Converting old dvd for imovie

Six years ago I converted old home movies with a VHS/DVD converter. I would now like to get them into imovie for editing but it couldn't import/read them. So, I downloaded Handbrake and converted the DVDs to .m4v and Imovie wouldn't import that either. I saw on some previous discussion that suggested changing the file extension to MOV, I did that and imovie will still not recognize them.
When I try to just open it normal with quicktime/itunes I get the message that it is not in a format recognized.
Are there some setting in Handbrake that I am missing when I originally convert?
Thank you!

You didn't say what format you converted them to, but if you don't feel like spending $55:
You need to convert the files to DV which iMovie is designed to handle. For that you need mpegStreamclip:
http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html
which is free, but you must also have the Apple mpeg2 plugin :
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/
(unless you are running Lion in which case see below))
which is a mere $20.
Another possibility is to use DVDxDV:
http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm
which costs $25.
For the benefit of others who may read this thread:
Obviously the foregoing only applies to DVDs you have made yourself, or other home-made DVDs that have been given to you. It will NOT work on copy-protected commercial DVDs, which in any case would be illegal.
If you are running Lion:
From the MPEG Streamclip homepage
The installer of the MPEG-2 Playback Component may refuse to install the component in Lion. Apple states the component is unnecessary in Lion, however MPEG Streamclip still needs it.
To install the component in Lion, please download MPEG Streamclip 1.9.3b7 beta above; inside the disk image you will find the Utility MPEG2 Component Lion: use it to install the MPEG-2 Playback Component in Lion. The original installer's disk image (QuickTimeMPEG2.dmg) is required.
The current versions of MPEG Streamclip cannot take advantage of the built-in MPEG-2 functionality of Lion. For MPEG-2 files you still need to install the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component, which is not preinstalled in Lion. You don't have to install QuickTime 7.

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Converting old VHS for iMovie

Dear all,
I am looking for a device that is able to transform my old VHS recordings for iMovie to edit and then burn on DVD with iDVD. My old miniDV camera has AV input and is able to work as a converter directly into iMovie - through the firewire - but I bought a camera for my father and I could not find any model that is able to do that. (They do not have AV input.) He needs editing because the old VHS recordings are full of useless material.
What can I do?
Laszlo

in addition to Lennart's helpful reply:
aside 'expensive' converters, another option is purchasing an EyeTV stick with analogue-IN.. you can use as converter PLUS you are able to watch and record TV.. .. and this opiton is cheaper than converter-only solutions.

10.2 crashes when I try to convert old libraries for use in the new software. Is there a workaround for this? Or will i have to continue using the previous version to complete older projects?

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Exactly the same problem with me.
Some other threads advice to remove fonts, clean the caches, remove add ins but nothing works consistenty, for some it looks like it works, for me it failed.
What I did not try yet, was to move the Render files out of the malicious library to trash.

Need program to burn a dvd for iMovies.

need program to burn a dvd for iMovies.

Roxio Toast
<http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/toast/titanium/>
commercial
NTI DragonBurn
<http://www.ntidragonburn.com/en/us/product/dragon_burn.asp?>
commercial
DVD Image Utility
<http://geek.thinkunique.org/2007/07/17/dvd-image-utility/>
free
Burn
<http://burn-osx.sourceforge.net/Pages/English/home.html>
open source; not clear how active development and support are
Disco
<http://discoapp.com/>
no longer supported, but free
LiquidCD
<http://www.maconnect.ch/>
free; iffy support, but, again, simple
For Terminal users:
mkisofs
<http://cdrecord.berlios.de/private/cdrecord.html>
(part of the cdrtools kit)
Use mkisofs to create the disc image, and burn it with hdiutil or drutil. (Some of the free options mentioned above actually use mkisofs.)

What is the best VHS converter to DVD for mac

Ready to convert old VHS tapes to DVD. What is considered to be the best on the market now for Macs? Thank you for your help.

