Importing .mp4 files into iMovie takes too long. Is there a quicker method?

Basically what the title asks. Would it be quicker for me to burn the mp4 onto a dvd and then rip it into iMovie? Currently, my import wait is 1784 minutes, and I really don't have this long to wait.
Help would be wonderful.

I'm not sure how many songs your importing, nor how much cache your Mac has...But In case this is your first time using Itunes M4p files in your Imovies, I'll give you this heads up....Imovie will let you import M4p files from Itunes into your movie and you can watch it and listen to the song fine. When you try to export it to IDVD and burn a movie, you might have problems. It will b*tch about "this computer is not authorized" for this song or something. Unless Imovie '08 fixes this, you have to burn the songs you want to use in your Imove to a CD, then import them back into Imovie. It will not let you burn a DVD from Imovie/IDVD with songs you paid for directly from your Itunes Library. Unless you're importing from a slow external hard drive and have low system memory on your Mac, I don't see why it should take so long to import songs from your Itunes library. If you already knew of the copyright problem Imovie has, my apologies.....And it is a problem. You shouldn't have to burn to disc and re-import songs from Itunes, that you already legitimately paid for with your Itunes account.

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Why does it take hours to import mp4 files into iMovie

I have some home movies I imported from VHS-C and compressed to mp4 files and now I want to start going through them in iMovie but it takes hours just to import a single clip (~575 meg).
What can I do to speed this up? Would getting a Mac Pro with loads of RAM and CPU's help? Would converting to a different video format before I import work?
Right now I have all this video I converted to digital and thus far spent days just importing and haven't been able to do anything with it yet!
I'm using an iMac core duo with 2 gig RAM and the upgraded video card (best one they had at the time).
Any help is appreciated!

This worked fine for me, was exactly what I wanted.
1 - Create the project in iMovie HD and then save and close.
2 - Locate the file on your computer. Ctrl-click on the file and it will say "show package contents". Click on that.
3 - You will then see some folder items inside that. Open up "Media" and then drag and drop your mpeg file into it.
4 - When you reopen the project, you will be notified that there are files in your trash. You want to view them to find the file you just moved there.
5 - Take that file and drag it back onto the project and you're in.
A major blessing!

Cannot import mp4 files to iMovie anymore

A few weeks ago I was able to import mp4 files to iMovie. I've encoded the files with Handbrake first.
But now, I've downloaded a mp4 file (and then to be sure encoded this one too) but can't import it in iMovie.
How is this possible? They are all in the same mp4 format, but my last one doesn't work. It won't even play in Quicktime..
In the image below, you can see that the upper file can't be selected while trying to import it into iMovie.

Hi Misstarretje,
Have you read this article about how to import all kinds of mp4 files to iMovie ?

How can I import vob files into imovie 09?

how can I import vob files into imovie 09? i have some home movies on dvd that i want to edit.

You might want to look at this one too. Very easy to use and it doesn't require the Apple MPEG-2 playback component.
http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm

Importing a file into iMovie

Hi All,
I am trying to import a file into imovie and it imports with the sound. The file was originally a MUXED file, than I used bbDemux which created 2 seperate files (video & audio) for me. I than brought them back into quicktime pro, combined them and save them as a .MOV file. The file is no longer muxxed but the sound is still missing when I import into iMovie. Any suggestions... Do I need to compress this file, and if so... How?

The file was originally a MUXED file, than I used bbDemux which created 2 seperate files (video & audio) for me.
What are the audio and video formats at this point? (I.e., did you simply demux the data or perform any sort of conversion as part of the process?)
I than brought them back into quicktime pro, combined them and save them as a .MOV file.
Are you using "Paste" or "Add" to combine the two tracks at this point? (I.e., if the files were demuxed and converted to a QT format, are you merging them sequentially or symchronized "frame-to-frame" here? If not performing any conversion as part of the demux process, switch to an application/utility like MPEG Streamclip that does both as a seamless process that produces an iMovie compatible file in a single step.

Displaying PathGeometry into canvas take too long time

Hi every one,
I am working on spatial data with an application WPF and I would like to draw a map from data queries.
I got my data and I am able to draw them on a canvas with scroll bar and zoom.
My problem is when I want to zoom or scroll the canvas take a long time before draw the map.
The big problem is there :
Dim poly As New Polygon
poly.Stroke = Brushes.Red
poly.Fill = Brushes.Orange
poly.StrokeThickness = 5
Dim colPoint As New PointCollection
For i = 1 To geo.STNumPoints
Dim ls As New LineSegment()
colPoint.Add(New Point(geo.STPointN(i).STX.Value - extentA, geo.STPointN(i).STY.Value - extentB))
Next
colPoint.Add(New Point(geo.STPointN(1).STX.Value - extentA, geo.STPointN(1).STY.Value - extentB))
poly.Points = colPoint
masterCanvas.Children.Add(poly)
so the canvas is "masterCanvas" and i add each Polygon one by one. I would like if it is possible to gather all polygon into one "image" and then when it will refresh the canvas it will draw only one thing.
Regards.

Hi,
I found that you have posted it in the forum Acamar suggested.
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/e2d50b4e-0d76-4a3c-b229-521b648b54b3/displaying-pathgeometry-into-canvas-take-too-long-time?forum=wpf#e2d50b4e-0d76-4a3c-b229-521b648b54b3
Please just focus on that thread, and you could mark if any reply which is helpful as answer.
Thanks for your understanding.
Regards.
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Importing quicktime file into iMovie 11 resulting in distortion

After having trouble importing Quicktime files into iMovie hd6, I decided to buy iMovie 11. So the file imports without squishing the image into 4:3 as it did in iMovie hd6, but now the movie has a strange strobe like flashing that is not present in the original.
Any ideas?

