Thinking bout upgrading from imovie

So im thinking about upgrading from imovie. What do you think some good reasons for doing so are. Im wanting to be able to have mulitple movie tracks. Also, are there better transitions and effects in FCE? Is there a way to do a Four Corner type PIP with different video in each corner? Let me know what the big selling points were for you.
thanks

Hi(Bonjour)!
That's depend of your projects and needs.
FCE is the swiss army knive of video editing and iMovie is the fisher-price.
FCE needs many much more time to master, it's less automated, it had less "canned" transitions, it's a totally different way of editing than iMovie, but you can build almost anything you want... if you master it.
A good hammer is nothing without a good carpenter and an hammer is too much heavy to plant a needle.
Be prepare to follow a steep learning curve, but you'll get reward if you persist.
FCE is the Final Cut Pro's little brother: once your master it, you will be at home in FCP if you upgrade.
Yes you can do 4 corners PIP if you want, and remember that in FCE there are many ways to achieve one goal.
This forum is full of switchers from iMovie to FCE and generally they stay with FCE after the switch.
Michel Boissonneault

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I was thinking about upgrading from iMovie 11 to Final Cut Express. I know the cost and I was wondering if it is worth it, is it?

Since Final Cur Pro X will be release in June, you may want to wait for it.
Allan

Upgrading from iMovie Questions

I need to upgrade from iMovie -- need to because I'm finding that iMovie is somewhat unreliable regarding some of its 'known issues.'
So ...
I'm trying to figure out what the key differences are between FC Pro and Express. I'm willing to endure any 'learning curve' differences, I just want to figure out if there are any features in the Pro edition that I'll never use and weigh the differences.
1. Is there any matrix you can point to that does this comparison?
2. Is there a 'Final Cut Express Studio' that includes all of the software in Final Cut Pro Studio or do they have to be purchased individually.
3. Are both FC Pro and Express devoid of the 'known issues' that can make working with iMovie somewhat unreliable?
Thanks for your feedback.

I found a comparison article here: http://camcorders.about.com/od/videoediting/a/FinalCutCompare.htm
Final Cut Express HD also gives you Soundtrack 1.5 and LiveType 2 for $299.
To get Final Cut Pro, you must by Final Cut Studio for $1299. With this you also get SoundTrack Pro (different from SoundTrack 1.5), Motion, DVD Studio Pro, Compressor, and the same version of LiveType (I think).
You cannot buy Final Cut Pro, SoundTrack Pro, Compressor, Motion, and DVD Studio Pro individually.
Since you cannot buy DVD Studio Pro individually, if you buy FCE HD you'd still need to use iDVD (or Toast) to author a DVD Video.
You won't find the same "known issues" as iMovie. There will be different "known issues" as no software package is perfect. Your biggest issue will probably be the learning curve but you can overcome that.

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i have a mac and am thinking about upgrading from snowlepard to lion , is it a good idea and hard to adapt to

This is my "About This Mac" ... it shows I have Intel i7 CPU. If you are running SL, you at least have Intel, but would need at least Core2Duo an 2 GB (most people suggest 4 GB) RAM.
If you want to run Lion, remember that the discussions in this forum from last summer when Lion first came out (and since) were highly charged at times. Certain features that vanished or were added caused great heartache for some. Others love Lion, though. And some live with the changes waiting for any fixes they would desire.
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AND
Recall that you can clone your SL to an external disk to keep it safe. Then you can "experiment with" the new OSX (Lion or ML) until you know it works for you while still having your old SL safe in case you need it.
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Huge thanks for your response Michel. I apologise for the delay in getting back to you. I have done as you suggested, the details are pasted below. Clearly there are some applications I need to remove and no doubt my HD could do with a 'spring clean'. My Mac 'Safe Booted' when I turned it on this morning.
I use many different softwares, some web-based. The decision to upgrade to OSX Yosemite is because I was unable to attend a Webinar this week using GoToMeeting downloadable software. GoToMeeting have upgraded their system and my OS is no longer supported. Other websites like VImeo no longer support my version of Safari. I tend to use Chrome if Safari isn't compatible.
Problem description:
I'm thinking of upgrading from v10.6.8 Snow Leopard to OS X Yosemite. However I have noticed that my MacBook Pro becoming ‘slow’ over the last 3 weeks and therefore might have some issues that need to be resolved before I even consider installing OSX Yosemite. Over the last week my Mac has Safe Booted on three occasions, so clearly there’s a ‘glitch’ occurring.
EtreCheck version: 2.1.1 (104)
Report generated 6 December 2014 10:21:01 GMT
Hardware Information: ℹ️
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) (Verified)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,2
1 2 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core
4 GB RAM
BANK 0/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
AMD Radeon HD 6490M - VRAM: 256 MB
Color LCD 1440 x 900
Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB
System Software: ℹ️
Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549) - Uptime: 0:35:42
Disk Information: ℹ️
Hitachi HTS545050B9A302 disk0 : (465.76 GB)
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
- (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.76 GB (236.21 GB free)
HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS31N
USB Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Microsoft Microsoft® Nano Transceiver v2.0
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
Apple, Inc. MacBook Pro
Configuration files: ℹ️
/etc/launchd.conf - Exists
Adware: ℹ️
Geneio [Remove]
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.flipvideo.IOUSBCameraMassStorage (1.0.1) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse (8.2) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/MicrosoftMouse.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseBluetooth (8.2) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseUSB (8.2) [Support]
Startup Items: ℹ️
HWNetMgr: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWNetMgr
HWPortDetect: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect
Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite
Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[not loaded] org.samba.winbindd.plist [Support]
Launch Agents: ℹ️
[running] com.flipvideo.FlipShare.AutoRun.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
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Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
[running] com.flipvideo.FlipShareServer.launchd.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Support]
[running] com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist [Support]
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[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]
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[invalid?] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist [Support]
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[loaded] com.genieo.completer.update.plist Adware! [Remove]
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None
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Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Support]
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.6 [Support]
RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.12 [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.239 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.239 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.7
googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.38.6.0 - SDK 10.8 [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.6.6
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.12 [Support]
CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: Version: 2.1.0.1 [Support]
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EPPEX Plugin: Version: 3.0.5.0 [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 13.9.8 - SDK 10.6 Check version
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Thinking of upgrading from ADSL to infinity - cele...

