MiniDV Import into iMovie...

I imported around 20 hours worth of MiniDV cassetes into iMovie.
When I look at my hard disk "iMovie Library" in the "Original Media" folder I see 1350 clips listed as:
Filename (id).mov
Are these files the original DV files from the Sony HCR-40 MiniDV video camera?
The reason I ask is because I want to make sure I'm backing up / archiving the original files.
Thank you for any insight!
Matt

Hi Patrick,
It really depends on your level of interest in editing and the degree to which you want control over your productions.
iMovie08 is really designed for ultimate 'ease of use' ... meaning, intended for the mom & pop crowd who just want to film their kids and throw a video together without having to know much about computers & editing, and without investing much time & effort in producing their DVDs. It's been pretty controversial among longstanding iMovie users because it is conceptually very different, the interface is very different and it lost a number of features that iMovie previously had.
FCE, on the other hand, is intended for the serious amateur, prosumer, or professional who wants comprehensive editing capabilities and serious tools to accomplish their creative vision. And it has a learning curve to go with it.
iMovie6 is in between - simple to use, low learning curve, but a more traditional (and in some ways more capable) editor than iMovie08.
Since you already have them, I'd suggest trying a small project with iMovie08 and with FCE. You may find that iMovie08 meets your needs. You can always recapture the material in FCE if you choose to do so.

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