IMovie+IDvd= Me going iWOW!!!

I had some free time earlier so I decided to connect my Canon Optura Pi camcorder to the MacBook via firewire to see what it can do. Bear in mind that I've never use either of these applications before, suffice to say that the MacBook IMPRESSED me again tonight, we are watching that DVD now on the big TV, I couldn't believe it was that easy, from switching themes, trimming clips the MacBook performed flawlessly. Now I'm afraid I will be busy for the next few weeks dumping all these minidv tapes we have of old videos on to dvd's.
-Imola
ps. My other sister was very impressed on how easy to use the MacBook that she actually wanted to buy mine, so now I placed an order for another MacBook, I'll splurge this time and go for the black one.

I remember the first time I used the iLife suite to make a dvd from my camcorder. It was after a trip to Europe. I got engaged and had that on the video. So I wanted to make a striking video for all of the family to see.
Yes the iMovie and iDvd is wonderful. I support your iWOW claim.

Similar Messages

Image quality issues - Sony Handycam (MPEG) to iMovie / iDVD

I have read through dozens of posts but the recommendations vary widely and am hoping I can get some guidance specific to my situation. The image quality I am getting from home movies I edit in iMovie11 and burn to DVD in iDVD are far inferior to the original material.
I have a Sony DCR-TRV17. This camera is a little over 10 years old. It is a miniDV with 500 lines resolution, 680K gross pixels and uses MPEG. While not HD, the image quality is exceptional. The DVDs I used to create using my Sony Viao likewise looked fantastic. But the results I get from iMovie and iDVD are on par with VHS -- very poor, especially in low-light.
I hope the issue is just the settings when I import, edit (iMovie) and share to iDVD. I generally use the default settings, and often alternate settings don't seem to be selectable. It also sounds from other posts like iMovie sacrifices quality for reduced file size and increased simplicity? I would appreciate help with the following:
1) Please list the settings I should be adjusting from default when I a) import, b) edit in iMovie11 and c) share to iDVD and burn -- and the recommended settings for each
2) Is there a process I should be trying? Should I be creating test DVDs using different settings at each stage and then reviewing various setting combinations to find the best one?
3) I will most probably buy an HD camcorder very soon, and plan to burn to Blue Rays. I have no problem with going ahead and buying Final Cut and an external drive to burn Blue Rays. Should I just go ahead and do it and get away from iMovie / iDVD entirely. Will Final Cut solve this issue for my old miniDVs without a whole lot of hair pulling? Or will I still have to tinker with a bunch of settings or convoluted processes to get it "right." I never had to tinker with settings on my Viao. Really expected Mac software to be more user friendly…
Thanks very much for any help or advice!

On Import you could try unchecking Optimize video and choose Full Size. Your disk space however will get eaten up incredibly quickly choosing these settings as each hour of video = 40GBytes of disk space. So be forewarned about how big those files will expand as they come off the MiniDV tapes.
Another thing you will immediately see a difference in is how you move files from iMovie to iDVD. Share to iDVD while named in an intuitive way, is NOT the best way to get good quality DVDs out of iMovie. Instead you want to Share to Media Browser. Choose the Large Size setting. Then quit iMovie. Open iDVD, click the Media button, the Movies button. Find your project listed under the iMovie star icon and drag it into the iDVD project. Burn the Disc and see if you get a higher quality disk by Sharing to Media Browser instead of Share to iDVD.
If you choose a Blu-Ray burner, also get a copy of Roxio Toast. The encoding to Blu-ray that Toast provides will be top notch and prevent you from making mistakes as the recordable Blu-ray disks are more expensive than DVDs. So every mistake will be expensive.

Using purchased music with imovie/idvd

Apologies if this has been answered...these threads get too long to look back and back. Haven't used imovie/ idvd much since 2003-4-- so the copy protection measures on the latest version look very restrictive. Do I have this right: I make a slide show or movie via imovie-- I use music from a song purchased via the itunes store, I burn the slide show/movie to a dvd/ I give the dvd to 6 relatives, i.e. not for commercial use... and could it be that the dvd will not play with music unless I authorize their computers? In other words what exactly does that message mean than pops up that says the file won't play the music on another computer, unless it's authorized. Will it play on a burnt dvd, played on a TV?

