Taking iDVD files back to iMovie

How do I take a iDVD project (that was first done in iMovie) back into iMovie to edit a new project? My kids did a school project in iMovie 2 years ago and want to redo it. But we finalized the iDVD and only have the final DVD and the fiels associated with that DVD. What files do you need to take from a final iDVD project to import back into iMovie. The idea is the kids will edit the old iMovie project and then send back to iDVD to burn a completed new DVD. Thanks for any help.

But we finalized the iDVD and only have the final DVD and the fiels associated with that DVD
Do you mean you have all the files used to create that iDVD project (in which case you would still have all the movie clips) or do you mean you only have the iDVD project file (which is useless if you moved or deleted content used in that project).
If all you have is the DVD, you can use something like DVDxDV to extract movie files from the DVD.

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Hi. I transferred an iMovie file to a USB flash drive. How can i retrieve the file back to iMovie? I am unable to do it

Hi. I transferred an iMovie file to a USB flash drive. How can i retrieve the file back to iMovie? I am unable to do it

Hello there,
It sounds like you have a video file you exported from iMovie that you would like to import back into the program. Depending on the version of iMovie the process is a bit different so choose the correct article for your version:
iMovie '11: Import video from movie files
http://support.apple.com/kb/ph2153
Or
iMovie (2013): Import media on your computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14676
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Sterling

DVD made by iMovie and iDVD transfered back into iMovie

Ok so the problem is... i made 2 DVD copies of a rough draft version of this video i am making. In the mean time my eMac went through logic board mayhem. So i had tried to back up my movies but for some reason it stopped and in all i dont have the video n e more except for on these discs. Is there ANY way that this movie project can be saved put back into iMovie for my final touches?!?

there are many ways....
* DVDxDV (free trial, 25$)
* Apple mpeg2 plugin (20$) + Streamclip (free)
* Cinematize >60$
* Mpeg2Works >25$ + Apple plug-in
* Toast6/7 allows converting to dv/import dvd, hit apple-k
* connect your Camera to a DVD-player and copy to tape/use as converter
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6018.shtml

IDVD: Files exported from iMovie 11, one works, one "Unsupported File Type : Unknown format"

I used footage from the same camera (taken on the same weekend using the same settings) in several different iMovie "projects". All were shared from iMovie 11 as "File" using the quality setting "SD 480p".
In Quicktime Player, all ".mp4" files will play and they show the following info in its inspector:
Format: H.264, 854 x 480
AAC, 48000 Hz, Stereo (L R)
FPS: 29.97
One exported file will drag, drop, and burn in iDVD just fine. The other two files show the error "Unsupported File Type : Unknown format" as soon as I try and drag them into iDVD.
The only difference I can find is that the one file that works is about 803MB, while the files that don't work are 1.87GB and 3.98GB.
All files and the iDVD project are in the same folder on my startup volume. I've tried deleting com.apple.idvd but that didn't help. I've tried rebooting and starting the iDVD project from scratch but I get the same results.
Mac OS 10.9.1
iMovie 10.0.1
iDVD 7.1.2
Any ideas?

Hello Bengt and thank you again for the replies.
As I mentioned in my previous posts, I'm using iMovie 10.0.1 which has very limited quality adjustments. In every case I chose the smallest size, which iMovie 10.0.1 calls "SD 480p (854 x 480)". I used this same setting on all exports.
I still have iMovie HD (6.0.4) and iMovie '11 (9.0.9) on my iMac so I tried both of them. In both cases, they could import only the file that works in iDVD. Both older versions of iMovie choked on the longer movies shared from iMovie 10.0.1.
I have many many hours into the editing of these clips and I do not want to have to go back and redo everything in an older version of iMovie. Might I be better off going with a different DVD creation software? Or am I out of luck? Because I can't really change iMovie 10.0.1's export settings, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to get it to export it as something that iDVD can use (really, I can't even tell why it's different and why iDVD doesn't like it).
The software "WonderShare DVD Creator" has no issue with any of the files I've exported from iMovie 10.0.1.

Is there a way to exort an iDVD project back to iMovie?

