HD Video Footage - need suggestions

Hello - I just shot some HD footage and did a test in FCE-HD by exporting a 1 minute movie into Apple-TV format. When viewed via Apple TV, it looks awful. Has anyone found out a "best practices" solution on how to take HD footage and export it into a format that ATV will show in all (or as best as possible with needed compression) its glory?
Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve
Not sure which HD camcorder you have, but as you suggest many don't store full HD 1920x1080i, but have rectangular horizontal pixels resulting in a 1440x1080 pixel source to play with. The encoding software should realise the source is 16:9 format and scale/interpolate appropriately.
I don't have FCE-HD and have only had limited success with iMovie HD with my Sony HD camcorder (sound pitch issues more than anything, plus iMovie has become incredibly unstable recently for me).
Anyway, to get top the point, Apple TV cannoy display true HD, and the best you can hope to retain is a 720p movie:
Video formats supported
* H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive Main Profile (CAVLC) with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels at 24 fps, 960 by 540 pixels at 30 fps) in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
* iTunes Store purchased video: 320 by 240 pixels or 640 by 480 pixels
* MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 720 by 432 pixels at 30 fps) in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
Audio formats supported
* AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (from iTunes Store); MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR; Apple Lossless; AIFF; WAV
Now the stock AppleTV setting in FCE-HD may be a compromise between quality and speed (iMovie is very slow indeed exporting).
If I were you I would dabble with manually using an export to Quicktime movie option.
Use:
- a short clip to compare settings as encoding can take much time
- the h.264 codec,
- set the size manually to 1280x720,
- choose best quality encoding (single pass faster but quality/file size may be compromised)
- if you want to set bitrate it will need to be <5000 kbps, often 2000-2500kbps is more than adequate
- you may need to set deinterlace source video
- ensure correct fps
- audio to AAC 160kbps
- compare that with the default output then dabble with settings to get a speed/compression/quality compromise that your happy with
- finally don't delete your source material - you may want to re-encode at higher quality or resolution in the future!
There are other alternatives for encoding outside of FCE/iMovie. As you have FCE you might as well edit in that, but you could always export to an uncompressed format and try MPEGStreamclip or VisualHub for example to encode with instead of Quicktime.
Good luck.
AC

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Older video footage needs to be rendered before viewing

I've imported some old SD footage I shot years ago into a new project (NTSC 48khz).
When playing back the footage in the viewer the video stops and starts inconsistently. When I drag the clip into the timeline, I get the red render bar. There aren't any effects or transitions in the timeline, just a straight-up video clip. Why would I need to render this? And is there a way to make it so I don't have to render each clip to see them in the viewer?
thanks

Thanks to Tom Wolsky, this problem has been solved.
The original footage was captured by iMovie (back in 03, so an old version of iMovie). Apparently it captured both video and audio together not in separate tracks, so FCE had to render the footage into separate tracks in order to show the video/audio correctly.
I used QuickTime pro to convert the files into an appropriate format. If anyone's interested, I found a great Automator script for doing batch processing of movies: http://automatoractions.com/files/compressquicktimeusingmostrecentsettings1.0.ht ml

Hp Pacilion p6110f video problem, need suggestion please.

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Hello Bob
I believe what you have been told is accurate.
If your video card is not powerful enough to play HD video then you can experience monitor lag or the video not playing at all. Unless you have changed you video card, your computer has an integrated Intel GMA 3100 which is not meant for playing HD video. As such playing HD content may work, but only if the processor can pick up the huge slack. Getting a new video card would be the best choice, however, as you stated, a new graphic card will need a larger power source. Even the cheapest low end cards on the market (currently) suggest a 300Watt power supply (yours is a 250Watt).
The idea that a new hard drive might work is iffy. If you get a faster drive than you currently have, yes the data can be read faster, but if the CPU and video card can't process it fast enough it is useless.
I have another question, what operating system are you running and are you editing uncompressed 720p or 1080p?
Don't forgot to say thanks by giving "Kudos" to those that help solve your problems.
When a solution is found please mark the post that solves your issue.

