Imovie 06 & Final cut express

I have iMovie 06 and i am trying to import projects into Final cut express but i am having trouble, need help??

Hi
There are no 100% way to do this.
If You want Your Timeline with edits (transitions etc) to come over to FCE in a
still editable version.
• Not possibly - transition, text- tools are to different
If You want Your TimeLine movie over and accept that spelling errors etc. if fixed
and can't be altered.
• Best way is to connect Camera and insert a new miniDV tape and Copy to Camera
Use this and You'll get best quality possibly
To open the iMovie project and drag material over to FCE will partly work but
1. unedited raw material
2. Audio doesn't work the same way but needs to in FCE be rendered (every time anything
changes very irritating)
My penny to this
Yours Bengt W

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Preferred input format with VHS via Canpous 55 to iMovie/Final Cut Express

I am using VHS deck to Canpus 55 to iMovie 08/MacBook Pro.
I do the input to iMovie 08 as it is less problematic for input than Final Cut Express and also I can share these with family for their video making in iMovie.
However I import the video files from iMovie events to FCE for editing.
1. I notice the VHS-to Canopus-to iMovie are .dv files with frame size 720x480 and compressor file says DV/DVCPRO - NTSC, not Apple Intermediate Codec.
2. I also import AVCHD files and those are frame size 960x540 and compressor is Apple Intermediate Codec.
When I bring the .dv files in from iMovie 08 to FCE, I sometimes get the warning about the files not in the standard settings and the drop down list of settings include Apple Intmediate Codec in various choices and the NTSC in various choices.
Should these be somehow standardized or will the eventual output be ok? I had one VHS 15 min segment look great on the computer in iMovie, then FCE but was very digitized after output to iDVD.
Thanks for the help.

misterdmmc wrote:
... and I also don't have Imovie.
you do.
on the Installer Disks, your Mac came with, there's 'Installed software', which allows to install the iLife Package only.
for most of your needs, esp. being no professional editor , iM offers all you need:
https://sites.google.com/site/karstenschluter/how-to-make-a-vidcast
shows you how to use pic-in-pic, green-sceen, integration of 'charts' and other 'effects' of iM, to produce a vidcast.
-Subtitles
'Subtitles' is for me a switchable feature on DVD ... if you mean 'titles in lower third' - any editor offers this. what iM does NOT offer, is a free-locatable title (or e.g. logo-bug), but there's a simple workaround working with transparent pngs, see my site too ....-
-Split screen video. Half/Half or Full screen for one video source, and a tiny screen say on the top left of another source...
side-by-side? iM no, FC yes.
-Export video in ipod compatible format
afaik, any Apple video-app allows that ..
general advice:
• iM is meant for consumers - convenient, but limited.
• FC/e or /p is meant for (semi)professionals - what iM offers as a 'one click done'-solution, is a many-steps-process with some background-knowledge and understanding needed.
• for sure, FC offers MUCH more options .. any option, you'll soon get lost
• the learning curve for FC is steep! buy a book of master-mind TOM WOLSKY, who generously participates here at this board ...-
• I don't see a need for you in spending 1.000$ more for the FC/pro suite ... Motion? Color? Compressor? Highly complex tools for even more complex processing ...
I would 'play' with iM to get familiar with your project - what do you need, how should it look? if you reach the limits, have a look at FC/e at any Apple-store ... if it doesn't scare you, get the app and the book, and spend some months studying ...
and Welcome misterdmmc to the  boards ...

IMovie - Final Cut Pro ? Same Quality DV Video?

I would like to know if iMovie and Final Cut Pro have the same ".dv" quality in producing a movie.
Is there any 'loss' in the digital video quality if you use iMovie?
Can I get professional results equal to Final Cut Pro .. without all the bells and whistles?

Definitely.
You can't see any difference between DV material edited with iMovie, Final Cut Express, or Final Cut Pro. There is no "loss" in the digital quality if you use iMovie.

