IMovie HD widescreen import problem.

When I import widescreen video into iMovie HD 6.0.3, it squeezes the video to the right and puts a black bar down the left side. I have tried numerous things to correct this but nothing seems to work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you again for your help. I didn't realize I was so far behind on the iMovie series. I downloaded the newest one and it worked great as far as importing the video without bars. The video was from a Sony widescreen SD video camera and I used MPEG Streamclip to confirm the video was true 16:9 but for some reason iMovie HD just squished it to the right. Anyway, I noticed on the new iMovie it only has the option for 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. So is it not as good as iMovie HD even thought it's newer? Oh well, guess I'll cross that bridge when I get an HD camcorder.

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IMovie '11 & .png import problems

Hey everyone, I just upgraded to iLife '11 and when I'm trying to add a .png logo with a transparent background to my timeline it's adding a white background over it.
I've made sure that the image file didn't auto set to "Ken Burns" and in other projects I've been able to add the same file perfectly, without the white background.
Does anyone know how to fix this and/or if it's a bug with iLife '11?
Thanks in advance!

I am just dragging and dropping the .PNG onto the timeline.
Apple Man: Is there a different way to add in the .PNG to avoid any of the effects? It seems as soon as I drop it has the white background.
Tom: I'm Using "Picture in Picture" and just dragging and dropping it.
I reduced the file size down to 1600x900 and still the same problem:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/125305/K-Titleframe4-01-02.png

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.)

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.

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)

Impossible to import videos from Panasonic SDR s26 to iMovie 09, previously no problem. Why?

Impossible to import videos from Panasonic SDR s26 to iMovie 09, previously no problem. Any way to solve this problem?

I don't have your model but here are some things to try.
1) Make sure you are powering the camcorder with AC power not batteries.
2) Open iMovie before connecting the Camcorder
3) Connect the USB Cable and turn on the camcorder
4) Open the LCD screen of the camcorder. Does it give you a choice of Pictbridge vs. PC Mode. If so, choose PC Mode.
5) iMovie import screen should come up.
Also, make sure you have installed all software updates. (/Software Update). If the software update requires you to restart your Mac, then restart your Mac before proceeding. Install iMovie, iLife, Quicktime, and Leopard updates.
If that still does not work, try taking out your SD card and putting in a USB card reader.
If that still does not work, put the card back in the camcorder and make a disk image of the card using disk utility. After making the disk image, try formatting the card using your camcorder menu. Then retry shooting some footage and importing.
By the way, using MPEG streamclip should not create files any larger than iMovie will create using an import function.

IMovie HD5 Importing Problem

Hey, I am trying to import a .mpg video into iMovie, but when I import it the audio from the .mpg video is gone. Any ideas?

Hello Matt,
iMovie doesn't work with muxed mpeg video.
check out this page in Dan Slagle's Unofficial iMovie FAQ
Can't hear audio in iMovie when I import an MPEG clip
http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6030.shtml
hope this helps
mish

TS5193 iMovie import problem

Hi, I've been using the latest iMovie and was working fine by importing short videos i took from my iPad (already on my HD) and snow after I have done half of my short movies, iMovie won't import any of the clips I have. Please help this is so sudden. thanks

you really need to be more specific, what types of video are you trying to import,and are they files already on your computer or from a camera?
roger

Aperture Video Import Problem - from Lumix GH4: Imported clips have their dates changed to the import date. The files show up on the hard drive but many are not showing up in Aperture.

Aperture Video Import Problem - from Lumix GH4: Imported clips have their dates changed to the import date. The files show up on the hard drive with import date not created date, but many of these same files are not showing up in Aperture. Sometimes the clips actually show up with the current import but take on the video information from a previously imported file.

It was suggested I move this question to IPhoto or IMovie which I did.
Well moving to a different discussion group did not provide an answer to this question either. But what I finally did was import one batch of photos and videos into IPhoto for a given day at a time. Working with these I could change the date and times in order to get them in the original sequench taken. Then I would create an album with that batch. These would all be on the same day (IMove was closed for this phase). Then I would open IMovie, generate the thumbnails for that album, and select the album I had created. This was necessary because the importing process in IPhoto was using incorrect dates for my video so it was a real struggle finding them in IMove until I developed this approach.
I believe that this whole process was so screwy because I was importing from an external hard drive not a camera. I had these photos on a PC and did not have the original cameras to use to import directly which I am fairly sure would have made this easier!