Video Problems (need suggestions for playing large videos)

I have a video that I need to play in Authorware. The piece
starts out as a
Photo Slide Show, and then a video will come up. This will be
published to
an EXE file, and loaded onto the computer's hard drive, for
making a
presentation of sorts.
The Authorware piece will be published at 800 x 600, and I
want the video to
be as close to full-screen as possible.
I currently have the video file in 4 versions:
.wmv 720x480 (1,561 KB)
.avi 720x480 (43,346 KB)
.wmv 800x600 (2,295 KB)
.avi 800x600 (656,711 KB)
If I use any of these videos using the Digital Movie icon,
the video will
play in the published file, but there is always a few seconds
of laggy video
playback, and dropped frames. I'd like to use the 800x600
.wmv file, because
of it's much smaller file size. Is there another way to play
this video that
wouldn't have the laggy playback and skipped frames?
If the answer is to use an ActiveX Control, I'd need someone
to point me in
the direction of some guide to using it, as I've never used
any ActiveX
Controls before.

thanks, i'll check that out.
"Gary Overgaard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:e4cmt7$nb3$[email protected]..
> It's too bad the DirectMedia Xtra has been discontinued,
as that works
> very well in Authorware at playing MPG, AVI and even WMV
files. Very
> smooth playback and lots of control options. In absence
of that, the WMP
> ActiveX control would probably be your best performing
option. Steve
> Gannon has a great WMP 10 ActiveX example on his website
at
>
http://www.gantekmultimedia.com/download.htm
>
> Good luck
> Gary
>
>
>>I have a video that I need to play in Authorware. The
piece starts out as
>>a Photo Slide Show, and then a video will come up.
This will be published
>>to an EXE file, and loaded onto the computer's hard
drive, for making a
>>presentation of sorts.
>>
>> The Authorware piece will be published at 800 x 600,
and I want the video
>> to be as close to full-screen as possible.
>>
>> I currently have the video file in 4 versions:
>>
>> .wmv 720x480 (1,561 KB)
>> .avi 720x480 (43,346 KB)
>> .wmv 800x600 (2,295 KB)
>> .avi 800x600 (656,711 KB)
>>
>> If I use any of these videos using the Digital Movie
icon, the video will
>> play in the published file, but there is always a
few seconds of laggy
>> video playback, and dropped frames. I'd like to use
the 800x600 .wmv
>> file, because of it's much smaller file size. Is
there another way to
>> play this video that wouldn't have the laggy
playback and skipped frames?
>>
>> If the answer is to use an ActiveX Control, I'd need
someone to point me
>> in the direction of some guide to using it, as I've
never used any
>> ActiveX Controls before.
>>
>
>

I have adobe creative suite 5.5 and have just bought a Sony Video Recorder with 4K. What preset should I use for importing video footage? Alternatively do I need a more recent version of the software?

I have adobe creative suite 5.5 and have just bought a Sony Video Recorder with 4K. What preset should I use for importing video footage? Alternatively do I need a more recent version of the software? If so, what version do I need and can I download it from Adobe.

I have adobe creative suite 5.5 and have just bought a Sony Video Recorder with 4K. What preset should I use for importing video footage? Alternatively do I need a more recent version of the software? If so, what version do I need and can I download it from Adobe.

Need to connect a web cam and external mike to my McBook Pro running snow leopard for a Skype session with another school. Attached an HP webcam (USB) and can't get video. Any suggestions?

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-->Click HERE<-- Does item "B" (Turn video on/off) in the last topic on the page help?
You control the camera for Skype from within Skype, so Skype must be running to running to make video work.
Message was edited by: EZ Jim
Mac OSX 10.7.4

Burned video footage, but no video when playback

Hi,
I would like to backup high-def video footage on disc. My first attempt succeeded in creating a dvd that played back with the dvd player but could not be imported back into FCE. (There were no .mov files on the disc, just separate audio and video folders).
Next I compressed the footage H.264 as an export file from FCE and then there was a .mov file on the disc. But when I attempted to import it back into FCE the audio played but no video.
The third attempt I exported Quicktime files from FCE but did not check the box "Make Movie Self-contained". I burned the disc using IDVD onto a DVD-R. It played back fine but only when the external hard drive with the original .mov was plugged in. After disconnecting the hard drive, the disc just played back audio. No screen for video. When I attempted to import the file back into FCE I got the error message - "Movie clip #39 cannot be found." (The file wasn't named clip #39.)
I'm using FCE 4.01 on a OS X 10.4.11.
Suggestions?
Thanks.

