Fixing import problem in iMovie HD

I found a fix for the importing problem some people have been experiencing in iMovie HD. A google search turned up this webpage
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/vt3/10228
I tried this and it worked. Basically the problem on import is linked to a Core Audio problem that can be resolved by opening Garageband and playing a few notes with the desktop keyboard. I had to do this a few times and try and play my video footage in iMovie a few times, but it eventually worked and I was able to import with no problem.

Thanks for mentioning it.
There have been several mentions of this here in iMovie Discussions, but older messages 'drop off' the page, and so sometimes they're not visible any more.
Thanks for the timely reminder.

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So close to fixing this problem with iMovie clip frame rate!

Hi! Please help!
I'm recording short videos in iMovie using the built-in camera on my Macbook Pro. I did this yesterday and again this morning without incident. Everything worked great. Then, this afternoon, I made another video - EXACTLY the same way I'd done the other ones - and yet, this time, the clip mysteriously recorded at 18fps instead of 30fps. As a result (I think) the audio is out of synch. I have detached the audio as some have suggested in other forums, but this has not fixed the problem.
QUESTION: How can I convert the clip from 18fps to 30fps?? Is this even possible?? I'd really like to avoid re-recording, if at all possible.
I am a novice. Please explain any solutions to me as though I am a child. Thank-you!

mattias.rylander wrote:
I meant to say it only (if I may generalize here) makes a difference when you edit. Don't try to edit 30 fps material in a timeline meant for 25 fps. Very few applications can accomplish this with a good end result.
Are you speaking about this particular change of frame rates or any?
Having transfered Super 8 film that was shot at 18 fps, I have little choice but to change the rate. So far everything seems to be working out fine. For 24 fps iMovie does a pull-down of 1 1 2; for 30, 2 2 1. I'm a little confused as to whether I should use 24 or 30 fps. I'll be asking about this in a new thread.
The easiest way to change a projects framerate is to edit the project xml file.
Right click on your iMovie project file and choose "Show package contents..." (or something similar)
Edit the "Project" file (no extension) using the free Textwrangler editor or a plist capable editor.
Find the node "frameRate" and update to 30.
Really? That's a cool trick! But it sounds like it could easily mess things up. Have you tried this and with what scenarios?
or easier just create a new project
HTH
Message was edited by: betaneptune. Changed "under" to "with" for better clarity.

Importing problems in imovie hd 6

when i go to capture mode the screen is blue but it still recognises the camera. pressing import makes the camera play but it still doesn't show the images on screen and the time doesn't change until you stop it again. i've done everything on the help pages but no luck.i've also looked through other topics and no tips on them have worked either. please help as i have a very short deadline!

So you have tried all this already?
Open the Audio MIDI Setup (Utilities folder) and set the default audio output to 44100hZ. Try the camera again.
If no luck try these:
iMovie: Cannot See or Control Camera
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000
A Sony fix is suggested here:
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/usage/5020.shtml

Sound import problem into iMovie through sound jack.

I am attempting to transfer sound into iMovie from an external audio tape recorder through the sound import port on a Power Mac G4 mirror door tower running Tiger. When I do this the sound ends up in the time line viewer and looks normal but when I attempt to play it, the volume is very low. It is so low you cannot even make out what it is. Another clip in the time line from another source plays at the normal volume. I also raised the gain on the imported clip to the highest level and still it was very low.
To record the audio above I did the following:
Clicked Media, and then clicked the Audio button at the top of the Media pane.
Clicked the Record button. The recorder was playing the sound and plugged into the audio input jack of the G4.
Is this the correct way to do this? If no what do I do?
Help Please
Thanks much!

For a more reliable way to get sound into a Mac, it's worth getting a USB input device (..I use one of these Hercules Muse things, which looks like a giant doorknob)..
..but there are others like the "iVoice" and "iMic".
You can plug in virtually any audio input (..line level or mic level, so there's no impedance-matching problem..) and the audio always enters the Mac at optimum level ..you simply have to choose the USB device as the source of the incoming audio in the System Preferences>Sound pane.