IMovie 08, iMovie 6, or Final Cut Express

I just got a new Sony HDR-SR12 HD camera. It records in 1080i. I tried iMovie 08, but I don't like the export options. I used the iMovie 08 import .mov file and opened it in iMovie 6. I exported the video and it doesn't look that good. I'm thinking about Final Cut Express but I don't know how it integrates with iLife apps. What's the best option?

iMovie 08 imports AVCHD in full 1080i. The AVCHD is converted to Apple Intermediate Codec 1920x1080.
The issue comes when you render the project. The iMovie 08 presets max out at 960x540 for Apple TV. Apple TV looks very good because most TVs will upscale it back to 1920x1080.
It is possible to export to Quicktime in full 1920x1080.
However, then you have the problem of how to play it back.
You can play it back at 1920x1080 on your Mac, if your screen is large enough.
You can play it back on a Sony Playstation 3.
You can play it on a BluRay Disk Player.
Toast 9 permits burning a BluRay Disk in full 1920x1080. You will need a BluRay disk Burner for this. Toast 9 also lets you do a short AVCHD/Bluray disk on a regular DVD on a regular DVD burner, but you are limited to about 20 minutes of playing time.
If you burn to a normal DVD in MPEG2, you are limited to 480i, so that is the worst option.
Message was edited by: AppleMan1958

I run Final Cut Express 4.0.1; I shoot with a Sony HDR-CX260V. How do I import from the camera directly to Final Cut, without having to go through the intermediate step of using iMovie?

I use Final Cut Express 4.0.1; I shoot with a Sony HDR-CX260V.
How do I import from camera to Final Cut without going through the intermediate step of using iMovie?

If you shoot in one of the following modes you should be able to Log & Transfer directly into FCE:
HD: 1920x1080/60i (FX or FH mode)
HD: 1440x1080/60i (HQ or LP mode)
SD: 720x480/60i
1080/60p (PS mode) seems to be the default mode in your camcorder. FCE only supports progressive video in 720p50 or 720p60. That's probably why you have had to import via iMovie.
It would be better to upgrade to Final Cut Pro X, the version currently supported. FCE was discontinued over 18 months ago and is not supported on Lion or Mountain Lion.

HD quality iMovie vs. Final Cut Express (AIC)

Hello,
I was finally able to carry out a simple test to compare output from iMovie '09 vs. Final Cut Express (FCE), which has proven to produce much cleaner output when compared with iMovie '08. Just as I have received help from online mac community I feel obliged to share my experiences with you in case it's of interest to you and helps you.
* Footage: filmed on Canon 5D Mark II (1080p, bitrate >40Mbps
* Imported into iMovie '09, no stabilization and other tricks, exported to Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) with as little quality loss as possible
* Imported into FCE, exported to AIC
Resulting file from FCE is sharper and cleaner when compared side by side in QuickTime. Not surprisingly the same AIC export has different sizes, too.
* FCE: 477 MB for 32 seconds of footage
* iMovie: 253 MB for the same 32 seconds of identical footage
Hope this helps someone. Happy filming!
Roman

It's been long discussed, but your conclusion is not fully correct:
1) If you import at FULL, no pixels are lost by iM. Thus, his Canon footage could have come in perfectly.
2) "One field is DISCARDED with 1080i." Not true. IF AND ONLY IF you use a function or FX that performs scaling, ALL video is chopped to 540p.
3) The functions that do NOT cause conversion of ALL video to 540p include SPEED, DISSOLVE, and FADE. If you use only these FX, then EVERY pixel that is recorded by your camera CAN BE exported by iM 09.
4) If you use no FX, then EVERY pixel that is recorded by your camera CAN BE exported by iM 09.
5) To export ALL pixels, you of course, must choose the correct settings in the QT dialog. They would be the same as you use with FCE or FCP.
The fact he got different sized files shows HE did something to cause the difference. Had he done things "correctly," he would have the same size file.
PS1: Page Curl is a perfect example of a scaling FX. So, by violating the #1 rule of using iM 09 you get support for your incorrect conclusion. Folks shooting with a camera like the Canon do so mostly to get a high-end film look. Very few folks making a film use anything other than SPEED, DISSOLVE, and FADE. In fact, no one making a high-end video would use anything other than SPEED, DISSOLVE, and FADE. So, it is perfectly possible to NOT use any of the "bad" FX. (Although they can be fun I admit!)
PS2: Be aware the black Background IS one of the bad FX. Unless, this bug was fixed in the last update. A static background should not need to use scaling! If this bug remains, use a black JPEG! I keep a black and white matte in iPhoto to use with "Fade TO" FX.