Grassvalley ADVC300
I've played around with countless other conversion systems, ranging in price from $79 to $399. Short verison, this is the ONLY unit to own. No dropped frames at all, even with questionable quality tapes, no jitter, great color, excellent sound quality. Zero setup with iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11.
This is a prosumer deck. The time code function is alone worth the price if you have old analog footage. Absolutely NO "Out Of Sync" audio.
ADVC300 is for anyone who wants to do editing and is concerned about quality of color and speed, for the novice it is an incredible gizmo that will restore VHS tapes to a state close to the original fixing midtones, highlights and shadows on the fly. Not only can you simply convert analog to digital you can actually manipulate the signal going in (if you want to).
A bit pricey but it WORKS.
The program that comes with the ADVC300 has some nice filters that can improve video and audio of the source material.
I would use iMovie 06 with iDVD 09/11. VERY easy and 100% "lossless"

Converting video files for iMovie

is there a way to convert .wmv files (Windows Media Player) to a format that can be imported into iMovie?

SkaMan wrote:
is there a way to convert .wmv files (Windows Media Player) to a format that can be imported into iMovie?
sure, purchase a licence from www.flip4mac.com for their plug-in, which teaches any Quicktime based software wmv handling ..
Plan B) purchase VisualHub (half the price of flip4mac) and use it as external, standalone converter..

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Hey so I have some game film I have on a dvd. I copied all the .MOD files onto my desktop and want to make all the files one video that I can upload to youtube so I can share it with coaches. I would think I need iMovie to put them together, so how do I do that? or do I need a different program?

Solution may be found if you search in the "More Like This" section over in the right column.

Need help converting old Applescript for Snow Leopard

Ok, so I've downloaded the app "PowerHour" for mac. It needs to use the date function which is different in Snow Leopard, so I've heard. I don't program in Apple Script so I can't figure out what syntax to use. Can anyone help me fix this code below?
I'm trying to code this because I don't think the original developer has any hand in this program anymore.
The app on macupdate: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24107/power-hour
Here's the part that is giving the errors:
set gameLengthAsDate to (date (zeroTime)) + (enteredMinutes * minutes)
set songLengthAsDate to date (songLength)
set gameStart to current date
set songStart to gameStart
set gameEnd to gameStart + (time of gameLengthAsDate)
set songEnd to songStart + (time of songLengthAsDate)

AppleScript in Snow Leopard is a bit pickier about specifying dates. From the AppleScript Release Notes, "the [date] string must exactly match one of the system date formats".
It looks like the script is using a shortcut to set the time of the current date. I didn't test a modified application (just that the script statements set a valid date), but you might give the following a try:
1) change the following properties (declared at the beginning of the script)property zeroTime : 0
property songLength : 60
2) change the statements that set the time toset gameLengthAsDate to (current date)
set time of gameLengthAsDate to zeroTime + (enteredMinutes * minutes)
set songLengthAsDate to (current date)
set time of songLengthAsDate to songLength

Importing home DVD to IMovie.....having trouble!

I looked up how to do this and downloaded MacRipper & Handbrake and followed the directions...2 of the 6 'chapters' imported to IMovie just perfectly....but the others kept encoding (if that is the right term) into data files.....I could open them using quicktime, but IMovie would not deal with them.
I did all of the chapters of the file exactly the same...
any suggestions?
ps know that I am not overly computer literate, so any advise needs to be simple steps....
thanks!

Hi
I have two favourit methods
• DVD-player to miniDV tape Camera to Mac - or -
• Roxio Toast™ - that also can back engineare to streamingDV for futher editing
Still there will allway be a quality loss - due to double encoding/de-encoding - DVD
is a distribution format so lot's is lost here, not a 100% storage format.
*DVD back for futhur editing*
A. don't put a mini DVD into Your Mac unless it’s a trayloaded DVD burner/reader
B. iMovie’08 prob. 09 can import from DVD (homemade without copyprotection)
C. I prefere 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 socalled delivery format (mpeg2), which isn't meant and
made for any processing as editing... or, as honorable forum member
QuicktimeKirk stated. I use the analogy of the old Polaroid
"instant" cameras. Push the button, wait for the print to develop and
show it off. ..
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 (19$) + Streamclip (free)
• Cinematize >60$
• 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 copyprotection mechanisms as on commercial dvds...
//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