I burn the slide show/movie to a dvd/ I give the dvd to 6 relatives, i.e. not for commercial use...
It's not legal, even though you're not charging for the DVD (copyright laws apply even when there's no commercial gain involved, hence the many suits the RIAA has filed against people sharing via Limewire and other P2P networks). Music you purchase, whether from the iTunes Store or via CD, is for your personal use and cannot be given away. If you want to create a video or slide show that you're going to give away, either obtain royalty-free music - there are a number of web sites where you can obtain such tracks - or create your own using GarageBand or a similar music creation package.

Do latest versions of iMovie & iDVD take advantage of Dual processors?

I've been using iMovie and iDVD a lot on my G4/450GHz but now want to be able to edit widescreen (16:9) video, which I'm told needs a faster processor.
I'm considering upgrading to a G5 1.8 SP (which would provide all the power I need, I think) -- there's still a few of them around. I assume that iMovie/iDVD don't really use the dual processors, or the dual core processor, to advantage. Am I correct?__
(I've only got vague answers from dealers).
In other words, if I get a G5 2.0 DP, wouldn't that be overkill?___
Same for Dual Core models?_____
(I'm not considering the iMac, which would be adequate, because it's too big -- high -- to fit in my desk-wallunit; I haven't seen a flexible stand which would allow adjusting the height of the monitor).

I have a dual 1.25GHz G4 at work. Just fired up
iMovie 5 and applied an effect. While it was
rendering I watched the Activity Monitor. The
processor usage for iMovie never went over 100%,
which is typical of applications that are not taking
advantage of the dual processors. (A so-called
multi-threaded application would have reached 180% or
so with no other apps running.)
Very interesting, Lennart. At first blush, it looks we're getting different results.
Yesterday I checked the processor activity by watching the bars in the "Show CPU Usage" window in Activity Monitor. While rendering a special effect, both processor bars filled almost to the top, which I assumed meant iMovie was using both processors to near capacity.
Today, when I look at the CPU activity reported in the Activity Monitor window, it jumps to 180%, while yours doesn't exceed 100%. Then later, checking it again on another special effect, mine won't exceed 100%.
The difference here seems to be which special effect is working. Some use both processors, apparently, while others don't. "Edge Work" uses both, which I happened to test.
I've tested only a few built-in iMovie functions, but I can't force iMovie itself to move over 100% running its own code. Simultaneously importing a clip and rendering with the KBE, for example, doesn't go over 100%.
So apparently I happened to pick a special effect that used both processors, while iMovie itself does not use both. Both bars move in iMovie, on the other hand, so both processors appear to be working for iMovie. But as one bar goes up the other goes down, and their combined usage never exceeds 100%.
Wish I understood this better.
Karl

Imovie iDVD finished but DVD does not Play in ALL DVD players?

I have made several DVD movies over the years and sometimes when i go from imovie> idvd> finished DVD
1. it does not play in ALL dvd players? why?
2. or sometimes plays in some DVD players?
3. sometimes plays in computer( apple) dvd but not always?
Is there something i have to due before, after or during rendering so that the finished DVD plays in all DVD players
thanks