Importing problems in imovie

when I import footage, imovie breaks the footage into clips and skips whole sections and cuts unevenly. How can I import all the footage?

So you have tried all this already?
Open the Audio MIDI Setup (Utilities folder) and set the default audio output to 44100hZ. Try the camera again.
If no luck try these:
iMovie: Cannot See or Control Camera
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000
A Sony fix is suggested here:
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/usage/5020.shtml

Import problems in iMovie '09

I use apple iMovie '09 and have imported some videos from my camera. After copying all original files to a second hard drive, iMovie does not recognize my camera. What's wrong?

The update is one 5 bucks

Apple, please fix audio problems with iMovie

Ok, I have many iMovie projects, about 10. In one project when I add music from iTunes I can control the tracks fade, volume, everything I'm able to control. This is also possible when I make a new project and add music from iTunes.
So, this is possible in one project and all new projects.
But when I try to add music from iTunes to an existing project (all other 9 projects) the audio controls do not work. I can't mute the iTunes mp3 I can't fade it, NOTHING. Having bought my $6000 mac primarily for iMovie you can imagine how frustrating this is.
I've tried the following
Re-installing software
Deleting preferences
Clipping audio in garage band
Using different music, including different file types, eg .WAV
It's obviously a bug apple, please fix it asap.

Hi
This is a User to User forum - Apple rarely drops in to have a read.
Give them feedback if there is a bug (that can be repeated)
How about this.
• www.apple.com/feedback/imovie.html
Yours Bengt W

IMovie HD Import Problem

Last week I could import a movie from my camcorder without problem. This week iMovie will rewind, FF, and Play my camcorder but will not Import. I have 77 Gig free disk on my Mac mini. I tried reverting to a backup copy of iMovie 5.0.2 (111). And then i ran the latest update of OS X. I also ran Yasu.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
Howard

Bengt,
I can't thank you enough cause I'm using iMovie 5.0.2 and the import function wouldn't work plus the tape info wasn't even playing on the iMovie mointor which was wierd cause it was working before. I was getting really worried so I end up looking on the internet to see if I can fix the problem and couldn't find any answer. I was about to buy iLife '06 but I saw your reply and I tried the crazy fix first and you what...it WORKED I was amazed. Because of that I just had to email you. So thank you I will definitely remember that next time.
Anselm
Hi Howard
It sounds scary as it is a copy of when I broke my
camcorder. I happened to
put in the FW-6pin-connector upside down on the back
of my Mac.
Costly repair !
But first read my list and see if You can hit the
problem:
Mac:
- hardware
◊ Slow hard disk (fragmented: repair permissions,
repair hard disk, use a faster hard disk)
◊ Reset PRAM
◊ Bad RAM-chips
◊ disconnect Mac from powerline (not just switch off,
really plug out) for a few minutes to reset FW ports
- software
◊ File-Vault is on - turn it off
◊ Something is occupying the CPU/System, like other
programs, Internet etc.
◊ Do You have desktop pictures or screen or
energy-savers active? Try turning them off.
◊ Updating - OS has to be a clean install - not an
update eg from X.3.x to X.4.x (no good) OS X.4.0-5
needs a clean install to work (I use X.3.9)
◊ Updating QT and/or other updates (to 7 needs v6 to
be cleaned out first) QT v.7.0.0-4 needs a clean
install to work (I use 6.5.2)
◊ Have you tried the crazy fix: Open GarageBand, play
a few notes, close it and reopen iMovie. The camera
should import fine now. Sue/SDillini
◊ If You also have installed FinalCut Express/pro
there are possibly problems with this
iMovie:
◊ remove bookmarks in iMovie project
◊ Trash: com.apple.iMovie.plist and
com.apple.iMovie3.plist : files (Xinram)
Connection:
◊ don’t Daisy chain Camcorder <--> external hard disk
<--> Mac
◊ FW-wire cable, is it OK?
◊ USB/USB2 is NO GO !
Camera:
◊ The Camera is set to VTR ? (not as when You ”film”
record with it)
◊ defective camera TRY IT ON ANOTHER MAC ! (if the
A/D chip in the camera is harmed then it will say in
iMovie that the camera is connected and You can
forward rep. backward the tape but there will be no
picture or sound just the blue screen.
◊ Cheque the menu on Your Camera so that it
communicates with the FW digitally to Your Mac
◊ Date and Time is correct on Your Camera ?
Tape:
◊ Drop outs on the miniDV-tape - make a camera to
camera copy on a tape which You have previous
recorded with a time code (dummy recording).
◊ Break in the time-code on the miniDV tape (make a
camera to camera copy on a tape which is pre-recorded
with nothing/anything so that the tape has a
time-code from beginning to the end)
◊ If You recorded in LP-mode (90 min on a standard 60
min tape with 12-bit sound). Try to change in iMovie
pref. to import but not as individual clips. If this
doesn’t work You have to make a Camera to Camera copy
with the receiving Camera set to SP-mode and 16-bit
sound.
More:
◊ follow advises here
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000
◊ follow Grandmaster Dan's advice for Sony cameras
here:
http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/usage/5020.shtml
◊ start a new account - log out and into thisone -
retry.
Yours Bengt W
iMac G5 (PowerMac) Mac OS X (10.4.6)