Burn a dvd from iMovie on brand new 2014 imac

I just became an imac user after 29 years of owning pc's. I record video for school functions and have always used ADOBE Premiere to produce and author dvd's. I made the jump to an imac after windows xp was no longer supported, adobe is going to cloud subscriptions and after hearing how much easier working with video was with an imac. Well.....you know what's coming....and why I took the time to jump into a forum: I figured out iMovie very quickly and transcoding to an mp4. I have a Superdrive because I was told it can read and burn dvd's and mayb even blue ray. But holy cow....is there truly no way to make a dvd from iMovie?! Really?! Or from that matter to burn a dvd from this imac? I have gone nearly blind reading through the communities and forums. I have made 3 dvd's that won't play in a Sony dvd player that plays everything I can throw at it except the dvd's from this imac. Good thing I still have my PC, maybe I should just get Windows 8 and bite the Adobe bullet. Any other suggestions? I am more saavy than the average user, which always heightens the frustration level when a simple task takes all day to reach no appropriate resolution. I don't need a lot of detail, just tell me where I made the wrong turn.
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Hi Carolyn!
That iMovie user guide you linked to is the old one for iMovie HD (5 or 6)!
There isn't one for iMovie 10/11 but:
iMovie 10 Guide:
http://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.0/?lang=en
Also useful:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/macsoftware/news/?newsid=3491810&olo=email
http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/?newsid=3491708&olo=email
http://www.macworld.com/article/2079349/exploring-imovies-editing-options.html#t k.nl_mwhelp

How do I convert my DVD's to iPod

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I don't see any options in QT, where is it buried?
I'm not going to spend any money for the Pro version until I see how it works.
Many Thanks

To convert a DVD for iPod use, you'll need to use third-party software.
You'll first need decrypting software to remove the encryption on the DVD.
Then you'll need conversion software to convert the decrypted files into an iPod friendly format.
Sometimes, both of those tasks can be accomplished with one piece of software.
PQ DVD seems to be popular for Windows users, as well as ImTOO.
Many other titles have been mentioned in this forum. Your question gets asked, and answered, a lot.
Here are some search results for you to review. There's great information contained in these previous posts.
Search Results for 'dvd to ipod windows'.

G5 iMac or G5 Dual for iMovie?

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Rick

Hi Rick
I guess:
a Dual G5 2.7 GHz compared to an iMac 2.1 GHz would be a major difference
in performance.
mathematically - about 500% but in reality it use to come out as about 2 - 3
times faster.
But there are lots of other things than amount of processors that determines
the real world speed difference.
- bus-speeds (data-bus, inst-bus etc.)
- cash memory size and speed
- size of hard disk
- size of RAM
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Yours Bengt W

Converting old analog video with maximum resoultion for archieving and eventual use in iMovie

There seems to be a lot of information on converting old (amatuer) analog video media to a digital format, and which one is best to preserve the maximum amount of data. I have already imported old VHS, analog 8, hi8, and dv into iMovie interations from iMovie 6 and forward. The later versions seem to convert the older files to their own format, I suspect, with a loss of data. I want to reimport the old media to create masters in the best digital format for eventual editing by iMovie 11, or whatever iMovie comes after that.
I have the following formats: VHS, super VHS, 8MM, Hi8, DV, and a memory card (from a camera which is not directly compatible with iMovie 11)
I have the following equimpent:
SONY dual deck VHS DVD. This allows me to convert VHS directly to DVD. I can later decode using Handbreak, and import etc. but it seems I would be losing quality.
SONY Digital 8 handicam. This will play analog tape and output a digital file. I do not know the quality of the output.
Canon VIXIA HFS100, HD camcorder. This uses memory cards. It is NOT compatible with iMovie 11, which I should have checked before I bought it. I have played around with the memory card and have been able to import video but, I do not know the quality, and I've forgotten how I did it.
MacBook Pro, about 4 years old, with a 2Ghz Intel core duo processor and 2GHz Ram. This is obviously not state of the art. I am willing to upgrade within the Mac family but I don't what to upgrade to for my purposes
Canopus ADVC 110. This as DV out via a firewire port, and a DV in/out. It also has svideo in, and composit in.
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iMovie 6, iMovie 9, and iMovie 11. I am fairly comfortable with each version.
Final Cut Express, circa 2006. I would have to learn this.
Handbreak. I use this to rip the DVDs I made with SONY deck. It outputs all kinds of video codecs but is obviously working with compressed imput files. I don't know if I could get it to accept input directly from one of the cameras or the Canopus.
Audacity. I'm using this to combine audio tracks from various sources to add commentary to silent videos, which i would like to add as a voice over track to my iMovies
Toast. I think this can convert files of one video format to another in the process of copying.
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Steve B

