Why can't I import my DVD into iMovie?

I transferred some old Hi-8 videos to DVD at a commercial transfer place. They burned them onto what looks like a normal Sony DVD-R. I've tried saving these to File using both Toast and Handbrake, but in both cases iMovie refuses to let me open them in it, or to move them into it. What can I do?
I'm desperate for a good suggestion!!
Thanks

Are you refering to a Mac or an iPad/iPhone?
This is the iPad iPhone forum, so I can ask for Apple to move this if you want information for a Mac.
iMovie iOS cannot edit from DVDs.
You will have to convert the video to the same format as iPhone / iPads record in (h264/aac).
I believe that the same is for iMovie Mac.
You need to convert the video to a format that can be edited.
So I hope you got the Hi-8 converted to DV or better format, and then burnt to DVD as Data.
If you just got a DVD video then you will have to convert it again.
Say to DV Qucktime.
Handbrake can do this, you might have converted to a format iMovie does not like.
Try a few different video formats.
Quciktime DV should work well.

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Why can't I import DV files into iMovie 09?

Help, I have mpeg files from a Sony Handycam, and I want to use them in iMovie 09. I have downloaded MPEG Streamline to convert them to DV files and I have Quicktime MPEG2 installed, which I bought from apple. The files are converting to DV ok and they were importing into my movie project. However, suddenly I started getting a message saying that the files could not be found, even though they were on the desktop and iMovie has deleted all of the film that I had imported and will not import any at all now.
What am I doing wrong (besides using a Sony Handycam of course)? Is there any way around this?

Hi Jeff,
Just came across your posts, so sorry about the delay in responding.
You said:
I want to tag on with a follow-up question because I can't figure out how to post to the group
To start a new post with your own topic, when you first come into the iMovie Discussion page click on one of the iMovie headings, such as iMovie '09, iMovie '08 etc, depending on which version you want help. Then click on "Post New Topic" just above the listing of Topics.
I'm not sure what to suggest regarding your DV files being greyed out. File>Import - Movies should enable iMovie to see the DV files, provided your external FireWire drive is connected. Try dragging one of the files to your Desktop, then importing from there.
I haven't used DV with iMovie '09 as I mainly shoot with my Sony AVCHD hard drive camcorder now. I use iMovie HD 6 for my older DV projects, but am considering switching to iMovie '09 for any future DV projects that may arise (depending on possible quality issues).
If you don't have success with importing the DV clips, try converting them to AIC or H.264 using MPEG Streamclip, as discussed earlier in this thread.
Sorry I can't help further. If I think of anything useful, I'll post back. It may be better if you raise your own question in the appropriate forum (as I described) - you mentioned you were using iMovie '08 (but do have access to '09). Perhaps try the '08 forum first.
John

Why can't i import .mov files into imovie

Everytime recently I've tried to import a .mov file into imovie, its come up with the optimizing video box but nothing happens, I used to import straight from the camera, but I've recently emptied my camera onto my hard drive after a trip to New Zealand and now, when I have tried to import the footage from my hard drive, it does the optimizing video freeze on me. I would like to be able to get these movies into Imovie without having to pay a rediculous amount of money for some little converting program. I originally bought a apple computer, because I thought everything worked with each other, but now, I'm not so sure about that anymore.
Also, I've tried MPEG streamclip and all that did was either freeze on me or make the video size smaller, as in, the sides were pushed in and it ruined the video.
Camera: Canon HD Legria HFR38

What codec are the files? .mov is a container that can house many different video codecs.
Is your camera supported?
iMovie 11 - cameras supported:
http://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html?lang=en_US
iMovie 9 - cameras supported:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290?viewlocale=en_US

Why can't I import DV files into iMovie 11?

This is more a curiousity, because I'm working in iMovie 6 HD, which I know well. But I wanted to play with iMovie 11 effects, and could not import my DV clips into the program. I thought iMovie 11 supported DV clips. I know I can use Streamclip to alter, but don't want to, since I wanted to interchange the clips from iMovie 6 HD to iMovie 11.

If you have an iMovie 6 project you want to use in iMovie 11, click FILE/IMPORT/iMOVIE HD PROJECT

I have imovie and my files (movies) open. Why can't I drag the clips into iMovies?

I have imovie and my files (movies) open.
Why can't I drag my clips into imovie?

Drag and drop doesn't work - instead do a File -> import -> movies and select from there.

Is there a way to import a DVD into iMovie where it can be re-worked and then saved as a new DVD?

I have converted several VHS video tapes to DVD's and want to work with them in iPhoto to create better versions.
How do I import the DVD files into iMovie?