I'm thinking of upgrading from ADSL to Infinity to get fibre TV. At the moment I have:
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If you like a post, or want to say thanks for a helpful answer, please click on the Ratings star on the left-hand side of the post.
If someone answers your question correctly please let other members know by clicking on ’Mark as Accepted Solution’.

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Want to upgrade from imovie 5.0.2 to 6.0

I have been searching the apple download pages to upgrade my imovie 5.0.2 to 6.0. I have only found upgrades from 6.0 to 6.0.2 and 6.0.3 but nothing to get me to 6.0. Am I missing something? Please help, thanks!

You can't go from version 5 to version 6 via updates.
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See this: http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/imovie-to-finalcutpro/
I've imported a couple of iMovie '11 projects to Final Cut Pro X. The process works quite seamlessly. The associated Events are also imported to FCP X Events Library. However, in a couple of areas, some items weren't always kept in the correct position - such as Titles. So you may have to play around a bit in order to re-sync some media. Certainly, you will need to check through the whole project to ensure the integrity of the project.
Whilst FCP X can render in the background, I'm finding that things are much quicker in iMovie - each title, transition and effect appears virtually in an instant (no rendering at all during editing). In FCP X, there is a lag - items don't appear to play smoothly until the render is complete. So, when checking how a title or transition looks on playback, to see a smooth result it's best to wait for the render to finish. Of course, this is probably dependent on your system - perhaps I need to upgrade to 8 GB of RAM and a quad core i7.
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Just upgraded from iMovie 09 to 09...Where are my old files?

Hey there,
I just upgraded my iMovie to 2009 and now I can't locate the project I was working so hard on with iMovie 2008. It was the only one I had and was rather short but very important.
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Help?

I just did the same thing (exactly as stated above) (upgrading from 08 to 09). IMovie will not load with my old project I was working on.
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How can I get to my project I spent the last 2 months working on??

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Is it so that many features are gone in the new iMovie 08. No more nice plugins for nice Transitions, Video FX and so on? And what els is missing?
Is it a bad idea to upgrade if I want to make some cool effects and so on?

Is it a bad idea to upgrade if I want to make some cool effects and so on?
No.
I use both iMovie 06 and iMovie 08 (iMovie 06 about 90%, iMovie 08 about 10%).
Many reviews of iMovie 08 recommend using both iMovie 08 and iMovie 06.
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http://www.geethree.com/slick/imovie8.html

Thinking of upgrading from my macbook to macbook pro just can't decide on the 15in or 17in, any suggestions

I am thinking about upgrading my macbook to a macbook pro, any suggestions on whether or not I should get the 15in or the 17in.

