Is it bad to convert .mts to .mp4, then import to iMovie?

I know i can import the .mts into iMovie 10 direclty, but I have a number of issues with that. First, if I import the .mts into imovie, that converts them to .mov and stores them as a copy in the iMovie Library. Unless I delete those .mov files or my original .mts files, I'll have to store both files (twice the storage since the .mov files are the same size as the .mts files). And if I delete the .mov files, that leads me to the second issue: I lose all the trimming work that I would do in iMovie on those .mov files. I'd prefer that (1) i don't have to store multiple copies of the same video long term; and (2) i don't lose any trimming/editing work that i do on the video files. One option of course is to just delete my original .mts files, but that seems bad for some reason. Another option I've come up with is to use lightroom to trim/edit the video files in a non-destructive manner, then export the trimmed/edited video files to my hard drive as .mp4 files, and then import those .mp4 files into imovie. Obviously, though, I want to make sure that doing this extra export/import step maintains my video at the highest HD quality. So, my questions:
(1) Do you see any problem with deleting my original .mts files, in favor of the .mov files in the imovie library, so as not to store multiple copies?
(2) If (1) poses a problem, do you see any problem with converting .mts to .mp4 using lightroom, and then importing .mp4 into imovie?
(3) Any better workflow that you know of that meets my needs?
Thanks!

In iMovie 10 you can only trim clips in a project timeline and not in an event so the only way you can save trimmed clips is if you trim before importing into iMovie. (This is a major change since iMovie 9).
The normal way is to import directly from the camera or SD card into iMovie. It will strore one copy in the "Original Media" folder in your library.
Alternatively (and what I do) is as you suggest, to drag .mts files copied to disk into an event or project timeline.
You can then delete them from the hard drive used by imovie but I would recommend you store your .mts files (or better the AVCHD package) somewhere else as a back-up.
This second option is needed if want to trim clips (using for example Quicktime Player) before transferring to iMovie.
I hope this helps.
Geoff.

Similar Messages

How do you convert .mts to .mov for Quicktime and iMovie?

I have a bunch of mts recordings from my Sony Handycam. Now I want to import them to my Mac and then put them into iMovie for further editing. How do I do? I heard that mts should be converted to mov format which maintains high quality but compatibale with iMovie and Quicktime. Is there any freeware to convert *.mts files to mov? Thanks for any recommendations.

The best solution is to not convert at all and import directrly from your Handycam, you can do this from the File>Import menu. Check to se if your Handycam is supported here https://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html?lang=en_US
NOTE: the following is converting video and is always time intensive so take that into consideration.
For the videos on your disk it is sadly too late for that so you will have to get a converter, I recommend Handbrake http://handbrake.fr . You can convert the file to an mp4 which can handle the same (and better) quality video as mov does and it supports AVCHD video (the same quality as your camra).
Simply select MPEG-4 (mp4v2)
Video Codec: H.264 (this is what is in an MOV file)
and set "constant quality" around 13 or below (the smaller the number the higher the quality but larger file size)
You end up with Bly-Ray quality, iMovie accaptable video.

What software do i need to convert AVCHD mts/mts2 files to import to iMovie

What software do i need to convert AVCHD mts/mts2 files to import to iMovie

As Kirk says, if you have your camera, you can attach it directly.
Further, if you preserved the entire file structure of your camera (not just the .mts files, but also the folders on the camera), then you can import from that via FILE/IMPORT FROM CAMERA ARCHIVE.
When you import from a camera, it is recommended that you keep a camera archive so you always have the originals available.
If you have the .mts files out of context, you will need a third party app to convert. Two that I know of are ClipWrap and Voltaic HD. You should convert the files to Apple Intermediate Codec. And then use FILE/IMPORT/MOVIE.

Questions about converting files in order to import to iMovie '09?

I was able to import the videos from my camera (.mts files) into iMovie '09, but now when I click Import from Camera, iSight opens up instead. Since I can't find out why it won't open up my camera files now, I have decided on just converting the files. I just have a question about converting though. The videos I recorded from my camera are in HD. They're very good quality. If I convert the videos from .mts into .mp4, would that reduce the quality of the video?

When that happens to me I get stubborn and make iMovie see the camera by shutting down and reopening iMovie, because I don't want another level of transcoding. If that doesn't work and you have a card reader of even better, a sd slot on your iMac, just plug the card in. If it appears on the desktop iMovie should see it, and if it appears on your desktop then iMovie should read it.
I have a Canon HFS 100 that works best if I take the card out and plug it into the computer.
The times I converted to .mp4, I thought the quality did degrade, because it had to be converted to .mp4 and then imported as AIC. But I am not an expert on whether iMovie can deal with .mp4 directly.
Canons require that one have the camcorder plugged into a power outlet, another reason to use a card reader.
What kind of camcorder do you have? With some camcorders, if one takes both photos and video, the video won't be read.
When nothing works, occasionally deleting iMovie preferences works.
Hugh

I had old 8mm converted to dvd then used "Rip It" then imported to iMovie. My problem: in the event library a complete person is shown, in the project the top of their head is missing. How can I fix?

