamclip to define smaller chunks of the DVD to convert at a time... rather than risk it running for 40 minutes and crashing (which it did first time). If you're ripping the DVD for editing purposes then this should not cause any problems.
Once it's finished, go to the save location, and you should see a Quicktime movie with the name you gave it.
You can now go into FCP and IMPORT this Qtime move and edit it.
MARVELOUS
Thanks again Piero - this has really helped me
P

Convert AVI/MOV to WMV

I'm looking for a program to convert avi/mov files to wmv, preferably freeware/cheap shareware, so that I can stream movies to my 360. I know there's flip4mac studio pro, but $99 is just a little excessive for something that's basically just a stop gap until Nullriver puts support for mpeg files in Connect360. In any case, any help anyone can give would be much appreciated.
Michael

Here's a few Windows file conversion sources:
http://www.softforall.com/Multimedia/Video/STOIK_VideoConverter07070016.htm
http://www.video-converter.net/
http://www.winmpg.com/
http://www.videohelp.com/tools?convert=AVI%20to%20WMV
http://www.riverpast.com/en/support/tutorials/convert/avi/wmv.php
http://www.winferno.com/c/002/babelvideo/babel-video.asp?source=C&gclid=CLmumb3u zIkCFRznYAodoS-muA
http://www.aoamedia.com/videoconverter.htm

HT1014 I'm working with imovie 08 and converted movie originally from VHS tape to .m4v files imovie wouldn't recognize it. I converted to .mov files and imovie generated thumbnails (for hours) and shows a New Event but there is nothing there. Any help?

I'm working with imovie 08 on Macbook pro OS X and converted movie originally from VHS tape to .m4v files imovie wouldn't recognize it. I converted to .mov files and imovie generated thumbnails (for hours) and shows a New Event but there is nothing there. Any help?

markmc78 wrote:
.. I'm really struggling with the concept of events/clips/projects.
consider usage of a diff. editor.. iMovieHD6, you're entitled for a free downlaod at apple.com:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imovieHD6.html
but IF you're relaxed, opened your mind, follow the bright light, ommmm.. for Events & Stuff:
your intended workflow will add another step of quality-degradition (8mm>>avi>>mp4>>iM08) ..
consider the free tool Mpeg Streamclip www.squared5.com for 'chopping' that 90min beast into pieces..
rename these new chunks, follow advice given on my site:
http://karsten.schluter.googlepages.com/im08changeeventdate
there's the manual..
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMovie08_GettingStarted.pdf
and the most recommended books from Mr Pogue's Missing Manual series..

Converting AVI movie files for editing in iMovie

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