Importing problem w/ mini DV (missing frames)

Hi all,
I have two different sets of mini DV tapes (shot with 2 different cameras). They are both game footage for football. Each set provides a different angle (wide angle and tight angle views). I imported both onto iMovie however I had problems with the tight tapes.
The wide angle tapes import just fine but when I try the tight tapes they don't register in the "frame boxes" to the right of the monitor. To be clear, the video itself shows up in the monitor just fine but doesn't appear in real time within the frames...and eventually it does but when I play it back the video is missing frames and is very jumpy.
Because the wide tapes work I know I'm not doing some basic thing wrong- I'm curious as to why the tape from the tight DVs doesn't register. I know the two cameras were different so consequently the two mini DVs are different. Does this have anything to do with the settings of each? It's very odd...any thoughts?
-Greg

Welcome to iMovie Discussions.
Were the poor tapes shot at LP or Super-LP speed?
Could the heads in the poor (narrow) camera need cleaning? (Camcorders, especially Sonys, sometimes replace poor frames 'on-the-fly' while you're watching in the viewfinder, or on a monitor, but that doesn't happen when the poor recordings are exported via FireWire.)
What happens when you swap the tapes between the camcorders and then import? ..In other words, is it the tapes or the camcorders?
(NOTE: a Super Long Play tape swapped into another camcorder may not play back properly because of discrepancies in head alignment ..which may be causing the poor importing anyway - tape and heads shrink and expand in temperature extremes, so shooting a Super LP tape outdoors on a cold day and then replaying indoors in the warmth may produce poor tape/head alignment.)
Which cameras were they, and what happens when you swap the tapes between cameras?

Importing problems: clips skip and then stop importing

If you go into iMovie Help section, there is a troubleshooting section where this exact question is asked and "answered." However, the answer that they gave was not adequate and did not solve my problem.
This is what happened-I was importing and all of a sudden i got to a part where it just starts to skip. It keeps skipping for a few seconds and then just stops importing. My camera is a MiniDV and the tape i used to record things is brand new. I also put in another tape that i had successfully imported in the past in my camera to see if the brand new tape was somehow defective, but the same thing happened with the old tape that i put in to import. Could it be the connecter? But if something was wrong with that wouldn't my computer not recognize my camera at all?
Help me please! I want to finish the movie I'm making

Hi
Two most common origins to this:
• You have stopped recording - rewind view and may be even took out the tape.
= TimeCode on tape is boroken and needs to be mended
• You have used LP-mode while recording. Don't and even more so if the recording
was done on another Camera. Then LP-mode most often doesn't work. To sencitive.
First situation:
• Try to turn off in iMovie preferences menu: Import as individual clips.
You might get the material in even if it is as a full block that needs to be cut up
• Alt. If You got two Cameras + one FireWire 4-pin to 4-pin Cable
Firts record one tape with just anything eg a wall (This will not be kept)
Copy the problem tape onto the prerecorded one (with a complete TimeCode)
Second sit:
• Get the Original Camera and then
• Try to turn off in iMovie preferences menu: Import as individual clips.
You might get the material in even if it is as a full block that needs to be cut up
• If in LP-mode (90min on a 60min tape) You also get sync problems so start with
Clip on Timeline then Advance mebu and down to Exract Audio.
Might help.
Yours Bengt W

Video import problems from a Sony DSC-HX9V

Hey There
I have a Sony DSC-HX9V which I've owned for several months now, a Intel based MBP and iMovie 11.
Something strange is cooking and I wonder if anyone could let me have some suggestions of how to solve the issue?
In the past both iPhoto and iMovie has had no problems at all recognizing the camera and downloading photos and video files. I've created projects, burnt DVDs all the normal stuff.
This afternoon though a problem has arisen. Although iPhoto is letting me download photos from the camera, iMovie I guess is not "seeing" the camera. I've done exactly what I think I usually do, but this time its not working. When you click on "Import from camera" the window opens up but only the iSight camera is being used. I've clicked the "camera" drop down but again only the iSight camera is an option.
I've made sure all of my software is updated, no problems there, turned the camera off, turned the MBP off and on numerous times, but still it won't see the camera.
I've spent the last few hours trolling through various posts, even tried shooting video in all of the different quality grades available on the camera, just to make sure, but still nothing.
This Sony camera is definitely compatible with iMovie 11, again I've check and as I mentioned before, I've used it several times in the past.
Any suggestions would be warmly received.
David

I found this link helpful, I'm going to change the camera settings to 60i from 60p as on post mentions and will report the results http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1009&message=39416949&chang emode=1

Imovie does not import any files!

Hi;
Suddenly iMovie does not import any files any more! It was working just fine before.
The screen looks like this -> http://grab.by/BaoI
I can see the files but when I click on the Import selected button ( http://grab.by/BaoO ) at the right bottom of the page, it doesn't do anything!
Can someone please tell me what happened?
I am on I movie 10.0.5.
Thanks

I was having a similar problem. So I gave up trying to import an started a new movie, except I couldn't. Quit iMovie and reopen: nothing. Restart Mac: nothing.

IMovie refuses to import Audio MPEG-4 Apple

iMovie refuses to import Audio MPEG-4 Apple files, made with the help of Quick TimePlayer. I had no such a problem even several days before. Recently I upgraded iMovie to 10.0.7.
Is there any way to resolve the problem?