I had old 8mm movies converted to dvd. I then used "rip it" and imported to imovie. In the event library a complete person is shown on a clip. However, when I move that clip to the project the tops of peoples heads are missing in the playback. I have used standard (4:3) because the cut is lower in widescreen. How do I fix this problem?

Yes, the Old Master file has a folder for each year where I find all photos from that specific year. I am attaching a screen shot of the file.
In the meantime i have managed to download all photos (it did not download any video files though in mpg, avi, 3gp, m4v,mp4 and mov format) to a new iphoto library. Unfortunately the photos are quite mixed and often doubled up. I ma considering to purchase iphoto library which checks all duplicates in iphoto. this will save me a lot of time. What do you think?

Converting powerpoint / wmv files for import into iMovie

I have some students [on PC] who have created some slideshows in powerpoint. I am working on a G4 PowerBook, and use iMovie HD, but am having problems converting wmv and quicktimes [using flip4mac] and then importing them into FCP or iMovie.
Can anyone tell me the best settings to use to effect this process - I have tried mpeg4 basic and advanced as well as H264 but the end result is either really pixellated or won't import at all.
Many thanks
Tony

A few links that may help:
http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?q=converta+powerpoint+toquicktime&l=1&mkt=en-US&FORM=QBME1
http://search.support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?catalog=LCID%3D1033&1033 comm=1&query=ppttoQT&pwt=false&title=false&kt=ALL&mdt=0&res=20&ast=1&ast=2&ast=3&ast=4&ast=7&mode= a&adv=1&spid=global
file:///Microsoft%20Office%20X/Office/Help/AdditionalHelp.htm

What is the best format to choose when converting mts files to fit well with iMovie? I am using iCoolsoft for conversions and can pick from almost any kind of formats to convert to. I don't want to get the black frames... what do you advice me to pick?

I have lots of MTS files stored on an external hard drive that I want to use in my iMovie films. Now, as you know, iMovie doesn't like them. I have bought iCoolsoft for converting my video files into any format I want but now I've got another problem: what format is the best for iMove? Some of the formats I've tried are giving me a black frame around the video clips and some are bigger and other smaller but anyway I don't want them at all! Can anyone recommend what format to convert to to keep the original clip's size and no frames and still be liked by iMovie to be able to import them?
Much thankful for any kind of support and reply on this one.
Eva

The format iMovie uses when you edit video after it's imported is Apple Intermediate Codec, it will have the file ending .mov but internally it's set so the Mac can edit individual frames easier and play them back easier at full speed. If you have the option of saving to QuickTime .mov see if there is a pulldown list of all the different "codecs", that's the style or flavor of compression applied to the video frames. If Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) appears on that pull-down list choose that as your codec when you save to .mov.

Once converted video to MP4 then what ?

alright i got my music video converted to MP4 format, i have it in the Video libary of I-Tunes, it even has the sound !
How ever how do i get it in to my ipod ? every time i try to drag and drop it in to my ipod it will not let me.

Is your iPod to manually update?
Why not set your iPod to automatically update music and videos?
Go to edit-->preferences (with your iPod connected and showing up in iTunes). Click the iPod tab, and then the videos tab under that. Select Automatically Update all videos and click OK. The video should transfer to your iPod.
btabz

I recently had my Seagate External Hard Drive go bad. I am trying to re-import my iMovie files from disk to save to the new external hard drive i was sent. no luck

I need to back up my iMovie DVDs. I recently had my Seagate External Hard Drive go bad. Seagate replaced the drive but not all the iMovie projects i had backed up there. Is there a way to do this from theDVDs i burned the iMovie projects to? The DVDs are now the only copy i have of all my home movies

even when the hard drive is compatable with my MacBook Air.
What is the file system on that drive? Is it formatted MacOS Extended (Journaled)?
And what is your iPhoto version? iPhoto 9.5.1?
Some how I have trouble trying to drag my photos to my drive and it is not letting me to do so
What exactly happens when you try to drag photos to your drive? Are you dragging from iPhoto's window to the drive?
Can you export your photos, when you select the photos on iPhoto and use the command "File > Export"?