Hi.
I need some help please!
I made a training video a couple of years ago for a friend's company. She now would like to have additional copies burned. The problem is I saved the dvd project on my hard drive, but I deleted the imovie project.
Of course, this time she needs to change her company logo in the intro (which would require me to remove the first 5 seconds of the original movie)... and I'm unable to edit it. Can I extract the movie some how? or if save it as an "archive" would I then be able to move it to iMovie?
I would really appreciate feedback!

The answer depends on what you have available.
The best method is to locate the movie footage used in the original iMovie and reimport that into another iMovie project and create a new iDVD project with it. There will be no loss of quality.
Just so you know, saving your iDVD project is nearly useless without saving the movie that is in it. An iDVD project is not self-contained. Think of it as a file that holds aliases. When you create an iDVD project, the iMovie used is referenced, not physically moved into the iDVD project. Same for any photos or audio files used. It is unlike an iMovie project (at least version 6) where the movies, photos and audios ARE moved into the iMovie project. When iDVD burns a project, it collects the referenced files for the burn, but does not keep them permanently in its project. So, if you have saved any iDVD projects, and you did NOT save the media used, all you have is the 'shell' of the iDVD project. If you open it, iDVD will not be able to locate the missing media and will alert you that it cannot find the proper files.
If this is the case, and you no longer have the original movie footage, or you don't want to have to re-edit it, you will need to get one of the burned DVD disks, and extract the movie from it.
Any type of extraction of compressed data will result in some loss of quality because the data must be decompressed and then recompressed again for another DVD.
If you don't have one of the DVDs you previously burned for this project, you will not be able to create another iDVD project from the first one, and without the original movie footage, you are out of luck.
If you do have one of the old DVDs, you can use a variety of software to extract out the video: Handbrake, Ripit, or Streamclip. I have not looked into Handbrake, but many use it and think it works well. Ripit will extract the video into format for iMovie....seems easy enough as reviewed in MacWorld recently. Others use Streamclip.
If you think that you will need to create more DVDs of this project, or if you would like to save your complete iDVD projects in the future so you can burn more DVDs, you should do a 'Save as Disk Image' from within the iDVD project for each one. This process looks exactly like the burning process, with the same encoding and taking the same length of time to complete, but the end result is a disk image file, not a burned DVD disk.
The advantages of having a disk image file are several:
First, it is self-contained, with all the media data encoded in it. So now, you CAN safely delete both the original iDVD project and its original iMovie without losing the ability to burn disks in the future.
Another advantage is that it can be a backup for all your burned DVD disks. What if a disk is damaged/breaks/melts/ etc.? With a disk image file, you just burn another one.
Disk image files save drive space because they are smaller than the combination iDVD project /iMovie projects used to create them.
You never need to worry about renaming, moving, deleting or changing any of the media used in any of your projects causing iDVD to lose connection with them. All the media encoding is in the disk image file.
And, another advantage is that you can burn DVDs from the disk image file, using Disk Utility or Toast, getting more consistent burns, since you are not depending on iDVD to pull in the media.
Here are some helps for creating a disk image in iDVD:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iDVD/7.0/en/6733.html
Burning from a disk image using Disk Utility:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2087?viewlocale=en_US
If you have some previously burned DVD disks and you think you would like to have had disk images for them, you can create a disk image file from a burned DVD disk.
Here are instructions for that:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2059?viewlocale=en_US

Can I save (or import) an iDVD file into iMovie?

I have created a video using iMovie for the actual video portion and iDVD for the dynamic menu. As of yet I can only watch the whole video as an iDVD file. Is there a way to import the iDVD project back into iMovie for us on the web?

If you still have your iMovie Event and your iMovie Project, you can use the iMovie SHARE menu. You can share to YouTube, Share to iTunes, Share to a Movie on your Desktop, etc.

Bring dvd back into imovie to re-edit?

I made an imovie - successfully brought it into idvd - and burned a dvd. I showed it to my client and they wanted some changes. When I made the changes I saved a copy of the project (64 GB) which filled up my remaining hard drive space to capacity. I deleted the old movie to make room but the NEW movie (with my new edits) won't open (must not have fully saved properly...). So now I have nothing to work from. The only thing I can think of is to try to bring the .dv file back into imovie from the dvd I burned...will this work? Can I edit? Is it encrypted?

