Using mpeg2 in iMovie

I'm trying to convert alot of old format (video8, etc) home movies to dvd. I can capture the videos with my Hauppauge card (windows box) to mpeg2 video. Then I've been transferring them to my mac and using the great little program Mpeg Streamclip. My question for all of you is, should I convert these to mov or avi or should I just demux them (and if so demux to m2v, m1a, aiff, etc). My goal is just to be able to edit in iMovie and then create an iDVD. I've done a few already by converting to mov files and then editing. That worked well, but I read about demuxing and I'm not sure of the best way to do this. Thanks for any help!
-Dan

None of the Apple editors use MPEG-2 as input including Final Cut because MPEG-2 is a delivery format and not an editing one, there are not even actual frames each 30th of a second, they are rendered from other (key) frames.
However, while I hate to say it, many Windows programs such as Pinnacle Studio 7 (supposedly the least crashy version as they are on 9 now) and Ulead Video Studio. I used to use both with XP and they are really unstable with other than DV, and not all that great programs with DV either.
All that aside one of my newer acquisitions is a JVC hard drive based MPEG-2 recorder and the DV output from MPEG Streamclip was not all that bad, but I do try to stick to MPEG-2 and trim and cut and make DVD's straight from the MPEG-2 files in Streamclip then Toast if I can. They look very good.
I shoot at the best setting on it as well, 10.5 mb/sec CBR vs. the alternatives that go as low as 1.5. Since at the best setting it stores 7 hours of MPEG-2 capacity is not a huge issue anyway (it stores 37 hours at the lowest setting).
Toast 7 finally has a few themes in it for DVD, nothing like iDVD but better than before which was none.
Since you are stuck using real time capture have you thought of using a DV camera to transcode into DV since there are some decent low priced ones and at least when you are done you have a perfectly good usable DV camera. As opposed to a analog to DV device.

Similar Messages

Does Hard Disk Drive Camcorder using MPEG2-PS format work with iMovie6?

Considering purchasing a Sony DSR - SR 82 Camcorder with a Hard Disk Drive using MPEG2-PS format. I read in the Missing Manual that MPEG-2 generally does not work with iMovie.

Hello Luv2Curl,
I read in the Missing Manual that MPEG-2 generally does not work with iMovie.
That is correct. MPEG-2 video needs to go through a lengthy and lossy conversion process in order to be imported and edited in iMovie. You'll be better off getting a MiniDV camcorder - it works natively with iMovie and the video quality is better as well.
hope this helps
mish

How can I get the background music from iMovie trailer, "Romance"to be used in another imovie?

Is there any way to download the background music from the iMovie trailer template "Romance" to be used in another iMovie of greater length than that of a trailer?

In addition to Tom's good advice, another method is to access the audio file in iMovie's package contents folder.
In Finder, in the Applications folder, right-click (or control-click) on iMovie.app and select Show Package Contents from the pop-up menu. Open the folder Contents>Resources. In that folder you will find components for each Trailer, including the soundtrack. The file you are seeking is named "SoundTrack - Romance.m4a".
Copy then paste the file to your Desktop (don't otherwise mess with items in package contents folders!). Open the file in QuickTime - it is titled "Love Story FC2". Opening the Inspector in QuickTime (Window>Show Movie Inspector) reveals it as AAC format. If you wish, as Tom indicated, you can Export the file from QuickTime in other sound formats, such as AIFF. If preferred, you can import either the AAC file or the converted file to iTunes (or other audio apps) for use as required.
John

I am using the old imovie HD on my old Mac laptop... it works fine, but when I export a video to YouTube there is a black frame around it.. how do i get rid of that? thanks!

I am using the old imovie HD on my old Mac laptop... it works fine, but when I export a video to YouTube there is a black frame around it.. how do i get rid of that? thanks!

Hi MyAppleID99,
You may want to check to make sure the clip hasn't been moved back and forth between wide screen and standard aspect ratios; sometimes a combination of letterboxing and pillarboxing can lead to a black frame "windowbox" when playing the final video. You may find the following article helpful:
Apple Support: What are Letterboxing, Pillarboxing and Windowboxing?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2320
Regards,
- Brenden

How do i use photos in iMovie if browser is inactive

How do I use photos in imovie if the photo browser is not active. When I click on the camera icon on the right middle of the page, it does nothing no highlight or nothhing to show that its active. I do have photos in iphoto.

It might help to trash your Preferences files. Especially, the com.Apple.iapps.plist file.
See this link for details.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4061

How do I transfer a slideshow from my iMac to my iPad. Can I use icloud or iMovie?

i Created a slideshow with music on my iMac. How can I transfer it to my iPad. Can I use iCloud or IMovie.

By transferring the entire iPhoto library
You can export it as a QT movie and copy that over
LN

Hi - just using the new iMovie for the first time - apparently there should be a sidebar containing tools like "Content Library". Not on mine - even in Window view, Content Library features like text etc are all greyed out - obviously it's me - help?

Hi - just using the new iMovie for the first time - apparently there should be a sidebar containing tools like "Content Library". Not on mine - even in Window view, Content Library features like text etc are all greyed out - obviously it's me - anyone help please?

Sorry - I should have added that I have imported a Quicktime movie, originally created as an iPhoto slideshow.
I want to create rolling credits at the movie end and apparently you can only do this using iMovie - can you help please?

How can I burn an mpeg onto a DVD without having to use IDVD or IMovie?