When importing songs from a cd into itunes, the songs get separated into multiple albums instead of one. How do I fix this problem?

I recently tried to import a cd that I got into itunes. When it imported, instead of being one album by one artist, it created multiple ablums by the same artist. Does anyone know how to fix this problem to bring all the files into one album by the same artist?

Generally all you need to do is fill in an appropriate Album Artist. For more details see my article on Grouping Tracks Into Albums, in particular the topic One album, too many covers.
tt2

How can I fix my problem with importation of mediafiles

Hi folks! Got a big trouble, my macbook nearly crashes (after some water inrush) and I took the opotrunity to rescue all my itune songs by exporting them on a DVD (I guess the right expression is mediafiles for them) I burn them on the DVD and put them to my PC. The importation went quite smoothly but after done some of the files can't play back. A message pop out which told me that it isn't allowed to open this file for me without logged in into itunes account. Its only allowed to log in with our user profile on max. 5 pc/macs. But I'm logged in, and my PC is the 4th of 5 PC for loggin in.
Can anybody advice me how can I fix this problem and get all my songs played?
Thnx in advance,
KG
Varo

Have you authorized your computer to your iTunes Store account and not just signed into the account? For more information, see:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420?viewlocale=de_DE
Regards.

Annoyed with JVC/Final Cut Pro import problem; will they ever fix this?

Annoyed with Final Cut Pro JVC import problem; will they ever fix this?
I've shot footage on JVC GY-HD111E in the UK in 720p/25p PAL mode.
I'm trying to import lots of short clips (average 10 seconds) into Final Cut Pro (latest version with 720p/25p support) with a new Mac Pro maxed out with ram and 3 extra internal HDs.
Problem is, on a scene-break i.e. pause/stop, Final Cut detects this and creates a new clip, but it takes about 5 seconds to 'searching for media" before it starts the new clip. Because some clips are only very short, this 5 second delay sometimes means I only get the final few frames of a clip, rather than the entire 5 seconds or so of it.
JVC UK are blaming Apple and are saying it is up to them to fix it as Premiere and Edius does not have this problem.
However, Symbiosis in the UK (who do HD-Connect box) say that the JVC ProHD cameras do not wrap the shots up properly at the end, they are kind of left open and this creates problems on scene-breaks.
I've tried turning off the "create new clip on timecode break" etc, but it does not make any difference, when I do this it simply quits capturing on a scene break. Besides I have about 300 cutaways like this and I don't want to spend the rest of the year breaking them up on the timeline as this would be a futile and long workflow.
I'm importing and working on a native HDV 720p/25p timeline and this is the way I want to work. I've already imported and edited 4 hours of footage, but these 4 hours were easy as all 4 tapes had no start/stop points, they were recorded continuously from beginning to end of tape for 64 minutes each time so importing was no problem; 1 clip per tape.
But now I've come to my 5 tapes containing hundreds of cutaways I'm kind of screwed and need some advise on how I can import them natively in HDV without losing this 5 seconds off the beginning of each clip whilst FCP searches for the media each time.
I've been told this issue is definately with FCP, any ideas how I can get around this?