Does iMovie 11 have the ability to export to Final Cut Express?

I finally upgraded to Leopard, and would like to find the cheapest way to upgrade to an iMovie version that allows me to export video directly to Final Cut Express. - I believe iMovie 8 was the first to do it...(?)
Can I buy an iMovie 8? Or an iMovie 11 on it's own? Or do I have to buy they iLife suite of stuff?
I'm currently running iMovie 5.
Thanks,
Craig

I just read that iLife 11 requires Snow leopard, as opposed to Leopard..
So, Can I buy a slightly older version of iMovie..?

I am unable to open my iMovie HD project in Final Cut Express

I am unable to open my iMovie HD project in Final Cut Express. All I get are error messages, no matter what I try.
Tried everything, please help!
Thank you

See if this helps explain your difficulties.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/10831726#10831726

How to Use iMovie Projects in Final Cut Express

I just upgraded to Final Cut Express because of the feature of being able to start a project in iMovie and then finish it in FCE. The steps look simple in the manual File / Open / etc. But when I do it, it tells me File Error: Wrong Type. Is there something I am doing wrong or some other format for the iMovie projects to make them work?

FCE 4.0.1 is the current version of FCE. There is nothing newer.
A new version of Final Cut Studio was released last year; perhaps it can import iMovie11 projects. You would have to try it to find out. If there is an Apple store nearby, copy your Movies folder to a portable hard drive, take it with you, and ask to try it out with Final Cut Pro on one of the Macs in the store. Most stores will let you do this.
Be aware, however, that even if the import works, there are many limitations: Transitions become cross-dissolves. Cropping, Ken Burns effects, color adjustments, titles, green screen clips, PiP clips, voiceovers, sound effects & music tracks are not exported in the XML file.

Any suggestions for an animation program using photographs that can be incorporated into iMovie or Final Cut express?

Any suggestions for an animation program using photographs that can be incorporated into iMovie or Final Cut express?

The MTS files will always be grayed out. Do not drill down into the folder structure. Select the top level of the AVCHD folder structure. If this is a hard drive it may take a very long time to load. People have reported 20 minutes to half an hour.
Other possible problems, conflicts with other software like Perian. Also if there is mixed media on the drive; media in different formats can make the directory unreadable. What are the exact specifications of your media? What settings are you using in FCE?

Will Final Cut Express be any better than iMovie for colour resolution

Hi
I have just made the move from a Laptop/Windows to a Macbook Pro, whilst running on the Laptop i used Ulead Video Studio V10.5 to capture and edit DV movies from my Panasonic NV-GS180. Once I learnt the basic the output results were very good, eg. an mpeg movie file of around 2.5GB for an hour of video.
Since moving to the Mac I have uploaded 2 recent DV tapes into the standard iMovie application. I have done a simple upload with minimal editing just to prove the quality of the output. I have output into H.264 format and the resultant file is around 2.5GB for an hour. The quality of the video is very poor compared to the equivalent on the VS10.5. Now, so by "poor quality" i mean the colour resolution is literally rubbish, on VS10.5 there are many different shades of the same colour, whereas in iMovie there is literally two. The resolution also looks worse, but I have read that iMovie doesn't handle the original interlaced video from my camcorder. So, I am more than willing to but Final Cut Express if my two problems with iMovie are addressed to achieve the same quality as VS10.5 on my old windows XP Laptop. There's no Trial like there is with Aperture, which I have recently bought to improve on the original installed iPhoto.
Any help, advice or comments gratefully received.

hi Ian
In store, we were using an huge Mac, whereas I am using a Macbook Pro. I must admit I did not try iMovie in the store to check the quality was equally as bad. But I can confirm that since installing FCE4 on my Macbook Pro at home and capturing the same piece of video that the colour resolution is the same as in store, so all is good.
Cheers
Gary

Importing iMovie HD projects to final cut express 4

Hi,
Is there any way of putting imovie project into final cut express 4 ?
Thanks in advanced.
.