See if you can open the file in QuickTIme PLayer. Click Command-I (or WINDOW/INSPECTOR) in QuickTime Player. Tell us what is listed by the word FORMAT:

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 :-)

Import .VOB files into iMovie?

I have copied footage from my camera (don't have that tapes anymore!) to a DVD. Now I want to import the files into iMovie to edit and so but iMovie doesn't recognize the file-formats on my DVD: .VOB
Can anyone tell me how I can convert these files so I can import them?
Thank you very much...
Marcha
MacMini Mac OS X (10.4)

Ok I was right, the stretching is coming from importing it directly into imovies folder. Unfortunately when I drag the dv file into imovies the quality was not as good as HB.
Now trying the crop method directly into imovies to see if that fixes the stretching as the picture quality seemed much better, if that don't work I'll save it to my desktop using HB at 100% quality as that seems to be the best and then drag it into imovies quality.
How, if it was you, would you convert the files back to mpeg2? Is there a free converter as I don't have QT pro? Will SC do it in good quality?
I also thought (hate to use the pc word) but I may store the file in my external hard drive as a quicktime or divx or another format (what will give me the best quality from the other formats) and then do the conversion to mpeg2. Then use something like dvdshrink to make the file dvd size
Gees what a bummer man! Just as well I have 2 weeks off work. Not quite the way I was hoping to spend it though!

How can I import mp4 movies into iMovie?

How can I import mp4 movies into iMovie? I am running iMovie on iLife 09.

Hi
Open it with QuickTime-player pro and Export it as AIC.
Use this in iMovie
Yours Bengt W

How can i import mpeg files into iMovie?

how can i import mpeg files into iMovie?

Where are your MPEG stored?
I have hundreds of old MPEGs stored in my nexternal drive, but unfortunatly i was not able import them into iMovie. I did the following trick: I created a new set of a folder and subfolder and called it "Virtual_CAM/DCIM" and saved it on my desktop. Then went to Disk Utilities>File Menue>New>Disk Image from Folder. Then selected the folder on my desktop and clicked enter. I moved the .dmg file to my external (or just keep it on your desktop). I clicked on the .dmg file. It shoud be visible on the Finder. Open your Imovie and import as you do from your camera.

TA22875 Why can't I drag MP4 Files into Imovie?

I'm trying to frag MP4 files into I Movie and when I release the mouse it just returns them to where they came.

OK
We here are not Apple or employed by them - the thoughts and wisdom of Apple is very occult to many of us !
We are as You - Users and trying to be of help for other users !
The thing is - I don't know about Codecs, and please take this the right way when I say - I'm not interested in Codecs.
I just want to drag my movie files taken in whatever format I take them in and drag them into Imovie to work on them.
mp4 is a fairly common format?
then I have very little possibility to be of help - as I only can guide You a bit of the way to understand and work around this Problem - I never denied it to be.
But it seems that every Camera company makes there own solutions and to make Video editing programs or DVD authoring ones that can use every strange Video Codec availably - is impossibly - Not even FinalCut or Avid or Adobe Premiere can do this.
.mp4 - is no more Video Codec as any folder or hard disk - and tell that my material is on a hard disk, doesn't help us in understanding where it goes wrong.
So if You want to get this to work - then You need to set of a minimum of interest in howto get it right.
To find out the Codec
• Open the file with QuickTime-Player (as it can open many many more Codecs than iMovie can use)
• here open Inspector [cmd+I] and read
Video Format (Codec) : nnnnnnnnnnnnn
Frames per second : YY.yy fps
What does they say ?
If You feel offended and don't want - There is no solution as I know of.
AND - I have no intention to offend at any cost - but need info (and so does the others here too) to be able to reach out a hand
Yours wanting to be of more help - Bengt W

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?

Export settings to QT, then import QT file into iMovie - HELP

Last week quicktimekirk led me through this problem successfully (thanks Kirk!). But after having to take off about 10 days to focus on other priorities, I'm having problems duplicating last week's successful step by step procedure. Outlined below are the steps I'm using, starting with Keynote - QT, which look awesome played in QT, but the QT file won't import to iMovie. I get an "unknown error message. Here's how I have things set right now...
1. Open inspector/document and choose:
Presentation - normal
Slide size - 1920x1080
2. File/export:
Self playing movie
Slide duration 5
Build duration 2
Custom:
Video - Full size (1920x1080)
Select include transparency
Settings
Compression type: AIC
Frame rate: 24
Compressor:HDV720
CHECK THE FOLLOWING:
Video compressor: H264
Video size:1920x1080
FPS - 24
Now, when I try to import the QT file into iMovie, I get an error message that says the file wasn't imported; unknown error. Can someone give me a clue?
Mac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6) keynote to QT to imovie to QT final

It seems that every time you reply your goal has changed.
If you're worried about the self-contained movie requiring FCP to open, that's a simple fix. Right-click on the file and choose Get Info. In the Info window, change the 'Opens With' to QuickTime Player. You'll maintain the best quality and others won't need FCP to open it.
-DH

Importing .mp4 files into iMovie takes too long. Is there a quicker method?

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