Importing .mov files to iMovie

Hello,
I just got my Mac, and I have realized that I can not import my old .mts footage to iMovie. I have tryied converting it to .m4v with ReWrap2m4v, and than open it in MPEG stramclip, export to quick time player. After this, if I open my resulting .mov movie, audio is fine, but picture is like slow-moted, and very poor quality.
I am playing with this for three days, but nothing worked. Could anyone help me please what to do?

Hi
in MPEG stramclip I do either Export as
- AIC or
- DVstream clip
Yours Bengt W

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Importing mov files into iMovie events

Hi
This is my first post ever on this site. Here goes!
I am new to iMovie, but have had someone more experienced trying to help but to no avail!
I am trying to import mov files into iMovie Events. However in the file menu there is no "events' option, so I chose 'Import Movies'. But ultimately when I click on the mov files they are greyed out.
The version of iMovie I have is iMovie '08 - 7.1.4
When I first opened iMovie it offered to update to the latest version, but in the end it said 'No updates available'. When I looked into this in the Apple Store, it said you need Mac OSX 10.7 or above to get the latest version. My Mac is 10.6.8, so won't support the latest version. However, can I not still use the version I have? What is wrong here?
Any help much appreciated - thanks.
Ermina.

If you don't get an answer here, you might want to post your question in the iMovie discussion here.

When I try to import mov files into iMovie'08 (7.1.4) the files are greyed out. Any suggestions?

When I try to import mov files into iMovie '08 (7.1.4) the files are greyed out. Any suggestions?

Hi Appleman - thanks for your guidance.
OK RealTime Inspector: Dimensions of my clips - as I don't know which bit this is I will list everything under Inspector, including Format:
00117
00117
33.30
Format:MPEG-4 Video, 1280 x 720 millions
AAC, 2channels, 44100Hz
FPS29.97
Data Size2.57GB
Data Rate 10.20 Mbits/s
Current size 1280 x 720 pixels (Actual)
And re the types of tracks you mention that iMovie '08 can't import, I don't much about film clips so haven't yet made sense of this, tho I do see that the clips are organised into chapters, so presumably this is 'chapter tracks'?
Thanks - I'll await your further instructions :-)

How do you import MOV files to iMovie?

I can't import MOV files into iMovie -- from my USB disk. The icons appear grey. Any idea what might be wrong? I tried converting files to MP4 using Miro Video Converter -- but, it was unable to convert my files.

I have already tried dragging the files to my desktop -- and, then importing them from there. Doesn't work.

Need help importing MOV files into iMovie

I am trying to import MOV files from a USB disk -- into iMovie's event library. When I click on the files on the USB -- they are grey and won't import. They will play in QuickTime. What could the problem be? I have the latest OS and am up to date.

Can you maybe try converting them? Download the free program called Miro Video Converter from the Mac App Store. Drag the video into the window and set the output format as mp4. iMovie should import that properly.
Sorry I couldnt be more of a help.
Let us know!

Cannot import .mov file into iMovie '08

I have about 50 .mov files that I need to import into iMovie '08. I am unable to drag-and-drop or import the .mov files into iMovie.
The files originated from a Flip video camera. Is it possible that maybe Flip and iMovie '08 do not interface? Please let me know if you have encountered this before. Thanks!

is this also the case for imovie '09?
i've taken some video with my digital camera that's been imported into iphoto along with pics. i've been trying to get them into imovie for editing purposes, but have had 0 luck...the files aren't selectable when attempting to import.
you're saying that the solution is to buy yet ANOTHER piece of software to convert the file to something else that imovie will read? what the..?!?
it's rhetorical, but why wouldn't they enable imovie do this for you?!?
not sure why it's this difficult and/or why anyone would want to go thru that effort. i "need" to be that much more educated about file types and compression and tween tracks and all that nonsense? seems both counterintuitive and counterproductive.
look, i just want to take some video and edit it...why do i need all the other headache?

