Using avi files with iMovie or iDVD

I have a flip video record which creates avi video files. I would like to make a movie or dvd with ilife. When I import the files I can hear the audio but the video is screen is blank. I have purchase QT Pro and tried saving the file as .mov and the same thing happens. The .avi files look perfect in the QT. I don't know what I am doing wrong in imovie. Please help!

in the many export options of QTpro, choose 'dv-stream' as format/codec ...

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Using WindowsDV .avi files in iMovie and iDVD

I'm about to buy a Mac after using PCs for many years. I'm still deciding whether to buy an iMac 20", upgrade the Ram and use an external firewire drive or to get a Mac Pro and use internal drives. Initially I'll use iMovie and iDVD and I have some questions regarding using files I've already created on my PC. Up until now I've mainly been using Ulead Video Studio 10 and Ulead DVD Workshop. DVD Workshop does not do 16:9 menus and has now been discontinued and I've been impressed with iMovie and iDVD when I've seen it in Apple stores.
I have some unedited 16:9 .avi files that I've captured from my Panasonic GS-400 camcorder as well as some already edited .avi and .mpg files. Will iMovie and iDVD recognise .avi DV files when accessed through my network or copied onto the Mac hard drive? I'll load unedited clips into iMovie for editing but anything that's already edited I'd like to put straight into iDVD, add chapters and make a menu etc.
Is this going to work easily or will I have to convert the files to an apple compatible format?
Thanks for any advice you can offer.
Ken
Windows XP Pro

Hi Ken and welcome to Apple!
You should not have a major problem. The AVI files should (repeat should) be recognized by iMovie. If not, conversion should (I love the certainty of that word!) be easy.
An iMac will do all you ask, but I recommend not less that 1GB of RAM.
At this stage, go get your iMac, and try to import the AVI files into iMovie. If that is not successful post back!
Remember: iMovie expects to be 'fed' by digital video through a firewire connection.
Any more questions, we are here to help!

Using .avi files in iMovie

I have a point an shoot camera that records video. They're avi files. iMovie can't process these files that I know...
Any idea how to modify file extension to something that iMovie can use. If I had only 1 file I just open with Quicktime and export to .mov, but having dozens of files makes this very time consuming...
Ideas?

Import them into iPhoto.
Then in iMovie, you will see an iPhoto category in the Event Library. You can access it there.

Using MTS files with iMovie

I'm having a real nightmare working with .mts video files. I'm not sure if this is the best forum to discuss, but I'm willing to try anything at this point.
I have a Canon Vixia HFR20 camera that saves in .mts format, and I'm trying to find a good way to edit/convert those videos with iMove '11 to be posted on a website and burned to DVD. Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to go about this? I have found a few free converter programs like WinX, but the results always look kind of crappy - lots of jagged edges and what not. My other main problem is that the .mts files appear to split after they reach a size of 2.05 GB so even though I'm only shooting one continuous video, I end up with 2 or more files. If there's a way to import the seperate files as one continuous video that would be fantastic.
I've recently tried using the "import from camera" feature in iMovie instead of copying the files from the SD card to my computer, but I could not get iMovie to see a camera other than the built in iSight. Is there a possibility this "import from camera" might be the best solution and I just haven't got it yet?
I feel like I'm forgetting some important information because I'm kind of flustered so don't hesitate to ask. I'd appreciate any guidance.

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.

Using avi files with DVpal. Working with screen grab footage.

Hi.
I am currently editing some short little promo's that mix DVpal footage with .avi footage. The .avi footage are screen grabs of someone navigating a website, and are designed as cutaways to illustrate a ptc.
However when they are rendered out on the timeline, the text from the website that is in the screen grab video becomes too distorted/(rasterized i think), essentially unreadable. I was planning on some degradation, but didn't realize it would destroy the image so much.
I have tried exporting/converting the .avi files to certain .mov formats but all with essentially the same problem.
Does anybody know a work around solution to help solve this problem. Or is the best way to redo the screen grabs as .movs with the relevant settings, and can anyone recommend some software for this job.

I think the problem is more based in the fact that you're working in DV. Can you work in a higher quality format?

Using Photoshop files with layers in iDVD

I prefer using my old DVD Studio Pro to iDVD, but since newer versions of Quicktime can't export to mpeg2 I'm forced to either use iDVD or buy a new version of DVDSP. Given that iDVD is already on my computer and DVDSP requires the purchase of the Final Cut Suite, I was wondering about how tweakable the menus and themes in iDVD are. Is there a way to create customized themes with your own menu pages with different shaped buttons, unique images and text? In DVDSP you could import Photoshop files and the file would retain the layers which would allow you to use layers as buttons, images, or text on you menu. Is there a way to do this in iDVD or am I out of luck? Thanks in advance!

any version of DVDSP contained "Compressor", which does the conversion of any iM project into the needed m2a, m2v streams for use in DVDSP... and no version of QT was able to export to mpeg2, except you tought that trick with some plug-ins, installed by DVDSP.... (?)
sure, you can customize menus, but not as flexibile as DVDSP; read the tutorials, or one of the "Missing Manuals" by David Pogue; import of PS-layers is not supported; iDVD is a consumer product.-