Problems with converted .MTS files in Final Cut Express 4

I have a hard drive full of video shot and a consumer grade HD camera in the .MTS format.
After struggling with finding an acceptable converter, I finally bought iSkysoft's Video Converter.
I've been using the converter's output preset of "MP4 Format for Final Cut X" and "High definition MP4 format" settings and they both yield the same results.
Now I am having problems simply editing the footage in FCE4.
I can take the footage and set i/o points in them but when I drag clips into the timeline, it often hangs up, locks up, FCE is unresponsive and it's even crashed.
This is on a 2 x 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Mac running 10.6.8.

In order to use .mts video in Final Cut Express, you need to convert the video to QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec before importing into FCE. .mts video files are typically H.264 video, highly compressed and is not something that FCE can edit. Ditto for "MP4 format for FCPX or HighDef MP4 format". If iSkysoft cannot convert to QT/AIC then I suggest Clipwrap
Note: for the future, if your camcorder is an AVCHD camcorder you can directly ingest the video from the camcorder into FCE.

Convert M2TS to MP4

I just pre ordered the iPhone 6 Plus and it will be delivered on 9/19. So excited. My question is how I could transfer the M2TS video files stored in my camcorder to iPhone 6 Plus so that I can watch them whenever. I only know iPhone 6 plus supports MP4 video format. Which is the best video converter that can help me convert M2TS to MP4. Thanks?

Try macx free ts video converter. It can easily convert M2TS, MTS, TS vidoe files to MP4 format. What's more, it is a freeware.
Or you can also follow this tips to know how to do it: http://www.macxdvd.com/mac-dvd-video-converter-how-to/convert-hd-mkv-mts-avi-to-iphone6.htm

Convert .MTS files in Compressor 4

I'm looking for a solution to convert .MTS files to .MP4 files. Could Compressor 4 do it?

They need to be re-wrapped as .mov (as in something like Clipwrap). After that, the answer is yes.
Russ

What software will convert .MTS files to something that will open in Final Cut Express?

I need a reccomendation for a software that will convert .MTS file to a file type that Final Cut Express HD will recognize.

Thanks for your reply, Martin.
What I'm doing is converting an .MTS file to .mp4 using HandBrake. FinalCut Express opens the .mp4 files (sometimes) but they have pixellation with huge squares all over the screen. I'm guessing it has to do with keyframes. So that's why I'm trying to convert it. When I open the .mp4 file in QuickTime in order to Export as QuickTime Movie I select these options for AIC:
This is what the QT Inspector window shows for each:
mp4 file
mov file
Format
MPEG-4(Perian), 1920x1080, MIllions, AAC, Stereo (LR), 48,000 kHz
16-bit Integer (Little Endian), Stereo (LR), 48,000 kHz, Apple Intermediate Codec, 1440x1080 (1888x1062), Millions
FPS
29.97
30.33
Normal Size
1920 x 1080 pixels
1888x1062 pixels
The problem is, I'm only guessing which settings to use. Is there information somewhere that spells that out? Should I be doing something different when I convert the .MTS file in the first place?

I have produced a number of DVD on my iMac. They are stored in a folder called Burn Folder. I want to get them into iTunes so I can play them on Apple TV. I have tried to convert them to MP4s using Handbrake but Handbrake does not recognize these files.

I have produced a number of DVD on my iMac. They are stored in a folder called Burn Folder. I want to get them into iTunes so I can play them on Apple TV. I have tried to convert them to MP4s using Handbrake but Handbrake does not recognize these files. I am stumped.

If you have the original movie files, you'd be much better converting those, otherwise try MPEGstreamclip.

Can't convert flv to mp4 when I publish to html5

Hi
I have a project that incorpporates FLV files which where imported succesfully. When I publish to HTML5, the flv files fail to convert to Mp4. Ironically, if I publish the entire project to mp4 it works?
Has anyone got any ideas.
Cheers
Mark
Ps I am using Captivate 7

REsolved
I have been using a third-party program to generate FLV files. Although captivate 7 accept these files & publishes these files in certain formats (including mp4), the Adobe media encoder is unable to convert these files into mp4 format if you want to publish them as html5. In order to resolve this, I had to bring files into captivate as either AVI or MP4 files. The Adobe media encoder then converts them to an acceptable FLV for captivate. If I then publish to HTML 5, the media encoder successfully does the conversion.
As a quick test I tried to directly convert the third-party generated FLV files using adobe media converter into F4v files and then import them into captivate, however the Adobe media encoder would not recognise the flv format.
Therefore, if you come up with a similar problem, I strongly recommend that you bring in your video files as avi or mp4 and let the Adobe media encoder do its work.
Cheers
Mark

Is it bad to convert .mts to .mp4, then import to iMovie?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for