You will need to convert the DVD back into a DV file for imovie.
How can I edit MPEG or convert DVD or MPEG to DV
http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/%7Eshmhav/SVCDon_a_Macintosh.html#edit_convertMPEG
Using MPEG or DVD footage
http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml
MPEG Streamclip
http://www.alfanet.it/squared5/mpegstreamclip.html
MPEG-2 Playback
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/
Sue

IDVD file to iMovie

I created a photo slideshow on iDVD (because I needed to play it on a DVD player), but now I'd like to upload it to YouTube. How can I accomplish this? YouTube won't accept any files created in iDVD. Is there a way to open this file in iMovie to share it on YouTube?
Thank you.

Welcome to the forums!
You need to 'reverse engineer' the DVD, which is in the compressed mpeg2 final delivery format not intended for editing.
The DVD contains a folder of files:
You need to convert the VOB files back to DV which iMovie is designed to handle. For that you need mpegStreamclip:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html
which is free, but you must also have the Apple mpeg2 plugin :
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/
which is a mere $20.
Another possibility is to use DVDxDV:
http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm
which costs $25.
For the benefit of others who may read this thread:
Obviously the foregoing only applies to DVDs you have made yourself, or other home-made DVDs that have been given to you. It will NOT work on copy-protected commercial DVDs, which in any case would be illegal.
Having now got the project in iMovie, you can convert it to a format suitable for YouTube.

Imovie to idvd back to imovie?

Hello. I am using the latest versions of both imovie and idvd. Here is my question.
I have a one hour movie that I have imported and edited in imovie. I sent my imovie project to idvd and than I burned a dvd in idvd. I deleted the original imovie file and idvd file from my harddrive. How do I get the movie from the dvd disc back into imovie? I want to do more editing of my project in imovie.
thanks
Ben

Hi, Ben,
You can extract from your DVD by using some third party extractors, but you may lose quality from your original movie footage. See this discussion: http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@@.68b7d7a6
In the future, you may want to export your iMovie back to your camcorder onto DV tapes so that you have a backup copy that you could reimport for more editing. You will not be able to CHANGE any prior edits--well, not very much.
If there is any possiblity that you will be re-editing, keep your iMovie projects!

How do I import an unfinalized iMovie from iDVD back to iMovie so that I can finalize it?

Some more details: I created a few iMovie's and a few of them I never finalized, I just burned to iDVD. I had to make space off of my computer so I deleted them, but I made backup copies on DVD for myself. How can I re-import the DVD so that I can finalize and save it once and for all? Do I need to put the file in iPhoto? When I try to browse out to a copy of the file on an external harddrive or to the DVD, the project is greyed out and cannot be selected.

All of the data resides in the Domain.sites folder found in
HD/Users/Your user name/Library/Application Support/iWeb
Copy that file to the other machine and you can edit (assuming you have iWeb installed on it) your pages.
Copy that file back to your other machine (it the exact location) and confirm to "replace" the older version so your file is identical to the "Published" version.

I have been backing up iMovie 08 files to my external drive, but for some reason I can't open these files in iMovie. I used drag and drop to copy them.

I have been backing up iMovie 08 files to my external drive, but for some reason I can't open these files in iMovie. I used drag and drop to copy them.

You really should be doing backups with an actual backup application, especially one that will work automatically, and, if your external HD is large enough, back up your entire system. These can automatically back up only what's changed since the previous backup, and some will keep "archive" copies of things you've changed or deleted, also.
Too many things can go wrong, such as your internal HD failing, and you'll have a major project to reinstall everything.
You already have Time Machine, built-in to OSX. You might want to review the Time Machine Tutorial, and perhaps browse Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.
#27 in the second link mentions some alternatives, too.

Is there a way to go move a project from IDVD back to IMOVIE?

This is clearly a newbie question:
I know how to share from Imovie to IDVD and I made my IDVD project, but now I don't know if I still have the IMovie I originally transferred.
Is there a way to move a project from IDVD back to IMOVIE?

First, go back to iMovie and look under both iMovie Events and Projects to see if you still have the movie. Double check by looking in Finder to where you save the movies you create. For instance, if you save to Movies, there should be folders in there for iMovie Events and iMovie Projects. If they are there, you should see them in the lists in iMovie.
If not, I don't think there is a way you can move it directly back to iMovie. Is there a real need to have it in iMovie? Unless you are going to change the movie, there is not a need to keep it there. If, for some reason you want it there, however, you can go thru the process of copying the DVD back to the hard drive using MPEG Streamclip, and exporting it to Quicktime. Then open iMovie, and bring it back into iMovie.