Hi
*I do put paper labes on discs --*
NEVER DO THAT - The ability to get them perfectly centered is near to impossibly
DVDs are many tims more sencitive to missaligmement by 1/100 or 1/1000 of a millimeter.
CDs often can handle this - but still not advicably.
I do.
• Use only Verbatim (Taiyo Yuden - also recommended by many - no own experience)
• DVD-R (no +R or +/-RW)
• Burn at an as slow speed possibly eg x1 with iDVD08 or higher or Roxio Toast™
or Apple Disk Util tool
• NEVER under 25Gb free space on internal boot hard disk (others not important)
• I use a Cleaning-DVD from time to time
• I burn max 3 DVD at a time then cool for 20min
• I use the Cleaning DVD on my other players as well
On Quality.
*DVD quality*
1. iDVD 8 has three levels of qualities.
iDVD 6 has the two last ones
• Professional Quality (movies up to 120 min.) - BEST
• Best Performances (movies less than 60 min.) - High quality on final DVD
• High Quality (in iDVD08) / Best Quality (in iDVD6) (movies up to 120 min.) - slightly lower quality than above
2. From
• FCE/P - Export out as full quality QuickTime.mov (not selfcontaining, no conversion)
• iMovie x-6 - Don't use ”Share/Export to iDVD” = destructive even to movie project and especially so
when the movie includes photos. Instead just drop or import the iMovie movie project icon (with a Star on it) into iDVD theme window.
• iMovie’08 not meant to go to iDVD. Go via Media Browser or rather use iMovie HD 6 from start.
3. I use Roxio Toast™ to make an as slow burn as possibly eg x1 (in iDVD’08 this can also be set)
This can also be done with (Apple) Disk Util tool.
4. There has to be about or more than 25Gb free space on internal (start-up) hard disk. iDVD can't
use an external one as scratch disk (if it is not start-up disc).
5. Verbatim ( also recommended by many - Taiyo Yuden DVDs - I can’t get hold of it to test )
6. DVD-R (no +R or +/-RW)
7. Keep NTSC to NTSC - or - PAL to PAL when going from iMovie to iDVD
8. Don’t burn more than three DVD at a time - but let the laser cool off for a while befor next batch.
iDVD quality also depends on:
• HOW much free space is there on Your internal (start-up) hard disk. Go for approx 25Gb.
less than 5Gb and Your result will most probably not play.
• What kind of movie project You drop into it. MPEG4 seems to be a bad choice.
other strange formats are .avi, .wmv, .flash etc. Convert to streamingDV first
Also audio formats matters. I use only .aiff or from miniDV tape Camera 16-bit
strange formats often problematic are .avi, .wmv, audio from iTunes, .mp3 etc
Convert to .aiff first and use this in movie project
• What kind of standard - NTSC movie and NTSC DVD or PAL to PAL - no mix.
(If You need to change to do a NTSC DVD from PAL material let JESDeinterlacer3.2.2 do the conversion)
(Dropping a PAL movie into a NTSC iDVD project
(US) NTSC DVDs most often are playable in EU
(EU) PAL DVDs most often needs to be converted to play in US
UNLESS: They are plabacked by a Mac - then You need not to care
• What kind of DVDs You are using. I use Verbatim DVD-R (this brand AND no +R or +/-RW)
• How You encode and burn it. Two settings prior iDVD08
Pro Quality (only in iDVD08)
Best / High Quality (not always - most often not)
Best / High Performances (most often my choise)
1. go to iDVD pref. menu and select tab far right and set burn speed to x1 (less errors = plays better) - only in iDVD08
2. Project info: Select Professional Encoding - only in iDVD08.
Region codes:
iDVD - only burn Region = 0 - meaning - DVDs are playable everywhere
DVD Studio pro can set Region codes:
1 = US
2 = EU
Yours Bengt W

Multiple Libraries using iMovie/iDVD

When you create multiple libraries in iTunes,
How does it work when selecting music
when working in iMovie, iDVD?
Does the Music interface show the two libraries
in these programs?

Does the Music interface show the two libraries
in these programs?
Unfortunately not. They only show the last used or active library.
Note that iTunes 7 is a recent release and iMovie, iDVD and iPhoto probably don't know (yet) that iTunes can have more libraries.
M

Lost iMovie & iDVD on OSX 10.4 upgrade

I upgraded from OSX10.1.5 to OSX10.4 (erase & install). I have reinstalled iPhoto as it came on a disc with my Mac, as did Appleworks6 (on Applications disc), and iTunes as it is available from Apple as a download. But iMovie and iDVD are buried somewhere on one of the six Software Restore discs that originally came with my Mac.
How can I restore my copies of iMovie & iDVD?

I recently upgraded from OSX10.1. to OSX10.4 (erase & install) as related by Ken Grace and have a similar experience that I no longer have i-movie 2. I thought I had saved it but it seems I only saved the alias. Apple personnel recommended I reinstall original OS9 disc which I did but no result. I read the solution proposed to download 'Pacifist ' but cannot understand how I cannot reinstall i-movie* if I have the original discs ? ie how did I get it when I first started..Unlike Ken I have only three restore discs which came with my MAC.. I am prepared to do a complete reinstall of everything if it would help.
* I need I Movie 2 for earlier projects which will not run properly on I-Movie 3 which came with Panther or on I-Movie 5 which I purchased with I-Life.