This tip will show you how to import your home movie on DVD into iMovie 11 for editing. It will not work on commercial, copy-protected DVDs. (Ripping commercial DVDs is against the Terms of Use of the Apple Discussions).
DVDs are encoded by iDVD into MPEG2, which iMovie cannot edit. So you need to convert the DVD into a codec that iMovie can edit. For highest quality, I recommend that you convert the DVD to Apple Intermediate Codec. There is a free tool called MPEG Streamclip that will do this. You will also need to install the Apple QuickTIme MPEG2 Playback Component.
Here are the details.
1) Download and install the Apple MPEG2 QuickTime Component ($20) - available online from Apple.
2) Download and install MPEG Streamclip from Squared 5 (free).
3) Start MPEG Streamclip
4) Insert your DVD into your Mac. If DVD Player or Front Row starts automatically, quit those.
5) Open a Finder window. Navigate to the DVD.
6) Drag the Video_TS folder from your DVD and drop it into MPEG Streamclip.
7) If MPEG Streamclip offers to fix timecode breaks, say yes.
8) Use FILE/EXPORT USING QUICKTIME to convert the files to Apple Intermediate Codec (or h.264 if you prefer)
9) Optional steps.
9a) Optional: You can deinterlace your footage in this step, if you like. If you don't know which is best, try a short clip both ways. I usually do not deinterlace.
9b) Optional: If you know the date and or time of the footage, name your file
clip-yyyy-mm-dd hh;mm;ss
(let mpeg streamclip provide the extension). This will provide metadata that iMovie will use to put the event in the right year and month.
9c) Optional: If you don't want to make one huge clip out of your DVD, you can make smaller clips by using MPEG Streamclip. Move the cursor to the "in" point of the clip, and press i. Move the cursor to the "Out" point of the clip, and press o. Then do steps 8 through 10 and repeat until you have done this for all clips you want.
10) Save the resulting file in a place where you can find it, like your Desktop.
11) Open iMovie.
12) In iMovie, choose FILE/IMPORT/Movies... and choose the file you saved in steps 8, 9, 10.
13) iMovie will generate thumbnails and you can edit.

Importing home DVD into imove

Hi, I am trying to import my band dvd into imovie so I can edit. So I used disk utility to make dmg file and then double click this dmg file with imovie open. Then imovie will import all the video, but somehow all the audio is gone. Only video gets imported.
I tried twice saving dvd into dmg file (read only setting) both failed without audio.
I have imovie 09 and please help!!
Thanks

Here is [my tip on how to do it.|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2255575]

Any thoughts on how to import a DVD into iMovie?

Just checking if there is any possiblity of importing a prerecorded DVD into iMovie to make some adjustments.
Let me know if you have any suggestions.
iMac Mac OS X (10.4)

try the search field....
* 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

Why can't I import .jpg files into PRE 9 slideshow project?

I have a Windows 7 computer and use Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9. I recently completed a slideshow for my father's 90th birthday in Photoshop Elements that contains about 360 photos, 12 songs/partial songs, and lasts 24 minutes. My intention is to burn it to a DVD so that it can play on Windows and Mac computers, as well as on televisions in DVD players.
When I tried to import the project into Premiere Elements I got an error message: "Adobe Photoshop Elements Slideshow Import Error: Following file formats could not be imported in Adobe Premiere Elements - .jpg."
From a little digging I have done I saw a post that said that my photo files have to be: 1) 24-bit RGB color, and 2) no larger than 1000 x 750 pixels. If this is true, then many of my photos have too many pixels, which must be causing the error message. Does anyone know if this is correct? If so, is there any way that I can fix my problem without going in to each photo file and reducing the size of the pixels/file? I am also wondering if upgrading to the most recent versions of Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements could help me. Thanks very much in advance for any advice or suggestions.

welcome HarleyQ to the  boards ...
avi and mov are socalled containers, some say "wrapper"; inside such a container are all kind of "codecs" (formats...)
iM is meant to work with miniDV camcorders; these use a codec called dv..
so, iM prefers a dv (inside a mov.. or an avi, if the file is made on a PC...)
QTpro allows you, to look inside an avi (or mov), and looking for the used codec; QTpro also allows the conversion of many codecs into dv.. but not all; you can teach QT new tricks, by installing plug-ins, codecs for divx, wmv, ...
goto www.perian.org, and install that plug-in.. probably, it helps to handle your avi................

TA22875 Why can't I drag MP4 Files into Imovie?

I'm trying to frag MP4 files into I Movie and when I release the mouse it just returns them to where they came.