Hi
I think that You may be not know that one can make two kinds of DVDs (burnings)
Video-DVD to be played on DVD-player (a very standardized way)
Data-DVD that can hold video too - but will NEVER play on a DVD-player/TV
Video-DVD has to be created via a Video encoding program as iDVD, DVD-Studio Pro or Roxio Toast™ and MUST contain at least two folders Video_TS and Audio_TS and the Audio_TS folder is empty BUT has to be here anyway. Video is encoded in a special sort of .mpeg2 code that suits DVD-player.
You can add to the Video-DVD an extra folder with a H.264 version of Your movie too if You like but then You also has to do some calculation so that the space on the DVD will be enough.
HD-DVD - No there are near to Zero (an historical type existed for a very short time and coud only be played on a few Toshiba HD-DVD players)
DVD - is as standard max. SD-Video (as on old CRT-TVs)
But here is some notes I've made reg. FCE/P to iDVD work.
FCE/P to iDVD
Several things
• How to go from FCE/P to iDVD
• Free space on Start-up hard disk
• Encoding
• Brand and type of DVDs used
• Burn speed set
• iDVD BUG
• Chapters
How to go from FCE/P to iDVD I do
• Disable Screen and Energy saver
• IMPORTANT --> FIRST in FinalCut - Mix Down Audio under Sequence Menu / Render Only / Mixdown
• Export out as a QuickTime .mov file
• Select with Mark - Chapter Mark
• Not as Self-Contained (not important but saves time and space)
• NO QUICKTIME CONVERSION (IMPORTANT)
This QT.mov file I import into iDVD from within iDVD.
Free space on Start-up hard disk
I set a minimum of 25GB (for Mac OS and iDVDs temp files)
Encoding
• I use Pro Quality encoding
Brand and type of DVDs used
• I use Verbatim
• I use DVD-R
Burn speed set
• I set down this to x4 (or x1)
iDVD BUG
• One can not go back to movie-project for any alterations and then go back to
the iDVD project. It will notice and ask You to either Up-date or Cancel. Neither
of them will work.
Medicine - Start a brand new iDVD project.
Use of Chapters
• I only use a to z and 0 to 9 in naming them. NO other symbol/letter !
• NO Chapter-mark at very beginning - iDVD NEEDS TO set this by it self
• No Chapter marks in or within two seconds from a transition
(Way around this last one - Export movie as QT full quality and NO Chapter marks
Import this into a new Movie-project and now You are free to set C-Ms where You want
them except at very beginning - still)
Material used to build movie
• video - I use streamingDV (or convert all other to this eg .mp4, .avi, .wmv etc)
• audio - I use .aiff 16-bit 48kHz or from Audio-CD (44.1kHz) - no .mp3 or direct from iTunes
• photos - I use .jpg - no .bmp etc
Trash iDVD pref file and run Repair Permissions - and have a re-try.
from post ??
May not be relevant, but I had the same problem with iDVD, where burned DVDs showed a green screen. It was cured by quitting Quicksilver and Quickeys as well as disabling sleep and screensaving
Yours Bengt W

HT200276 imported captured video footage to FCP 7 then brought up Boris FX text now I cannot find my footage

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Thanks.

Supa Dupa,
Someone suggested that I try DVCPRO HD instead and said that should be less taxing on my machine than Apple ProRes. I also came across a Youtube video where the guy said he uses XDCAM 1080p 24 35mbs VBR. Don't let the XDCAM throw you off because he was using a Canon 5D as well.
@Tom When I bring a clip to the timeline it does not need rendering. I listed all the info in my post. I am using a Macbook Pro 2.33 Dual Core and using a 4TB Caldigit External Hard drive using FW800. I have a Matrox card in the slot on the side that is connected (This allows me to be able to view my HD footage on an external monitor via my Matrox MXO2 Mini box). Portable speakers plugged into the headphone jack and a USB plug for my wireless mouse.
I do have a network but I didn't have it connected. No I didn't trash the pref's but I did do a reboot.
My computer was unusually sluggish while working in FCP. Every time I clicked on something it to a long time for it to do what I wanted! Just shutting FCP down took almost 5 minutes no lie!!! I am maxxed out on RAM so I am clueless.
As I am sitting here typing this out, my MBP is acting normal like it should but I am going to open FCP in a few to see how it behaves.
Message was edited by: DVX100Shooter
Message was edited by: DVX100Shooter