IMovie, iDVD

I've been working with iMovie 5 & iDVD 5 for a little while now and I've noticed some serious problems. I had initially downloaded an analog video into my computer, using Pinaccle Studio's video transfer device. At first I was pretty excited with some of the new features that came with OS X Tiger. That excitement quickly faded when I tried to modify an existing project. iDVD suggested that I delete my encoded assets if I was still working on an existing project and wanted to make another DVD of that project, while keeping the original iMovie project. I tried doing what is suggested, but it doesn't work. I found the only way to make iDVD work again was to delete the entire iDVD project and start over. Additionally, many of the options don't work properly in iDVD, like some of the settings, or modifying the "project tree" images. Another problem I've had is, whenever I re-export an existing project from iMovie to iDVD, problems with the encoding processes happens and the DVD doesn't get encoded properly and aspects of the program don't happen the way they are supposed to. For example, I'm still working on a video that I filmed. When I sent it to iDVD for the second time, "after" deleting the encoded assets, the next DVD I burned, didn't work correctly. Specifically, the chapter markers that I embedded and inserted into my iMovie project while editing. When I took the DVD from my computer and tried it on my dvd player, the movie played fine, but I couldn't use any of the chapters, even though they were there where I marked them. Still another problem that I have, is not being able to burn a DVD project that's over 60 minutes in length. My project was only over by 12.18 seconds, but problems across the board started happening with iDVD.
Other problems include ghosting. Some parts of my video that I had edited and deleted, keeps showing up, but I'm not able to get rid of them because even though I can see the image of the deleted footage, I can't get rid of it because iMovie doesn't see or, recognize the image. Additional problems include, not being able to delete an entire project when I'm finished with it. When I bought and upgraded to OS X Tiger, it did not come with iMovie, or,iDVD. I had to purchase a separate program disk, "iLife 5" to get these programs. I've read your forums and everything that is suggested has already been tried, but to no avail. It would have been better if Apple had included an additional step and option selct, to delete footage completely and another option of deleting an entire project, instead of having to search the entire hard drive for the project and to find all of the accompanying folders and documents created by iMovie & iDVD. That's fine if you're an avid worker of these programs and you're a computer wiz and expert. But for the common everyday person, it's just too much. I see from many of the posts on the discussion forum, that I'm not the only one who feels this way and that many other people also have the same frustrations that I'm dealing with now. What if anything, does Apple plan on doing about many of these problems and issues? We as apple users, are spending huge amounts of money on products that clearly have serious problems and issues that need to be addressed, resolved and fixed.
Froglips, from Alaska

froglips,
Sorry to read of your frustrations both here and in other posts.
Though it doesn't help you to hear it, I can say that I am happily using iMovie and iDVD. Both working "as advertised". I say this simply as a way of offering you hope and to tell you you've come to the right place.
You raise a number of issues in your post and, frankly, it's a bit hard to follow.
It might be easier for myself and others to help you if you post one question at a time.
One last thing, these are user to user discussions for technical issues. Apple will not respond here to questions directed at them.
Matt

IMovie/iDVD vs Adobe Premiere Elements Comparison Question

Has anyone used Adobe Premiere Elements and iMovie/iDVD to be able to make an objective comparison? It appears APE has the same feature content as iMovie/iDVD.
How well does APE run on your typical Core 2 Duo Windows laptop (1.6mhz)?
Just curious.
14" 1.2mhz iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9) 1.25m ram, Superdrive

Okay, so here's my settings for my project...
To begin with, my output is to a WD HDTV Plus which needs a H.264 1920X1080i30 file.
The source footage is SONY AVCHD 1080i60.
My Import Prefs:
AVCHD: Apple ProRes422
AC-3 Audio: Plain Stereo
RT:
Both Dynamic Playbacks
Unlimited RT
Exported using QuickTime Conversion:
Compression: H.264
Frames:
Current
Key Frames:
Every 24
Compressor Quality: Best
Data Rate: Automatic
When it gets played back, still elements look "HD" but moving objects are jittered....HELP!
thanks
Marshall

Imovie - idvd 5

I have just recently switched from windows to the mac mainly on the fact cos the Imovie/Idvd in ilife 05.
But, when i create a movie in "I movie" the click the "idvd" button to encode it over to "idvd", the "idvd" screen comes up fine with the new movie in there but in the status box it just dont decode at all???
Sorry for being so simple, but i am trying to get my head around all this!
Please help

but in the status box it just dont decode at all???
Hi Grant,
iDVD has 2 encoder modes: "Best Performance" has an option to encode it in background, given time you movie will eventually encoded. The other mode, "Best Quality" will only start encoding when you "burn" or "save as disk image" your project. Encoding takes a lot of times and processor power, it does not complete in a flash.