I got the 17" anti-glare high res and simply loving the heck out of it.
I can see the screen in sharp perfect detail in just about any environment with no reflections on the screen.
It displays 1080i (1920 x 1000) video in full resolution on it's 1920 x 1200 pixel screen.
Contrary it's much thinner than many 17" PC's of the same size and even less thinner than my previous 15" MacBookPro!
I got the 2.3 ghz model with the awesomely fast Radeon 6750M in it, I can even play 3D games in Windows in a virtual machine OS in OS X! A real sweet machine.
The performance of the 2.2 and the 2.3 ghz 15" and 17" MacBook Pro are just about the same.
The performace of the 2.0 Ghz 15" is less due to it's less than stellar video card. I would avoid this model.
The 13" is all integrated graphics, no 3D gaming or heavy video use, I would avoid it as well unless you don't have a need for heavy duty graphics.
Some people get a expensive workhorse machine like the 15" or 17" and then carry around a iPad or a very cheap Windows or even more secure Linux netbook for on the go purposes.
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If one has a vehicle then the weight factor really isn't a major difference, it's mostly if your in a major city, taking trains, subways or walking a lot that a light weight device is more preferred.
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HD upgrade from iMovie 4 freezes

Hello Folks,
After thorough searching...
I did a 23 minute project on iMovie 4 that had about a 3 sec. audio delay when burned to DVD for no reasons that I could discern. I (perhaps unwisely) went ahead and upgraded to HD since I had it. Now, the project (and another) will not open or iMovie freezes up after a few seconds. I need help at least salvaging the project. Any ideas?
And, thank for all the posts that have solved problems for me in the past.

Thanks Len. I had already done that though, so let me add some information. When I open the existing project, imovie begins to "build" the movie, then, for some reason it starts to render some clips - about 5 in all. These clips, as it turns out, are the clips where the playhead is when the project finally opens (before it freezes). AND, they are all clips which used an overlay effect (counter in seconds) from stupendous software. I though of trashing the effects, but I'm thinking it doesn't actually use them again to render does it? I took them out of the effects folder but to no avail (yes, I checked both effects folders).
I'm extremely annoyed at myself for not just fixing the audio in 4, but the file had gotten to taking several seconds for each audio edit that I tried to take the short cut.
Note that, I also imported the .mov file yesterday, which took about 7 hours for some reason, and that file has the audio delay as well. I believe that means that the project had the audio delay before I ever burned it to DVD, and I wondered if we should be checking the .mov (by watching in Quicktime) before we move to DVD anyway?
However, given the delay in importing the .mov file and the many hours it took to burn the first DVD, AND the long waits when editing audio before I even finished, I'm wondering if there is something corrupt I should be considering and if anyone has ideas about that.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. This was a training video for my staff that I now can't use.
Mark

Upgrading from iMovie 4

I've been using iMovie 4 for a while now and find it very easy and convenient to use. The only real issue I have, although it is a biggy, is that there's no central clip library or way of copying and pasting edited segments from one movie project timeline into another. So I've now ended up with loads of movie projects, which are in effect isolated from each other. I know I can import selected clips from one project folder into another, but it's hardly convenient and you can't really preview the clips you are importing.
Bearing these issues in mind, I am about to upgrade my hardware (to a new iMac) and was considering what software to use for video editing. I've read all the negative press regarding the functionality of iMovie 8, but it does at least appear to have the central clip library I want. I know iMovie 6 has all the editing functionality I need and I believe it allows copy and pasting of edited segments between multiple projects (correct me if I'm wrong here). So I was thinking that I could maybe use iMovie 8 to quickly select and piece together clips from the central library, then export the project into iMovie 6 for final editing and export to iDVD etc. Do you think this is a reasonable approach, or is the swapping between these 2 apps a pain? The alternative is to buy FCE, which is more powerful than I really need, but if it makes life easier I don't mind.
Sorry for the long winded question, but I'm a bit confused about the intended use of iMovie 8 and the more "traditional" iMovie 6! To summarise my requirements, I need iMovie 6 editing functionality and the ability to store clips in a convenient central library.

iMovie 08 is great for what you are looking for.
I have about 6 hours of AVCHD footage and the contents of 18 miniDV cassettes available in my Event Library. I am beginning to go back and add my VHS library. Any clip can be nondestructively added to any project. ( I have just filled a 1 TB drive and started on a second one.)
iMovie 08 uses a different editing paradigm, but I find I can do what I need with it. I recommend seeing if you can go up the learning curve, because once you do, editing is much faster.
However, if you miss the timeline-based editor, you can export footage to a file that can be imported into iMovie 6. To do this, follow these steps.
1) Edit as far as you care to in iMovie 08
2) Click Share/Export Using Quicktime
3) Choose a location for this exported movie (e.g. your desktop, or a folder called transferred movies)
4) In the Movie to Quicktime Movie dialogue box, choose Apple Intermediate Codec. (This codec will retain 100% of the video quality of the original DV footage). And press OK and Save.
5) Open iMovie 6.Create a new empty project. Name and save it.
6) Choose File/Import in iMovie 6. Bring in the exported movie you just made. It will show up in the clips shelf.

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Thanks.

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Thinking bout upgrading from imovie

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