I haven't heard of this JVC/FCP problem, so I can't comment on it. However, whoever shot the cutaways didn't do you, the editor, any favors.
I've been doing video since 1984, and I've got to say, anyone who shoots a scene that is only 5 or 6 seconds long on tape is making a huge mistake, and it's been that way since the beginning of computerized editing in the late 70s.
Shoot at least 5 seconds of pre-roll before the shot begins, then roll tape for at least 5 seconds after you've got the shot. That's the protocol I've followed for 22 years now. Tape is cheap, edit suite time isn't.
But laying down only 5 to 6 seconds for a scene is wrong, IMO.

Imovie Mac importing problem or Camcorder problem?

I run a small business for kids parties. I video the kids dancing along to a track they have recorded (played on a cd player). Then i import the video, turn off the camcorder sound and import the finished mixed track of their singing and sync the picture and audio together. This has been working perfectly for over a year. But unfortunately in the last month when i try to sync up the audio track with the video, it starts off synced up perfectly, but gradually as the video goes on the video and audio become out of sync and by the end the video is either too fast or too slow. this is a huge problem! I thought it may the tapes in the video camera so i changed them and it's still doing it. Is this a video camera problem or computer importing problem. Can anyone help as it's ruining the kids DVDs!

I am surprised it has ever worked. That can normally only be done with synched professional equipment. Maybe they changed the CD player at the performance and the old one happened to play at the same rate as your Mac when it imports? (There is a slight difference between the playback speed between different players)
Or perhaps your video camera has become slightly worn, so it pulls the tape slower?
There are endless possibilities for problems with your setup.
I think you should take a look at the "add scaled" tip at the bottom here:
http://danslagle.dvmix.com/mac/iMovie/audio/1001.shtml
(Instead of adding the extracted audio from iMovie, you should add the CD audio.)

Imovie 11 9.04 did not fix audio problem

I have been making an hour long movie for some time now. I originally started the movie in imovie 09 and it had problems with the movie freezing. I updated to imovie 11 and was pleasantly surprised to find that it worked again. I recently began having problems with imovie 11 9.02 when the sound began sounding crackly and the first few words of each clip were inaudible, I upgraded to version 9.04 but still no luck on the sound. A member mentioned reverting to 9.0, but I am not sure how this is done, I uploaded the latest versions from the new app store and am worried of losing any of the movie if I revert back. Any help will be greatly appreciated. This project is well over due and with all the problems beginning in 09 has taken well over two years. Does anyone know when the next upgrade patch will be out.
thanks
A

If you still have the clip on the phone (and in the future) I would suggest you import directly into iMovie from your phone.
If you have iMovie 11, connect your iPhone via the connector cable to your Mac. If iPhoto or iTunes starts, you can quit those.
Open iMovie.
Then click the Import from Camera icon, or click FILE/IMPORT.../FROM CAMERA.
If your only copy is in iPhoto, I am not sure why you are not seeing it, but I would suggest as a workaround that you in iPhoto, you right-click on the video clip and reveal in Finder. Then Copy and Paste it to your Desktop. Then, in iMovie, FILE/IMPORT MOVIE.

I have iMove 11 and photos turn very dark when I drag them into the project. Changing colour white balance does not fix the problem.

I have iMove 11 and photos turn very dark when I drag them into the project. Changing colour white balance does not fix the problem.

Thanks for your no help line.

Import Problems with PYRO AV Link and IMovie 6HD

I am trying to import video from my JVC VHS Recorder through a PYRO AV Link Converter. The import begins working and then for no reason, and no repeatability, the import stops. The only way I can resume the import is to cycle power to the Converter. Any suggestions on how to get this to work the way it is supposed to?

I have read on ADS Techs web site that there is a Firewire SDK to download from Apple's web site that should fix the problem. Here is the link to the ADS Tech's web site...
http://www.adstech.com/KB/(yiuhve454kfje345zojzkw45)/KBDisplayKBAnswerDetail.aspx?error=FALSE&KBID=20486&path=topten

Fixing import problem in iMovie HD

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