Disk usage after importing movie files into iMovie

The movie files on my iMac consume about 200 gig of space on a 1TB hard drive.
It seems that after I imported them into iMovie, much more of my hard rive is consumed.
Does importing the movie files into iMovie double the disk space used?
Len in NC

Yes you should expect that imported movies will be much larger than the original on the camera. That's because the camera's AVCHD format records a full movie frame only about once a second. In between it stores only differences from the previous frame. That saves a lot of space, but requires a lot more processing power to display the movie during editing. It would also require reprocessing of multiple frames each time you split a clip somewhere that happens not to be a fully-recorded frame.
That's why all of Apple's video software (even Final Cut Studio) converts AVCHD at import time to a format that makes each frame independent, but that uses several times as much space. Actually the pro software uses an even bulkier format than iMovie, to provide more bits per pixel, so that you can do more extensive post processing without loss of quality.
You may want to get one or more big external drives (preferably firewire 800 for speed) to hold your imported movie files.

Why can't i import .mov files into imovie

Everytime recently I've tried to import a .mov file into imovie, its come up with the optimizing video box but nothing happens, I used to import straight from the camera, but I've recently emptied my camera onto my hard drive after a trip to New Zealand and now, when I have tried to import the footage from my hard drive, it does the optimizing video freeze on me. I would like to be able to get these movies into Imovie without having to pay a rediculous amount of money for some little converting program. I originally bought a apple computer, because I thought everything worked with each other, but now, I'm not so sure about that anymore.
Also, I've tried MPEG streamclip and all that did was either freeze on me or make the video size smaller, as in, the sides were pushed in and it ruined the video.
Camera: Canon HD Legria HFR38

What codec are the files? .mov is a container that can house many different video codecs.
Is your camera supported?
iMovie 11 - cameras supported:
http://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html?lang=en_US
iMovie 9 - cameras supported:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290?viewlocale=en_US

Can't import .mov file into iMovie

I have a video clip in .mov format that won't seem to import so that I can edit it. I'm a guy who's worked with windows for years and I am Mac illiterate. Is there a reason why I can't import the clip, but it still plays in quicktime?
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Hi Solace,
welcome to this forum
to give you some background info for better understanding in the future:
the file extension".mov" is a bit irritating, should NOT be translated with "movie"! a .mov is just a socalled container, it can contain (sic) many kind of media: stills, music, VR...- and for sure video.
just to impress you, have a look in this list:
Apple's list of formats supported by QT
iMovie is an edit-app meant to work with firewire-connected miniDV camcorders..... you can import "other" files&formats, but then it gets a bit tricky....
so, my usual guess, you're trying to import some mpegs (contained in a .mov file, you don't read .mpg as suffix.....)
some very good advices here, in plain english:
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6018.shtml
have fun with your Mac!

Import .MOV files into iMovie 09

Hi all. I have three .MOV files to import to a new iMovie Project (to join them together into one .MOV) The first is an After Effects output.MOV which imports just fine. The other 2 are products of iMovie itself - exports to Quicktime.
When I go to Import Movies - the 2 quicktime exports are greyed out and unavailable to import. The After Effects file is fine. Appleman - Tom W if you're there please advise or indeed anyone at all. It is most irritating. Thanks for reading

While an irritation I have discovered a two work a rounds. (Please note that I am using a PPC Mac)
I have iMovie 06, 08, and 09.
I bought a new AVCHD camcorder and my PPC Mac will not do anything with them. Fortunately I wisely bought a camcorder that self converts the AVCHD into .MOV files. At least I thought it was wise.
I found out that neither iMovie 08, or iMovie 09 will import these .MOV files. I tried Quicktime Pro and Perian and had no luck.
Now for the irritating part.
iMovie 06 has absolutely no problem importing these .MOV files at all. 06 happily converts them and imports without any fuss at all.
Problem is, you must install iMovie 06.
The installer is the irritation.
The installer replaces ALL your iLife apps when you do an install. While this is not a major problem if you wish to use iMovie 06/iLife 06, it is a problem if you wish to use iMovie 08 or 09 because iMovie 06 is then replaced by the installer.
Here's what you do. Make a folder in your Applications folder and place iMovie 06 app into the folder then do an install of iLife 08, or 09. The installer does not see iMovie 06 and does not replace it during install.
You will then have iMovie 06 AND iMovie 08, or 09. (all other iLife apps will be overwritten and that's just fine)
iMovie 08, and iMovie 09 WILL import iMovie 06 files. Poof, you now have access to .MOV files.
The other methods are to convert the .MOV files to .DV files with Quicktime Pro or.... most effectively, Toast 9 with HD/BD plugin or Toast 10 Titanium Pro.
Toast is very effective and makes the need for iMovie 06 or Quicktime Pro a non requirement AND best of all converts AVCHD to .DV directly. (also makes other handy conversions AND works with Intel Macs)
This takes some time and space, so be patient. (for example, an AVCHD file triples in size when converted to .DV or .MOV)
iMovie 08, and 09 imports these .DV conversions without any trouble at all.
Bottom line is that the best option is to convert .MOV to .DV
If you an Intel Mac and an AVCHD camcorder then you likely don't have any of these troubles.
Problem solved albeit irritating since the obsolete iMovie 06 program actually performs more video file compatibility tasks than than the new iMovie program.
It's a mystery to me as to WHY?