Need suggestions for office setup

My company has moved completely to Macs for our client machines. We have roughly 30 employees and all have either MacBook Pros, or MacBook Airs, so all laptops. We have legacy PC servers, many of which can go away and a couple that are running software we need that can be P2V'd.
I'd like to get us off of Active Directory and moved over to a Mac server. I have a Mac Pro running 10.8 server, and I'm familiar with setting up, configuring and administrating OS X Server.
My question is about how I should structure our setup. Things to consider are as follows:
We are an advertising agency, quite a bit of data, about a terabyte in our main share
We currently backup to tape
Users use their laptops for personal things as well, this means iTunes libraries on laptops (I know, but we're a pretty lax / cool company)
We are doing in-house video work. Our video guy needs to keep the raw footage archived indefinitely. This has led to 6 terabytes in 6 months, and will not be stopping.
We host our email with Google Business Apps
Currently users have a local account and password on computer, Active Directory user / pass for shares, Google user / pass for email
We can currently have 4 x 3 TB hard drives in the Mac Pro and we have a 16 TB Drobo
What I would LIKE to do:
Move all data to OS X Server
Backup data to external drive that gets swapped weekly and stored offsite
Allow users to use their laptops for personal / iTunes things, but protect important data on laptop. Ideally I'd liket to either setup home sync on server an only sync the Documents folder or something similar, or do Time Machine backups to server from each laptop but exclude lots of folders. I'd like to be able to keep important data on server, not locally on laptops, but not be responsible for their music etc., but not be a jerk and bring down the heavy.
I would like to have a separate solution for handling the video raw footage data, outside of day to day office data
I would like to consolidate as much user / pass info as possible, even if that means I can only consolidate the local user with a network account. What would be the best way to migrate local laptop users to network accounts?
ANY suggestions will be greatly appreciated. How would you go about setting this up? It would be easy if I were starting from scratch, but I'm not. I need to implement the new way while preserving data from how things are setup now.
THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!

I can certainyl see why you don't want to copy that amount of data. In that case you need to do the following.
Make sure an account for the user exists in Open Directory. This could be with the same or a different shortname.
You can set mobile accounts to be created (for laptops) and you can configure options to either sync or not to sync the users home directory. If they are as big as you say you want not to sync the contents.
On the laptop make sure you have a separate local admin account, not the users current account.
On the laptop log in as the admin
On the laptop run Terminal
On the laptop cd /Users
On the laptop mv (move) the existing home folder for the user to a new temporary name
On the laptop open System Preferences
On the laptop click on Accounts
On the laptop delete the users current account
On the laptop click on Login Options
On the laptop join the laptop to your Open Directory system (assuming it is correctly configured and running)
On the laptop reboot (just to be safe)
On the laptop login as the users new network login, assuming you have configured things on the server appropriately you will get asked if you want to create a mobile account.
On the laptop once it has created the account it will finish logging in to an empty account. Now log out.
On the laptop log in as the admin account again.
On the laptop run Terminal
On the laptop mv (move/rename) the old home directory to the correct name for the account
On the laptop do sudo chown -R usersnewshortname usersnewshortname. This makes sure the new account owns all the old files.
All the above will move the users home directory from the old standlone account to a network account.

Where can I learn how FCP references video footage?

I'm sure this is a basic (but perhaps involved?) question.
I've been learning and using FCP on and off for over a year. I've been using online tutorials and developing a basic knowledge of the program.
I just bought a new 27" iMac with two internal hard drives (the 256GB solid state drive, and a 2TB regular drive). Up until now, I've only ever owned computers with one internal drive, and have never even gotten into editing footage on an external drive.
I've installed FCS 2 on my new iMac, and now I need to transfer the projects I've worked on to my new iMac, along with the video footage those projects use. And I need to know what the best way to do this is. FCS is on the solid-state drive (of course). I'm sure I should put the footage I'm editing on the secondary 2TB internal drive. And maybe the project files, too? Or should they be on the solid-state drive?
Anyway, I really don't have a good understanding of what should be where, and what I need to be transferring, and how to make sure that FCP "knows" where to look for the footage I'm editing.
Is there a place in the manual, or a post here, or a FAQ, or somewhere where I can read about this and get a good understanding of it? This is something I need to know, anyway, so I will know how to backup and store projects that I might want to edit further in the future.
If it matters, I'm editing footage shot in AVCHD on a Canon camcorder. To date, all I've done is backup the actual AVCHD files on multiple drives, reasoning that if I had a crash I could edit the footage all over again. But I want to learn the proper way to do all of this.
Thanks!