OK
We here are not Apple or employed by them - the thoughts and wisdom of Apple is very occult to many of us !
We are as You - Users and trying to be of help for other users !
The thing is - I don't know about Codecs, and please take this the right way when I say - I'm not interested in Codecs.
I just want to drag my movie files taken in whatever format I take them in and drag them into Imovie to work on them.
mp4 is a fairly common format?
then I have very little possibility to be of help - as I only can guide You a bit of the way to understand and work around this Problem - I never denied it to be.
But it seems that every Camera company makes there own solutions and to make Video editing programs or DVD authoring ones that can use every strange Video Codec availably - is impossibly - Not even FinalCut or Avid or Adobe Premiere can do this.
.mp4 - is no more Video Codec as any folder or hard disk - and tell that my material is on a hard disk, doesn't help us in understanding where it goes wrong.
So if You want to get this to work - then You need to set of a minimum of interest in howto get it right.
To find out the Codec
• Open the file with QuickTime-Player (as it can open many many more Codecs than iMovie can use)
• here open Inspector [cmd+I] and read
Video Format (Codec) : nnnnnnnnnnnnn
Frames per second : YY.yy fps
What does they say ?
If You feel offended and don't want - There is no solution as I know of.
AND - I have no intention to offend at any cost - but need info (and so does the others here too) to be able to reach out a hand
Yours wanting to be of more help - Bengt W

Why can't I import .MOV files or Imovie project?

I converted a Power point presentation to a .mov and FCPX wouldn't recognize it. I got an alert that there were no importable files.
I did import it into IMovie, and could work on it there, but Imovie audio implementation is so bad that I didn't want to even mess with it, so I tried to import the project into FCPX form an IMovie project but it came up blank.

I merely saved the PPT with its timings as a .mov from PowerPoint for Mac.
FCPX wasn't able to recognize it, but IMovie was. I merely did a straight import
It was about 30 minutes long. The audio didn't transfer however, so I was going to use Final Cut to add it.
The information I got from the quicktime inspector was:
640 x 480 pixels (Actual)
218.65 kbit/s
33.8 MB0.03
Apple Animation, 640 x 480,Millions+

Why can't I import a PDF into Flash?

I already submitted a feature request on this, so you don't need to tell me to do that.
Does anyone know of a logical reason why Flash can't import a specific page of PDFs like Photoshop and Illustrator can?
Thanks!

Hey, thanks for that tip. It does work, however what it does is it converts it to a bitmap. It's not live vectors and text. Also, it will only give you the first page of a multipage PDF. Illustrator and Photoshop give you a dialog asking which page you want.
So right now, I open in Illustrator and then copy and paste into Flash. Flash has an Illustrator importer with options for the vector and text. It seems like a simple thing to support PDF natively.
The method I have to use takes more time because I have to manually create a back page image and when I paste I have to move it into the right place, etc.
Thanks!

Why can't I import H.264 into FCE?

Hi
Why is it that FCE3 will not import any video encoded with H.264? Seems a bit odd as it can import any other quicktime codec...

Think you're right, might be a performance things as H.264 is quite a beast to decode....
Still odd as I can import the same video into After Effects with no problems!
Anywas...
just a hassle to jump between codecs

Why can't I import any photos into lightroom?

I just bought Lightroom 5 and installed it. I need it so that it can help me correct Chromatic Aberration in portraits. I have tried importing photos but nothing will import. They won't import as raw files from memory card or jpeg from desktop or external drive. Loads fine into Photoshop Elements. If someone has a fix to this, please help. I will need step-by-step instructions. I don't understand complicated technology lingo. I'm using a Mac. My camera is a Canon T3i. My card is a Lexar…tying to think if there is anymore info I need to give. Please help before I go bald. Thanks!

Hello,
you could try these:
http://photographylife.com/how-to-import-photographs-in-lightroom
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/getting-started-with-adobe-photoshop-lightroom-5/lightroom-5-imp orting-your-images/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Id4THh6DU
Hans-Günter

Why can't I import itunes files into garageband 11?

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GarageBand (11) is not allowing me to drop & drag songs to it!?
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I previously had been able to. Now I cannot? I used to also us mp3s, but recently read in a forum that they needed to be AAC files.
Anyone else have this issue? Anyone know a solution?
It use to be so easy to create ringtones. Now GarageBand won't let me.
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@LeonieDF: What is "hidden user library"? Where can I find that?
I meant the your User Library; it depends on the operating system if it is hidden or not - since MacOS 10.7 Lion the User Library is hidden.
The "Preferences" subfolder you need to access is located in
Your Home Folder -> Library -> Preferences
If you are using MacOS Lion you access this folder using the Finder's Go menu:
Finder -> Go -> Go to Folder
Then hold down the "Option" key, until "Library" appears in the drop down menu, select "Library", then proceed as above.
Regards
Léonie

Why can't I import my DVD into iMovie?

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