When the import is set to auto I get that same behavior of the infinite loop of trying to import and then rewinding.
A correction to what I wrote before is that it was the top timer that was incrementing not the bottom timer, so that too is the same as what you reported.
Now, uplugging the firewire cable is not working for me.
I'm a new Mac user. I was fed up with buggy windows and windows apps after being a user for 20 years. I made the leap and I'm pretty disappointed. The macpro hardware however is very nice.
I read elsewhere that if you want to capture DV (not HDV) from your
HDV tape you have to do the following in the camera:
1. With firewire disconnected
a. not be in easy mode
b. set "standard set/VCR HDV/DV" to DV (this causes iMovie to set itself into DV mode)
c. set "standard set/i.link conv" to ON (converts HDV to DV on the way out)
2. Connect firewire
3. Run iMovie. iMovie import runs and correctly sees it's receiving DV not HDV
4. At this point the camera is configured as if there were a DV tape not an HDV tape inserted so the camera will not work right unless you now go back to "standard set/VCR HDV/DV" and set it to HDV.
5. Now, if you want to go back to capturing HDV, you have to change the camera settings back, disconnect & reconnect the firewire, and you must exit and re-run iMovie.
This is pretty rediculous, but it works. However none of this seems to affect the capture problem we are having.

IMovie Crashing when importing photo with Ken Burns Effect

iMovie is crashing all the time when I am trying to import a photo with Ken burns effect using media browser and hitting "apply". Is this a known problem ? If I dont apply Ken Buruns effect then it imports it fine.
I am trying to put Photo at the begining of my project ( and then put title on that photo). If I have any clip in the begining and then try importing photo with ken burn's effect then it is not crashing, but it still does not import it. I click "apply" and it does soemthing , I can see the clip in timeline for a sec and then it disappears. So either way, cant use any photos anywhere with Ken Burn's effect. Whats going on?
I have more than enough space available on my HDD and I do not think there is any conflicting QT plugins I have ( It's all default Install). This is so consistent that it seems like a Bug but can't find this exact case mentioned anywhere in discussions.
Powerbook G4 12.1" 1.5Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Welcome to the forum! And thanks for such an insightful post.
I have two guesses here:
o The Ken Burns code of iMovie has a problem with partitions
o The Ken Burns code of iMovie has a problem with access rights
I've never seen a Ken Burns problem with partitions (I've used multiple partitions for years with no problems). I suspect that's not the cause.
But I think you've hit the nail on the head that iMovie may have a problem with permissions/access rights. I don't know exactly what the problem is — or whether it's caused by iMovie or OSX — but there is behavior that suggests something isn't right.
I suspect the issue, whatever it is, causes a failure to save the rendered Ken Burns clip inside the project package. The red bar runs, but the rendered clip isn't saved to disk. My guess is OSX refuses to allow iMovie to save the file for OSX doesn't believe YOU have permission.
One would think that using the Finder to set the permissions of the project package would solve the problem, but it doesn't seem to.
There are two possible solutions:
1. Set the partition to ignore permissions. In the Finder, click on the partition and Get Info. Turn ON the checkbox "Ignore permissions on this volume";
2. Use Disk Utility to reformat (erase) the partition. Somehow that seems to fix the problem.
Here's some history which may suggest another solution: In an earlier version of iMovie a similar problem occurred, where iMovie would refuse to open a project. It had somehow decided you didn't have permission to edit the project.
The only solution was to use the Finder to create a new set of project folders — a folder and all the folders it normally contains — then Option-drag the FILES of the original project folder to the appropriate folders. (Option-dragging COPIED the files instead of moving them.) The new project folder would now open normally.
If you are adept at working with packages, you might try creating your own package (which contains all the normal folders) then Option-drag the files of the problem project to your package.
Once I saw an error -52 announcement, but it was not reproducible.
Error -52 is a "Get file position error", which (may) suggest a disk directory error. That may be a disk issue unrelated to iMovie. You might want to consider using Disk Utility to Verify/Repair that partition.
I have a separate partition for the movies and made a
link from my home account to the directory with the
movies on that partition. iMovie works correctly
except for the Ken Burns photo rendering.
I'm never sure whether creating such a link is a good idea or not, especially for the iLife apps. Some apps don't resolve the alias as they should, which creates other problems. A "Movies" alias sends iDVD a million miles beyond Jupiter, for example, where the iDVD project joins the space dust.
For iMovie projects saved on partitions and external drives, I just save them inside a "iMovie 6 Projects" folder on that drive. (Every new version of iMovie gets a new folder.) For convenience, I may create aliases to help navigate there, but do nothing else. Everything just works.
If you figure out something new, please say.
Karl

IMovie HD widescreen import problem.

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