Exporting iMovie/iDVD project for PC friend to edit

I recently posted a question about how to take an iMovie/iDVD project and export the files so that a PC user could take the project and edit on his PC using a video editor. It was suggested that I share the iMovie project to QuickTime and then burn on to a CD. This sounded good at first but then I did some research and saw that sharing to QuickTime means that the quality will be lost (saving to CD setting) and will only be something like 320 x 240. Plus, it takes forever. Even longer if I set it to full quality but by that point, the file wouldn't fit on a CD anyway.
I did see that I could save the movie back to a mini DV tape and then give that to the PC person so that they could just bring it into their computer via their camcorder. But what if that person doesn't have a digital camcorder?
For the project in question, I've been asked to take some VHS tapes and convert them to digital. I've done so using a digital converter. They want a DVD of what was on the tapes, which I've done, but they also want the files so that they can later edit to their tastes on their own time on their PC and then later create a DVD. Given the above, what would be the best way to do this? Isn't there something in the movie project files that I can dump to disk?

a) consider the usage of an ext. harddrive...
b) in iM's "share" dialog, you find the option "selected clips only"; so, select a few clips you like to export, check that box, done... you can "split" your clips at any point to create segments of approbiate size by hitting apple-t at any position in timeline..
c) share/Quicktime/expert options/click "share"/ offers you a dropdown menu, where you can choose the "avi" container...
(your User Interface is for sure english!)
you can click options, and choose the dv codec (which is your project's native video codec)... no loss of quality, and probably compatible for your friend..
d) a dataDVD-r fits ~20min of dv video... 4 disks?
e) using Disk Utility, make sure, you use a PC-compatible disk format....
f) Plan B) export your project back to tape, give your friend the miniDV...

My macbook pro recognizes my sd card on the desktop, but when i go to the imovie importer it goes straight to isight camera. Ive imported via this method before but now i dont know whats going on.

My macbook pro recognizes my sd card on the desktop, but when i go to the imovie importer it goes straight to isight camera. Ive imported via this method before but now i dont know whats going on.

Use iMovie > Help on your Mac or here -> http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2153
Treat the "sd card on the desktop" as a connected hard disk.
Message was edited by: EZ Jim
Mac OSX 10.7.4

16:9 iMovie/iDVD stretched on Widescreen TV

I have already posted a question regarding poor quality of my iMovie/iDVD project when played on my Sony 52" LCD HDTV. This question has to do with aspect ratio. I created my video (all photos, transitions, titles, background music). I cropped all photos to 16:9 aspect ratio in Photoshop prior to loading them into iMovie. I set my settings to Widescreen in iDVD prior to burning. When played on my Sony TV, however, the photos are shown with letterbox black on top and bottom and they are stretched.
I also wanted to create a DVD for a family member who has a standard TV. So I took the same iDVD project and changed the setting to Standard 4:3 prior to burning. When played on that TV, the photos are all "clipped". I thought that iDVD would adjust the viewing so that the photos would be shown in full view with the black boxes on the sides.
Am I using the settings incorrectly?
Thanks, Nancy

Thanks for the info. I downloaded myDVDedit and learned that my movie had been created with the setting "16:9 auto pan and scan and letterbox". I changed it to "16:9" and now it plays on my standard def. TV just fine (with letterbox). But I am very confused with the settings in myDVDedit. So I created 4 DVD's using the various settings to see what they would look like on my Sony 52" HDTV.
1. 16:9 - video plays with letterbox top and bottom
2. 16:9 auto letterbox - video plays with letterbox top and bottom
3. 16:9 auto pan and scan - video fills the entire screen but sides are clipped
4. 16:9 auto pan and scan and letterbox - video plays with letterbox top and bottom
Here's my question:
If all of my photos in my movie (created in iMovie) have been cropped to a 16:9 ratio, why can't I get a 16:9 setting where the entire widescreen TV (16:9 ratio) is filled with the photo - without any letterbox or any side clipping? Because of the letterbox the actual aspect ratio of the photos change from 1.77 (16:9) to 2.39 (16:6.7) causing slight stretching/distortion.
I hope this all makes sense and you can give me a little more insight into this.
Thanks again, Nancy