Hi(Bonjour)!
http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/tutorials/
Look under importing from iMovie title in Capturing and Organizing section.
MMichel Boissonneault

Can I use IMovie HD 6.4 with Final Cut Express?

Can I use IMovie HD 6.4 with Final Cut Express?

Hi
Yes and no.
You can't get an editable material over from one to the other.
eg a misspelled word in iMovie project can't be corrected in FCE/P any version.
I use iMovie combined with FCE/P in just one case when there are to many drop outs
on the raw material eg recorded in LP-mode (90min on a 60min tape)
Then iMovie can import in a more forgiving way.
BUT
When this material is moved over to FCE/P the audio parts needs to be rendered
not just one time but whenever any change is done. A very nearv-wrecking and tedious
procedure.
Summary. Joint project should use same platform. In my cases me and friend has
each one full version of FCE4 and an external hard disk that contain the movie
project.
This we exchange with each other to do each the parts that we are on best to do.
Yours Bengt W

Correct way of importing an iMovie 6 movie into Final Cut Express?

Hi,
Many thanks in advance for your attention.
Any correct way to import an iMovie 6 HD movie into Final Cut Express for further editing?
I tried.
1. I Exported the iMovie, at Full Quality and it made a Quicktime version of that movie.
2. I then Imported this Quicktime version into Final Cut Express.
3. The audio was smooth, but at regular intervals, the video freezes for a second (and then moves on).
4. The movie plays smoothly back in its original iMovie incarnation and in its Quicktime incarnation. Only in Final Cut Express is there this intermittent freezing. Stop and start.
5. I have Final Cut Express 3.5.1 and iMovie 6 HD.
Thank you,
- Ross

"Full Quality" QuickTime export from iMovie gives you a DV stream which will need rendering in FCE. Rather than "Full Quality," choose "Expert Settings," and then the following:
Video
DV-DVCPRO - NTSC (assuming you're in USA)
Sound
48kHz
16-bit

Can i export an Imovie project with special effects as a quick time movie then import into final cut express keeping the special effects?

Hi, Can i export an Imovie project with special effects as a quick time movie then import into final cut express keeping the special effects?

Absolutely. Go to File->Export->QuickTime Movie (do NOT use QuickTime Conversion). Make sure you check the Self-Contained box. The export will be an exact copy of your Sequence, complete with any filters or other effects you've added. Import the self-contained movie back into the project (or another project) if needed.
-DH

Are there bugs between final cut express 2, and imovie?

i dont have the HD version of final cut express, just the original version. i imported some footage and exported as a H.264 high quality video, then put that to idvd...the final burned version looked like soo bad, it was like the horizonal lines of the video were blurred and studdering. i don't know. so i exported a full quality video and took it to imovie HD6 to do the H.264 compression, then took that to idvd and did a "best quality" burn and then the final output on the tv....looked like some frames were being skipped.....what the heck? Is this just a bug between final cut express 2.0 and idvd? maybe i should try capturing in imovie and sending that to idvd.....BUT I ALREADY EDITED IT! AHHHHHH

well i'm trying to save space on my HD, so i export to a H.264 file to keep on my drive, and when i need to make dvd's, i just compress the H.264 file, and it still looks awesome on a tv......it has worked a while ago, but all of a sudden it's giving me issues. i've tried every way
RAW to H.264 to imovie to idvd best quality to dvd....BAD
RAW to RAW to imovie to idvd best performance to dvd...BAD
RAW to H.264 to idvd best quality to dvd...BAD
RAW to imovie to H.264 to imovie to idvd to dvd...BAD
i just dont get it

Imovie 06 & Final cut express

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