Video quality in new iMovie?

There was always some issues with older versions of iMovie degrading video out quality-if in particular certain transitions were used, etc.
Does anyone know if this behaviour is (finally) over? It used to be described as 'destructive' I think.
I import AVCHD and can get great results...sometimes, but titles and transitions left the picture looking not so sharp.
Many thanks.

I've done the "red/green experiment" of Karsten, using single line patterns, in iMovie 10.
The results can be seen in thus topic: https://discussions.apple.com/message/23537344
Bottom line: iMovie 10 doesn't throw away half of the lines ("single field processing") anymore when working with interlaced material. So if you're using a camcorder that records in 50i or 60i, moving over to iMovie 10 will be certainly beneficial.
Hi Pieter,
Did you use any transitions when using this test? Old behaviour of iMovie used to be that certain transitions/maps would downscale the footage to 540 (I think it was 540). So you could import 1080p footage, but the moment you would use certain transitions or maps-your whole project would get degraded.
The holiday video I spoke of was not exported from an older iMovie project, it's brand new and I imported it directley into iMovie 10. The export looks not so sharp. That's why I'm wondering if this old destructive behaviour still exists.
Any ideas?

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http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14675
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I asked this question before but I can't find it now. Anyway, I'm trying to import a DVD video that was made on a MAC and use it on a new iMovie project.

I asked this question before but I can't find it now. Anyway, I'm trying to import a DVD video that was made on a MAC and use it on a new iMovie project.
How do I do the importing.

If the video is already on a DVD:
You need to convert the VOB files in the TS-Folder of the DVD back to DV which iMovie is designed to handle. For that you need mpegStreamclip:
http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html
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http://store.apple.com/us/product/D2187Z/A/quicktime-mpeg-2-playback-component-f or-mac-os-x
(unless you are running Lion in which case see below))
which is a mere $20.
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http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm
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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.
And from the TOU of these forums:
Keep within the Law
No material may be submitted that is intended to promote or commit an illegal act.
Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.
If you are running Lion:
From the MPEG Streamclip homepage
The installer of the MPEG-2 Playback Component may refuse to install the component in Lion. Apple states the component is unnecessary in Lion, however MPEG Streamclip still needs it. See this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3381
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Video Quality in imovie

I am capturing video using a Sony HDR-SR12 Handycam, converting the video using QT in a MPEG4 format, so can use the file with imovie. Once I transfer over to imovie the video quality is very bad. Playing the video out of the camera on to the TV the picture is perfect, also the video seems fine in the Microsoft Picture Browser.
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Hi John
Sorry i don't have the answer, but i'm interested in your question because i have the same kind of issue when i import in iMovie 08, 09 and iMovie HD from my Sony SR10 AVCDH camera.
I just can say that when i export directly from iMovie to iDVD the quality is bad; this seems to be a well known problem and it is recommended to export video using the Quicktime with H264. With that method, i can obtain good quality in the STATIC images, but during the panoramic movements of the camera the final result (i mean a DVD on my cathodic TV) is disappointing, with a "jerky" rendering.
You can download on my iDisk an exemple of it at: http://public.me.com/leclercqpascal
When i compare with the same sequence treated on the PC Sony's software, i find in the latter case a perfectly smooth result.
The problem is the same when i import from the camera to FCE.
Help welcome, because i would be disappointed to resort to a PC software!

Video quality in new iMovie?

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