Please help with converting mpeg 1 movies..

Question

I have a Hitachi video camera that is not recognised by imovie. It outputs in mpeg1 format. Downloaded MPEG streamclip and tried to convert it, my problem is the video ended up having interlace problems when ther is any movement..
Can someone tell me what format is best for imovie and the setting for mpeg streamclip?
I am about to finally give up, and start using my girlfriend's PC...

Answer 1

I do not know how vital if for you, but if it really is, MPEG2 Works 4 will convert MPEG 1's to MPEG 2's, you could *then transfer the MPEG 2 into iM08* or transcode to something else.
Unfortunately is not free, but you could go to the website, and **_download a trial version_*, and convert that single file or other few if you need to and then trash it. If you do get it, do the following:
1.- Go to the "VCD" Tab
2.- Click on "MPEG 1 > MPEG 2",
3.- It will ask you for the input file, select your MPEG 1, and then will ask you for the place to save it.
Once you have the MPEG 2, you need to trick iM08 in order to import it. Pay attention to this, since iM08 supposedly ONLY imports MPEG 2 directly from the camcorder. Do not panic, this is not correct, you can trick it doing the following.
With a USB flash memory drive, or an external hard drive, create on it a folder named MP_ROOT, inside it create a folder named 101PNV01, now put your mpg-2 files in this folder. Have iMovie open; after creating these files and putting the mpeg2's on it, disconnect the drive from your computer, now, when you re-connect, is like connecting a camera, and with iMovie open already, it will tell you that you have connected a camera etc, etc, now import into iMovie 08.
I use this to import mpeg 2's.
Remember to create this at the root level, at the very highest level in your external hard drive or USB. I do not use a USB stick because my files are very large, I use a external hard drive, so if one does not work for you, try the other one, if you have both.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5823783#5823783
Check out this thread, it explains this and other possibilities. I do not take credit for this trick, somebody else described it.
Message was edited by: gusluz
Message was edited by: gusluz