So I've got a few jpg's and mpeg's that I would like to burn for PC friends, but the only way I can figure out how to get these onto a CD or DVD is by using IDVD or IMovie with my IMac. Is there a way around this? Why doesn't a blank DVD or CD icon come up on the desktop once inserted so that I can simply drag and drop my photos and short movies to it to be burned accordingly? Thanks in advance.
IMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.7)
IMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.7)

Thanks for responding Dave, but this option doesn't
seem to appear in the preferences of IDVD, DVD
Player, or Quicktime. It seems strange that the only
way I can burn a movie is to create a new IMovie
project and and then burn it via IDVD. This is a
huge hassle when all I want is a few short videos in
no particular order saved on a CD or DVD. My CD
player doesn't seem to be listed separately and is
tied into Itunes. Isn't ILife suppose to make
things easier? Thanks for your help.
In "system preference" not the others (IDVD, QT DVD PLAYER)

What is the 'add marker' feature used for in iMovie 10?

Can anyone tell me what the 'add marker' feature is used for in iMovie 10, I cant find any documentation on it anywhere, it doesnt even show under the help menu???

ray sharpe wrote:
Can anyone tell me what the 'add marker' feature is used for in iMovie 10, …
hmm… well observed!
In iMovie, markers are actually just… blue dots.
In its bigger brother, FCPX, markers are…
Markers overview
Markers are reference points you can place within clips to locate, identify, annotate, and navigate to specific frames. In editing, markers are particularly useful for synchronizing two or more clips at a specific point. For example, you can use a marker to label the frame where a door slams and then snap a sound effect to that marker. You can use markers to flag a specific location in a clip with editing notes or other descriptive information. When you add chapter markers to specific points in your project, viewers can use the markers to quickly jump to those points in the movie after it’s been exported or burned to DVD or Blu-ray disc. You can also use markers for task management.
Markers are classified as standard markers (blue), chapter markers (orange), to-do items (red), or completed to-do items (green).
so, maybe, this indicates some forthcoming features in iMovie (wohooo, speculation!)?
(iMovieX indicates some forthcoming features of next FCPX.1… but this is another story)
There's one meaningful use, which comes to my mind:
Edit to the beat:
While your project is playing, you can 'tap' onto the M key…
and not just 'per beat', but more like 'dancing', highlights, pauses, drama…
In a second step, you can use the dots, to find the perfect point for edit.

HT2361 I have a Sony DCR-HC20. Can I use this with iMovie? How do I down load my videos?

I have a Sony DCR-HC20. Can I use this with iMovie? If not, How do I transfer to My computer, and what would I use?

http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/support-info.pl?info_id=1192&mdl=DCRHC20

I use iphone6 why iMovie and GarageBand not free for me?

I use iphone6 why iMovie and GarageBand not free for me?

How to get all the iWork apps, iPhoto, and iMovie for free on an eligible iPhone or iPad
http://www.imore.com/how-get-all-iwork-apps-iphoto-and-imovie-free-eligible-ipho ne-or-ipad
Thanks to Texas Mac Man for the link

Use audio from iMovie for menu in iDVD

I would like to use 30 seconds of audio out of a 30 min. video for use in a menu in iDVD.
I seem to have to detach audio, but that lets me only use it within iMovie;
Export audio seems to export the whole movie.
Is there an elegant way to extract these 30 seconds outside iMovie?
Thank you very much!

• duplicate your Project in iMovies Project Browser
• 'trim' that Project to the wanted 30secs
• Share/Export using Quicktime - there's a drop-down menu, allowing to choose 'aiff'
• drag created audio file into your iDVD Project's info window of the menu

Using photos in iMovie

When using photos in iMovie, I want to be able to change the duration of a photo, within a group of photos, without affecting the duration of the other photos in the clip. Each time I change the duration of one photo, it alters the duration of the rest of the photos. Is there a way to change the duration of one photo without changing the others.

Each type of iMovie 6 project has its own minimum image size — minimum pixel height and width — and aspect ratio.
Try to forget everything you know about DPI, resolution, and related terms. iMovie doesn't care about them. It only cares about the pixel dimensions.
This contains a chart showing the MINIMUM sizes:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2090899&#2090899
Don't use BMPs. They acquire a red shift when imported with the Ken Burns checkbox turn ON.
Don't get stung by the iMovie "jaggies" bug, described here. It will ruin your imported photos and your entire project.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2105598&#2105598
There's another iMovie 6 bug you want to avoid the makes it impossible to update photos importing with the Ken Burns checkbox ON in the Photo Settings Window:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2139814&#2139814
Karl

Newbie question: Should I use iDVD o iMovie?

I use a Sony camcorder with the mini-DV tapes. I have about 20 old tapes I'd like to turn into DVDs. This is my first time using iDVD or iMovie.
I'd like to keep things simple: Download the movies to my iMac, make a handful of chapter points and burn to DVD.
Not interested in adding soundtracks, trimming the clips, etc etc. Just keep it simple.
Each 1 hour tape typically has about 8-12 individual clips of a few minutes each (all video is my little kids). I want to be able to access each clip via an upfront menu selection (like a normal movie DVD).
Should I use iDVD to do this or iMovie??
If iDVD, what are some starter tips for me. Thanks!!

I am trying to download imovie06 but can only find updates? How do I find the actual program
More info here.
http://www.macworld.com/article/138476/goodbye_imovie6.html
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/01/imovie-hd-fading-into-the-ether-as-app le-removes-download.ars

HT4859 I have a personal video on iCloud. How do I import it onto my iPad to use in my iMovie app?

I have synced a video from my PC to my iCloud storage. Now, I want to import that video into my iPad Mini to use in an iMovie project. Is this even possible?

pvonk wrote:
You can't sync video from a computer to icloud. Not unless you are talking about a backup to icloud.
back up from pc to icloud? well well

Using mpeg2 in iMovie

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for