Can't import movie files into iMovie

OK so I used MPEG Streamclip to convert my Costco .vop files to .dv files and iMovie still gives me the msg: This file could not be copied:
ShoreWedding8:67 1.1.dv 001
( Error code: -37 )
What kind of files does iMovie want? The posts I've read here all indicated .dv Frustration abounds

Apparently this thread talks a little bit about DV including a workaround of some kind.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1795061&tstart=0
Also I believe the reference to AIC is the Apple Intermediate Codec.
One thing to remember is that the eventual viewing of the material may never need the full HD quality (not to say you shouldn't care about keeping the best quality up to the end) if for instance you make a DVD video you will be limited to that mediums quality limitations and not get HD quality out of the output result. If you are viewing on a standard def tv you are even below the DVD threshold. That being said maybe it is better to go with one of the working DV formats for iM08 if that makes sense for you.

Why can't I import .MOV files or Imovie project?

I converted a Power point presentation to a .mov and FCPX wouldn't recognize it. I got an alert that there were no importable files.
I did import it into IMovie, and could work on it there, but Imovie audio implementation is so bad that I didn't want to even mess with it, so I tried to import the project into FCPX form an IMovie project but it came up blank.

I merely saved the PPT with its timings as a .mov from PowerPoint for Mac.
FCPX wasn't able to recognize it, but IMovie was. I merely did a straight import
It was about 30 minutes long. The audio didn't transfer however, so I was going to use Final Cut to add it.
The information I got from the quicktime inspector was:
640 x 480 pixels (Actual)
218.65 kbit/s
33.8 MB0.03
Apple Animation, 640 x 480,Millions+

Imovie not importing .mov file

I have a video camera (an Oregon Scientific ATC9K). Normally I take the ssd card out and plug it into my iMac. I then let iPhoto import everything, then I copy all the files to either my iMacs secondary drive or a network storage device (a GoFlexHome). I then import .mov files into iMovie, and have, until now, not experienced any issues with this... However, this time round, after my import into iMovie, I noticed some video missing, so I assumed I neglected to import it into the project event. Note, I have already reformatted the ssd card but have the .mov file both imported into iPhoto and copied onto the external. Each time I attempt to re-import, iMovie tells me it will take about 4 hours, and when I return, the video clip is still missing. No error message, just not there. So I start again... same result... so I create a new project, and import the .mov file... another 4 hours pass... and I'm left with an empty event folder for the new project... I thought it failed at first because I may have ran out of space... so I cleared a bunch of space and tried again... another four hours pass... nada. iMovie thinks it has imported the movie, but there is nothing there. I can watch the movie in iPhoto, but if I try to import it from iPhoto, iMovie claims it is in a format it cannot handle. ***. Pardon the french, but this is getting extremly frustrating.

QuickTime Pro is available for about $30 US from Apple online.
There is a free package called MPEG Streamclip. You could export from MPEG Streamclip with no audio track. However, it may be that MPEG Streamclip will not edit copy protected material either, I have not tried it.

Importing .mov files--can't find them!!!!

I am importing .mov files into iMovie but I can't find them anywhere......seems like they are moving but I can't find them at all....help!!

Hi Steven Groothuis,
If you are having issues importing video files into iMovie, you may want to double check the following article just to make sure the process is the same:
iMovie (2013): Import media on your computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14676
Regards,
- Brenden

Converting VOB movie files for iMovie 09

I would like to import movie files into iMovie 09 which are in the VOB format. How do I convert the files to a format for iMovie 09?

I purchased this Mac two days ago. For a work application I purchased this camera 1 week ago. When I bought the camera I asked the vendor if software came with the camera that would allow me to load the videos onto the computer but when I received the camera no software was included and no one from Canon or the camera vendor would help. I had a Canon DC 330 that came with the software last year but someone from my company made off with it. Another story another day.
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Importing .mov files to iMovie

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