When you "uncompress" AVCHD files
You aren't uncompressing. You are RE-COMPRESSING. AVCHD is compressed, and you can't uncompress that. But, you compress it into an editing codec...ProRes.
would the result be exactly the same if you did it more than once?
Not sure what you mean by that. There will be slight loss when you recompress, but nothing you'd notice. Transcoding, as it is called, is quite a normal process. ProRes is so well designed of a codec that you can recompress to ProRes again and again 10 times before you see any issues.
if I logged and transferred using the same settings, would the footage be exactly the same?
You can't. FCP doesn't work with AVCHD...it must be converted to ProRes.
My understanding is that FCP "looks" for video footage where it "expects" it to be based on how and where you imported it.
Yes. Once you set your Capture Scratch to your external drive, say MEDIA_01...FCP keeps looking for it there. If you move it, then FCP loses contact with it. Until you tell FCP where it is again.
Let's say I had my project saved, but somehow lost my footage. If I logged and transferred it again from the same AVCHD files, would it come out exactly the same so that (if I put it on the right drive in the right folder) my FCP project would work with it as though it was the original logged and transferred footage?
Yes....absolutely. The project file is the most important thing. Those clips in there point to the media. If the media drive dies, or the media is deleted, simply highlight all the clips and do a BATCH CAPTURE...FCP will look for the original SOURCE files, the AVCHD files, and then re-transcode them. And they will be exactly like the first time you imported them. And your cut will be rebuilt.
Or would there be small differences that would result in my FCP project not recognizing it?
Yes. If you move the footage, rename the footage on the FINDER level, meaning opening the drive and renaming the raw footage, or if you rename the folder that they are in, FCP will lose the connection. Which is why you DON'T do that. Designate the Capture Scratch...import the footage, and only deal with the footage in FCP...until you really know how things work and how to get FCP to reconnect to this footage.
Shane

What are the best sequence settings in FCP 5 for exporting screen capture video footage?

I capture video footage of websites in order to showcase in a demo reel. Using Snapz Pro, the compression type I have found to have the best quality is H264. When I take this footage into FCP (v5.1.4), I choose DV NTSC 48khz for the sequence setting. If I then select H264 for the sequence compression type, when I go to render I get a 'Codec error.'
The only way I am able to render properly is by choosing DV NTSC 48khz for the sequence setting and DV/DVCPRO-NTSC as my sequence compression type. The problem with this though is I get a perfect picture in the Viewer, but the picture quality in the Canvas (and the subsequent exported video) is slightly blurred.
I've been trying to find a solution to this problem off and on for years. I've finally decided now to get to the bottom of the issue. If you can solve this one you are my hero!
Ted

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried using DVCPRO HD in the past, but the picture quality of the captured screen footage turns out blurry. The only codecs I've found that provide a perfectly clear image are H264, Animation and Uncompressed 8-bit. The problem with the latter two is that video files lasting only a few seconds measure in the 100s of MBs. Working with files that large would slow my editing and rendering down to a non-workable length.
I just don't understand why I can't edit H264 video if my sequence codec is set to H264. The 'Codec error' I get is baffling.

Need suggestion on HD DV camcorder

I am thinking of getting a new video camera for casual home videos. Any suggestions on which one to get? We used to have the Canon DV that uses mini DVtapes, that takes ages to import and edit movies. Then we bought a Sanyo HD2, which is excellent but has just broken down- it uses .mov format, all we need to copy the files from the SD card and we can view the movies immediately, no need to import. We also tried friend's JVC-- absolutely hopeless. Cannot figure out how to view the movies at all!
Just wondering if there's anything new on market and it's mac friendly?

hey there lucmama & welcome to Discussions.
if the $3500.00 Panasonic is out of your wallet's reach, DXG has just released a new flash media-based HD cam that's around $ 200.00. check them out @ www.dxgusa.com some of their product line is very similar to the Sanyo cams.
good luck.

Can I use a G4 to get raw video footage to a no-firewire aluminum MacBook?