AVI files with iDVD??

does anyone know how to make a 45min long avi file work with iDVD? i want to burn them to a watchable DVD, thanks

does anyone know how to make a 45min long avi file
work with iDVD? i want to burn them to a watchable
DVD, thanks
There are many different CODECS used to compress the video in .AVI files - some are Mac QT compatable - some are not.
I have a small digital movie camera that produces .AVI files compresed in DivX format. Since upgrading to Mac OS 10.4 and QuickTime 7, the ONLY way I have found to use these files in iMovie/iDVD is to convert them to DV stream files using ffmpegX at http://homepage.mac.com/major4/
To find out the form of video compression used in your .AVI files, open one in QuickTime and select Window>Show Movie Info. What video format is shown?

AVI files in imovie '08

I know you can import AVI files, but iMovie does not import automatically the AVI files out iPhoto that ***** because I must copy now all my movies I already have in iPhoto. And my photocamera makes only AVI files. Anyone a solution to let the movies in iPhoto so you doesnt have to copy or import them??

Obviously, I think, the update is the culprit but I don't know how to solve it.
The same way you should always analyze AVI problems -- look at the codecs used. While it is always possible that the update may include different codec trapping routines, I doubt that they would eliminate a working combination on purpose. While I don't use AVI content on a regular basis simply because it is an outmoded container whose software developer abandoned it about a decade ago and it frequently contains compression formats which may or may not be available for the Mac, OS X, or work on a Core Duo machine, many users do. Unfortunately, they do not bother to learn about the various problems attendant with AVI use.
1) Only Some AVI content will be compatible at all. For instance, the Casio M-JPEG/DVI ADPCM files are not compatible because the audio cannot be edited in iMovie '08. On the other hand, the combination of M-JPEG/Integer from a Z40 is compatible and imports on my system under Leopard to iMovie v7.1 without problem. So you first step is to ensure that the files in question do, in fact, contain the same compression formats.
2) To do this, open the various files in the QT Player and check the "Format:" line in in the inspector window. Note if they are all the same and if not, note which ones work and which ones do not.
3) If codecs/settings are all the same, used to work but no longer do, then check for QT component conflicts as detailed in numerous other discussions in this area.
4) With regard to files previously imported "no longer render," this would sound normal if there are component conflicts present and/or a problem with thumbnails which, among other things, are likely use to "index" the original content during playback and export.
5) If all else fails, can you provide a file "snippet" for testing on an external system? This may tell us/you if the problem is general or limited to just your systems/configurations.

Is there a way to use OGM Files in iMovie?

I've been looking everywhere, but I can't find a way to use OGM files on iMovie HD. Which is a real shame because that would open up a whole lot of things for me. I've tried synching the files to become AVI or MPEG-4 format with VLC player, but it never works out.... Can anyone help me with this one?

VisualHub ( http://www.techspansion.com/ ) says it has partial support for the Ogg Media Container: .ogm with Ogg Theora video and Ogg Vorbis audio.
VisualHub runs in a trial mode so you can see if it will work on your files to convert them into DV video for use in iMovie.
If I might ask - what creates OGM files - I've never run into them.
F Shippey

Export AVI files to iMovie

Hello, sorry for my english,
I'm getting mad...
I have an avi file with following parameter:
DivX 4 (Perian), 720 x 480, Milioni
MPEG Layer 3, Stereo, 48,000 kHz
29,97 FPS
it's about 600 MB
I would like to import it in iMovie, so I try to export it as iMovie doesn't like this format...
I really don't know what export format should I choose in order to:
- Keep same quality
- Keep quite same dimension
I tried so many ways but I get either urgly video quality or dimension like 60GB !!!
What am I missing ?

iMovie is meant for camcorder imports = very few 'formats' supported, divx is not.
use Mpeg Streamclip (hey, Italian invention!! ) to convert into dv-stream, NTSC, 48kHz audio, 29.97 framerate.
1h of such an encoded file is about 13GBs..
don't forget to set iMovie to NTSC/29.97 fps either!
(changes take effect after relaunch of iMovie!)
otherwise, iM will convert it again.. to PAL ..
dv-stream is iM≤6 native format - as from miniDV camcorders..

Trying to Import AVI file to iMovie - Error -8969

Like some others before me, I too am having trouble importing .avi files to my iMovie version 4. Acccording to Command i, they are Motion JPEG OpenDML (they are .avi files from a Canon digital camera). They are viewable in QT. Several posts suggest they should import easily into iMovie. However, when I try to import, I get an error message (failed -8969). I tried converting the .avi file, with QT Pro, to both .mov and DV stream. It will convert to .mov, but when I try to import to iMovie, I get the same error message. I don't even get that far with DV: when I try to convert to DV stream, I get the same error message immediately. Any suggestions? Are there any plug-ins that would fix the problem?