Yes
I found a program but am experiencing lots of trouble with it. I was hoping that others could give me a better suggestion.
I've actually downloaded and installed ffmpeg but the problem I'm experiencing now is that the videos do not convert. The program starts to work and then three seconds later I get the dialog box that says everything has been converted but the file created is 0KB and of course will not open.
Any ideas about what could be going wrong? I've attempted to convert the files to different formats and try converting different files as well. I still have the problem.

I had old 8mm converted to dvd then used "Rip It" then imported to iMovie. My problem: in the event library a complete person is shown, in the project the top of their head is missing. How can I fix?

I had old 8mm movies converted to dvd. I then used "rip it" and imported to imovie. In the event library a complete person is shown on a clip. However, when I move that clip to the project the tops of peoples heads are missing in the playback. I have used standard (4:3) because the cut is lower in widescreen. How do I fix this problem?

Yes, the Old Master file has a folder for each year where I find all photos from that specific year. I am attaching a screen shot of the file.
In the meantime i have managed to download all photos (it did not download any video files though in mpg, avi, 3gp, m4v,mp4 and mov format) to a new iphoto library. Unfortunately the photos are quite mixed and often doubled up. I ma considering to purchase iphoto library which checks all duplicates in iphoto. this will save me a lot of time. What do you think?

What is the best video converter for DVD to iMovie? Either free or to purchase.

What is the best video converter for DVD to iMovie? Either free or to purchase. And one that is 'fool-proof' and very easy to use. Many thanks, anyone who can advise.

You want to 'reverse engineer' the compressed mpeg2 DVD file back to something iMovie can use?
You need to convert the VOB files in the TS-Folder of the DVD back to DV which iMovie is designed to handle. For that you need mpegStreamclip:
http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html
which is free, but you must also have the Apple mpeg2 plugin :
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/
(unless you are running Lion in which case see below))
which is a mere $20.
Another possibility is to use DVDxDV:
http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm
which costs $25.
For the benefit of others who may read this thread:
Obviously the foregoing only applies to DVDs you have made yourself, or other home-made DVDs that have been given to you. It will NOT work on copy-protected commercial DVDs, which in any case would be illegal.
And from the TOU of these forums:
Keep within the Law
No material may be submitted that is intended to promote or commit an illegal act.
Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.
If you are running Lion:
From the MPEG Streamclip homepage
The installer of the MPEG-2 Playback Component may refuse to install the component in Lion. Apple states the component is unnecessary in Lion, however MPEG Streamclip still needs it.
To install the component in Lion, please download MPEG Streamclip 1.9.3b7 beta above; inside the disk image you will find the Utility MPEG2 Component Lion: use it to install the MPEG-2 Playback Component in Lion. The original installer's disk image (QuickTimeMPEG2.dmg) is required.
The current versions of MPEG Streamclip cannot take advantage of the built-in MPEG-2 functionality of Lion. For MPEG-2 files you still need to install the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component, which is not preinstalled in Lion. You don't have to install QuickTime 7.

Converting old dvd for imovie

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