HELP!!! - failures with a specific iMovie - iDVD save/burn attempts

I've successfully burned multiple iMovie/iDVD discs without problem, but I've got 1 movie that repeatedly fails with strange errors.
I've optimized the startup drive, the directory of the startup drive and there's 20G free on that drive (and 80+ on the video drive). I also deleted the old plist for iDVD, and ran Cocktail to clear the caches, rebuild permissions, etc.
I tried this with both the iDVD preferences set for 'Best Quality' and then 'Best Performance' (no difference).
I took the original (created in iMovie 4.x), when it failed repeatedly, I recreated it from scratch in iMovie 5.02... no difference.
When I tried to burn it (multiple times), it came back with 'Burn Complete, Found Errors During Burn' (irony here, it hadn't burned ANYTHING, the disc was untouched). Click on error details, and it says 'error #1'.
It had completed rendering the movie.
I also tried saving the iDVD file as a disk image, and it also failed, with a different error (can't screeen capture the dialogs!)... something to the effect that it couldn't initialize the tracks (it had completely finished rendering the movie).
I had seen some mention of a problem with background audio on the DVD Menu, so I also tried it with that removed. No joy.
Any ideas??? I'm desperate and frustrated... I really want to burn this thing for a Christmas surprise.
There's nothing remarkable about the iMovie, it is basically 1 piece, with Multiple Centered Titling on the intro, about 45 minutes long.
1.4 Ghz Sawtooth, 1.5G RAM Mac OS X (10.3.9) Pioneer A108 Burner
1.4 Ghz Sawtooth, 1.5G RAM Mac OS X (10.3.9) Pioneer A108 Burner

Hi Simon,
If you'll read further back into the thread, you'll find that I've covered all known bases with this problem
I am indeed running the most current version, kept on scaling the size of the project smaller, I deleted the plist file for iDVD, ran Cocktail on the disk, etc. etc. etc.
I am now recreating the whole $%^&* thing from scratch again, and I'm crossing my fingers. One thing is for certain, it's NOT an issue of free disk space on the startup drive! This error occurs whether saving to disc image or actually burning the disc.
I was fortunate enough to check the system as it was in the last phases of encoding (audio at that point, and it failed at the end of the audio) and that's when I got the error.
This problem is specific to iDVD, Toast 6.x and now 7.x work just fine.
This is starting to become painfully embarassing to this MacEvangelist
I wonder if DVD Studio Pro ever does this?
Regards,
Bruce

IMovie, iDVD storage space issues

I have transferred many clips from my cam-corder to iMac. I am now nearly exhausted for storage space. Am open to any suggestions for strategies that will recapture additional storage capacity on this machine. I thought of simply dumping the relevant video clips to the Trash Can after creating a disc (via iDVD); with the intent to subsequently bring the video back into iMovie from that very same disc so that I can fine tune the product with editing of themes; text; graphics; music etc. In other words, shuffle the product back and forth between disc and machine as my editing interests dictate. Don't know if these tasks can be accomplished as I have described. Surely there must be other strategies out there that I can explore to save valuable space on this machine???
Message was edited by: SandyBill

If you want to re-edit iMovie projects in the future, you will have to save the entire project & associated clips. While burning the clips to data DVDs sounds inexpensive & appealing, it is very time consuming, as each data DVD only holds about 20 minutes of captured clips and you're stuck with burn times, which are much slower than copying the files to an external firewire drive
So, it's time for a good external firewire hard drive (take a look at the Lacie d2 Extreme drives, for example).
And while it is technically possible to re-import video from a playable DVD such as ones you burn with iDVD, there is a significant loss of quality when you do the back conversion. Plus, you won't be able to 'shuffle the product back and forth between disc and machine as my editing interests dictate' because your editing commands are not preserved forward when you go from iMovie > iDVD > playable DVD. If you want to do that, you need to preserve your full iMovie project and associated video clips and other source media files.

IMovie+IDvd= Me going iWOW!!!

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