"codecBadDataErr = -8969"
"Codec : acronym for "compression/deccompression" , is an algorithm, or specialized computer program, that reduces the number of bytes consumed by large files and programs."
Used for video files, AVI, QuickTime and otherwise.
Conclusion: You got a bad file.
Come to think of it. I seem to remember a driver (or codec) that can be downloaded from Canon. Don't know any details, though.
PS. Please don't post your question twice.

Re-authorizing when using purchased songs in iMovie and iDVD

Hi!
Since I upgraded to the lastest iTunes, I have to reauthorize every time I use a purchased song in an iMovie project (or iDVD). And, even as i reauthorize the song, the song is omitted from the project. I guess this is a major bug. Any news on a fix for this??
Thanks!
Thomas Engstedt

Hi Ken and welcome to Apple!
You should not have a major problem. The AVI files should (repeat should) be recognized by iMovie. If not, conversion should (I love the certainty of that word!) be easy.
An iMac will do all you ask, but I recommend not less that 1GB of RAM.
At this stage, go get your iMac, and try to import the AVI files into iMovie. If that is not successful post back!
Remember: iMovie expects to be 'fed' by digital video through a firewire connection.
Any more questions, we are here to help!

Import DV AVI Files with 5.1 Audio

To my surprise, Encore would not import DV AVI files from Premiere with 5.1 Audio. I much prefer to do my transcoding in Encore rather than in Premiere so I don't have to guess how much disk space will remain after menus and other content. Also, I think Encore transcoding is more efficient than Premiere.
Yet, cheaper and less sophisticated applications such as Nerovision will import DV AVI files with 5.1 audio, and give you 5.1 DVD's.
Which leads to another question, why does a cheaper application just give you the Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio, while a fee has to be paid to Surcode to get it in the Adobe applications?

You cannot create a 5.1 Dolby Digital file in Encore, so the answer is an emphatic "YES" to the planning & budgeting.
You really should be doing this anyway, as it is a real eye opener. There are some superb Excel spreadsheet bit budgeting tools, as well as a simple enough manual method. It should be detailed in the FAQ.
As far as DTS goes, you'll need an encoder again. The only plugin version I am aware of is for Steinberg's Nuendo & Cubase systems, but both DTS and SurCode make them.
The SurCode DTS-DVD encoder is dated now - 5 years or so - and the Nuendo one sounds better. Having said that, the DTS-PSE sounds even better, as well as having DTS-ES and DTS 96/24 capability (both of which are DVD Legal).
Even better are the soon-to-be-released DTS-HD SAS & MAS encoders.
These are primarily for the Blue-ish type discs, but also cater for so-called "legacy" encoding as well, and the detail is even better than the DTS-PSE version. You can hear the difference in the detail where the top end sounds more natural & open. Whatever version you get will make Dobly Dirgital sound dull & muddy by comparison.
Quality can be improved by feeding the encoder with 24 bit audio too - this also applies to Dolby Digital.
Bitrates for DTS are either 754 kb/sec or 1509 kb/sec, and come in 2 flavours:
Compact (.cpt) and Padded (.dts) - either can use the lower bitrate, and there is no difference in audio quality between the CPT and DTS flavours. I recommend using the higher bitrate personally.
Both types are supported in Passthrough mode in Encore - that is to say they import, and multiplex correctly but cannot be previewed.
Hope this helps.

Exporting as avi-file with dv-codec?

hi guys.
my sound engineers want my film cut as an .avi-file with dv-codec and the sound stream as wav. which output settings do I have to use? they want to mix on avid on a pc (poor them...)
best
rob

File/Export/Using QuickTime conversion...
Jerry

Looking for a codec to use AVI files on Windows 8

Thanks for you assistance. My new computer using Windows 8 doesn't take a shine to me using AVI files in Adobe Premiere. Prompts me to install a codec. Pretty sure there are a ga'zillion out there. Any suggestions on which is right? And one step further, how to properly install? Best regards!

@ATRomano - First, thank you for your reply. I've been trying to correct this problem since purchasing the new computer in Dec, and this is effecting my livelihood.
Here's a what I know.
Downloaded Adobe Premiere 11 from Amazon in June 2013 onto my Sony Vaio laptop running on Windows 7. the AVI files from my Fujifilm Finepix 4500S camera were accepted. The AVI files are titled DSCF0217.AVI. for example.
Computer crashed on T-day, so forced to buy new one. Also a Vaio, this time running on Windows 8. AVI files from my Fugifilm Finepix 4500S no longer work. Says I need a codec.
Went to Best Buy. They spent two hours on it, nothing. There solution since the AVI files worked on Windows Media player, was to start uses Sony Vaio's editing software the comes with the computer, really?
Then all of a sudden, the program is gone. Completely removed from my computer. All the projects and video/pics in elements included.
So last night I redownloaded the software from Amazon. Thank goodness they kept the serial number.
Surprisingly, the projects are still there, though when I open them most of the files in the timeline are AVI and appear as "Media Offline."
When I try to add new AVI files to the time I receive this error message - "This type of file is not supports, or requires a codec to be installed."

Using avi files with iMovie or iDVD

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