IMovie to iDvd - No audio- disc image did not work-reopen iDvd files empty

I am making a 45 minute movie of a day at Disneyland. (My daughter wants it all so the editing is minimal)
I have tried to burn 3 times. each time takes about 12 hours.
first attempt had an error, i know not when, nothing burned to disc.
second attempt burned to disc, the 6.0 theme looked great, MP3 music played, worked on TV set
NO audio on the movie. trash the disc.
Third attempt burn to disc image. end up with two folders AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS. the audio folder is empty. no image
All the audio in the movie is off the video tracks except for ONE sound effect.
Is that causing the problem? Is the update causing the problem?
When I reopen any iDvdproj the themes are all blank even if the project file size is 5.8 GB. that does not seem right.
I have another smaller project with the same problem, the iDvd files are blank when I reopen them.
Right now I am trying to compress the movie into a QuickTime file but all the options were confusing since I am not an expert. in another 6 hours I will have results I have no idea how big the file will be, but the image willl remain the existing size ?? I am afraid it will be too small.
How come it seems so easy to make a dvd to watch on you own TV yet so IMPOSSIBLE?
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7) iLife 06 updated

Hello Wade,
the problem seems to be the audio. Give us a little more info on what audio you used in the iMovie project (original audio, music, MP3, Aiff...).
Also: what audio setting does your camcorder have? Should be 16-bit, 12-bit is a big no-no with iDVD, see this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=494268&tstart=0&start=45
12 hours seem a long time to encode 45 min of video ... your mac should be able to do that in 4-5 hours max. I would suggest you convert all MP3 audio to AIFF before importing to iM.
If your original audio is 12-bit you can try to export the whole audio (original & music) via QT using the audio only option with 24-bit Integer, then re-import into iM.
Get the latest QT update, if you haven't done so already.
Also do some basic iDVD troubleshooting:
1. free some space on the startup drive (15-20GB recommended)
2. Trash preferences (com.apple.iDVD.plist) and empty trash
3. Repair Disk Permissions using Disk Utility
4. Clear Cache Files (Tools: CacheOutX, Onyx)
Have a look at what John Beatty says in this thread about iDVD trouble shooting:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=508221&tstart=0
Third attempt burn to disc image. end up with two folders AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS. the audio folder is empty. no image
the AUDIO_TS folder being empty is perfectly normal for Video DVDs, only music DVDs have audio in that folder
hope this helps
mish

Backing up iMovie files to make hard drive space available

has anyone developed a good process for backing up iMovie event video on an external drive, but still working on those events in iMovie? Or do you have to copy the event back to the hard drive to work in the event?

Hi Jeff
Have a look at > http://www.apple.com/support/imovie/
or pop on over to the iMovie section of the Community where all the iMovie Guru's hang out. > https://discussions.apple.com/community/ilife/imovie?forumID=1411
Dennis

How do I move a project from an external drive back into Imovie

I recently bought an Iomega external hard drive to store documentary movies so that I wouldn't jam up my Imac's free space. However, after I moved an imovie/idvd project to it, and wanted to make changes, I could not move the project back into the Imac's drive. (It also would not burn from the external, giving me a multiplex error) When I tried to move the movie back into Imovie on the Imac it said Quicktime couldn't parse it. I saw various posts about parsing, but not about specifically about moving a project from an external drive. Can anyone offer any suggestions? It seems to me that I should be able to move a project back and forth without that much trouble.

Sounds like you have a DVD format (MPEG-2) and not an iMovie Project file.
The key phrases are "multiplex" and "parse". Both suggest MPEG-2 format when opened in QuickTime. It would also throw an error -2048 message if MPEG-2.
But another issue could be the file format of the external drive. Most ship pre-formatted for the Windows OS's but a Mac user should format using HFS+ (and others). If you didn't format the drive before moving the large iMovie Project onto it it may have become severely fragmented if the external used FAT 16 or FAT 32 (very common) formats. They have a 2 or 4 GB file size limit, respectively and would have made your Project unreadable when moved back and forth.
Use the Disk Utility app to find out the format of your external drive.

Taking iDVD files back to iMovie

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