Hi -
I recently purchased a new aluminum MacBook 2.4Ghz and was shocked to discover the lack of a firewire port. Ok, I should have read the specs more closely before ordering, but I never would have imagined this port being removed (other than from the specialized MacBook Air). As others on this board have said, what were they thinking?!
So I have some questions about downloading raw video footage from a firewire camcorder (forgive any ignorance on my part, I'm new to camcorders and digital movie editing--I've never used iMovie). My goal is basically editing home movies.
I have an old G4 tower (1.5Ghz, 1GB RAM). I also have an external firewire/USB drive. The tower will not run iMovie '08 because the processor is too slow. The iLife 08 disc refuses to even load iMovie on this machine.
I haven't purchased a camcorder yet. I spent a lot of time researching affordable camcorders and had settled on a well-reviewed Canon miniDV, which of course, is firewire. This camera does not come with any software.
Would it work to connect the camera to my G4 via firewire, download the raw footage to my external drive connected to the G4, then move the external drive over to the MacBook, connect it to the MacBook via USB, then import the raw footage to iMovie for editing? I realize the copying over USB would be very slow. I assume I need some type of software for downloading the raw footage to the G4. Since iMovie won't run and the camera has no software, is there some type of utility or shareware that lets you capture raw footage?
Is there a better way I can use my G4 to get raw footage from a firewire camera, and then on to my MacBook? Or will this work at all?
I see that there are a few USB camcorders out there, but they seem to be expensive or don't receive very good reviews, so I'd like to go with the firewire Canon.
Thanks very much for the help with this frustrating issue

Well, never mind. I'm returning the MacBook and buying a previous generation MacBook Pro, which ends up being about $200 more.
Solves my problem, but many folks can't afford the Pro. I'll be commenting at Apple customer feedback about the lack of firewire on the new MacBook.
Thanks for reading the post.

Importing and organizing raw video footage - options

greetings-
Looking for a better solution, if available, for importing & organizing raw video. I am using imovie for now. Soon to switch to FC express. After much exploring & learning on my new machine (recent convert), I’m a bit frustrated on how it video is handled.
Please correct any of these that I’ve got wrong, but it appears that:
Importing video (from DV camera) with programs provided on my machine can only be done through imovie and idvd.
Importing video through these programs requires creating a project, and importing the video to that project.
Then that imported video is associated with that project.
So I want to take the imported clips (say from imovie), and organize them archiving, use on other projects, backup, etc. I know that I can find the actually video files by control clicking on the project in finder, hit show package, and get to "clip 1, clip 2...clip 55". This represents the raw footage, but now I’ve got say 55 separate clips, for just one import.
I’d like to effectively organize my various raw videos by year/event etc. So that when working a project, a can pull in the different footage that I want to use. For instance, I previously imported and organzied video footage with my PC editing software, and now, thankfully, I can just bring that various footage from the external drive into Imovie and edit. If I want to do a project and grab some footage from 04, 05, 06, it's all right there.
Is there a better solution for import & organizing my raw video clips more efficiently with imovie or idvd?? Or perhaps another program. Such that I’ve got the 1/2 hr of video "Christmas 05", one file (not 40 seperate clips), saved, and can pull it into projects as needed in the future... Ideally maintaining the clip breaks. Am I asking to much from apple? How do you all import/manage/save your imported video?
Much thanks for any feedback!
20" G5 core duo Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Ciao Rubbersoul,
unfortunately iMovie doesn't allow you to rename the clips (other than within the project), so if you want to label them for future reference, you'll have to do that outside iMovie.
I personally save the best shots from each project to an external hard drive using the following method:
• simply drag the desired clips from the iMovie project to the desktop
• organize the clips by creating the appropriate folders (e.g. by subject, time, etc.), so you'll find your footage faster
• rename the clips within the folders. If you don't need to give each clip a separate name, you can use tools like Renamer4Mac (http://www.power4mac.com) to batch-rename the clips.
• transfer and organize your folders/clips on the external (Firewire) hard disk. You can do that manually or by using media browsers like iDive to organize and view your clips. iDive is a digital hub that can help you to keep not only your video but also music and pic collections under control, and it integrates with iMovie and FCE/FCP. Check it out here:
http://www.aquafadas.com/idive-digital-video/index.php
Always remember that DV eats up a lot of disk space and don't forget to back up your footage to tape.
spero che ti sia d'aiuto
mish

Do I have to change the format of my canon video footage in order to import

the format of some video footage that I recorded is currently .MOD and some are .MOI (I have no clue what that means, but that's what it says.. and I'm assuming it needs to be converted into another file-type)
my macbook pro can't recognize this format, so is there anyway I can change the format of these videos so I can edit it in imovie?
[I have a MacBook Pro and the footage is from a Canon FS100]
Thank you!

The MOD files are MPEG-2 video formats recorded on tapeless media. Use MPEG Streamclip to convert them to Apple Intermediate Codec for editing in iMovie. The MOI files do not contain video; they are basically information files associated with the video files. MPEG Streamclip is free however you will also need to get the Apple MPEG2 Playback Component ($20 from the apple store) if you don't already have it on your MBP.

HD Video Footage - need suggestions

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