Widesreen Problem with .avi Import into iMovie HD

I am able to import .avi file into iMovieHD (orignally exported from Abode Elements Premiere for Windows), but it converts it to 4:3 letterbox once Imported instead of its original format i.e. widescreen..
When I view the same .avi file in Quicktime, it shows correctly in 16:9 widescreen format..
I am using iMovie HD with the following settings:
- Automatic DV pillarboxing and letter boxing to 'yes'
- Automatically resize window to fit project
Also, my current project where I am importing the files is in widescreen format..
Any assistance will be much appreciated..

Since my last post in this thread I learned that, as a bug, exporting as .dv or DV-encoded .avi via QuickTime Player Pro 7.1 (at least up to 7.1.3) occasionally duplicates frames (QT 7.0 didn't do this).
Workaround: You can export without duplicate frames via MPEG Streamclip (File/Export to AVI..., Compression: Apple DV - PAL or DV/DVCPRO - NTSC, Quality: 100%, Sound: Uncompressed).

Similar Messages

Problem with Avi-import (lots of information added)

Hello Adobe-forum-community,
short story about me:
Im kinda new to the whole video-editing-world. I started out some months ago with Vegas Movie studio and fell in love with creating my own videos somehow (especially game-montages atm). Recently I realized that my lowbudget-movie-studio lacks some features I would like to add to my montages (masking, 3D-techniques, ...). I looked around on the web and realized that I could get the whole Adobe package for an amount of money that I could afford (student-pack).
So I decided to try out the Premiere-Pro-CS5-trial, before I actually buy the production-premium-student-pack with Premiere CS5, AfterEffects CS5, etc.
Now my problem:
I cant get my avi-files to work in Premiere.
Before the flaming starts, I have to say that I already informed myself about this issue in this forum and things like "avi is just a container, doesnt tell anything,..." (thanks to Bill´s article) arent new to me by now.
I will now try to give you as much information about the "avi"-file as I can, to make it easier for you to help me:
As I said earlier, I do game-montages atm. So I usually start out with recording some gameplay with a programm called "PlayClaw" (fraps-alternative; works much better imo). I record at fullscreen with 60 fps and something called "light-compression" (its neccesary, cause otherwise I would get 7,5 GB data each minute; it also gives the best preformance while gaming).
After that I usually look through my clips with Virtualdub, just to get rid off useless footage. All I do with Virtualdub is selecting the "good" parts of the gameplay and save it once again as avi with the option "direct stream copy" for audio and video, so that the format and the quality stays the same. After that I can delete the big files to get back some space on my harddisk.
I also used Gspot, to get some more informations about the clip(s) I want to import into PremierePro:
Another thing that might be interesting for you, is the fact that I did a complete fresh install of Windows7-64bit on my PC just some hours ago. The only thing I installed along with PremierePro by now are:
- sounddriver
- graphics-card-driver (ATI HD 5850)
- firefox
- vlc player
- PlayClaw (the recording programm)
- Virtualdub (well, it doesnt need to get installed)
So no additional driver packs and stuff at the moment.
I also made a screenshot of my sequence-settings in PremierePro (I really dont know if I am right with those; probably not :P):
I hope this is enough information for now and maybe someone can help me.

Alright, I am done with testing and solved my problem.
Now I will post here again, just to show a way that helped me to get the PlayClaw-Raw-Clips into PremierePro:
You need a 32-bit-version of VirtualDub (cause there´s no 64-bit-TAMB-codec out now) and need to install a 32-and-64-bit-version of the Ut-Video-Codec (works really good; 32-bit for VirtualDub and 64-bit for PremierePro).
Then resize the clip to 1280x720 (use the filter called "resize"), set in the video-tab to full-processing-mode and choose the Ut-Video-Codec under compression with the following settings:
If you also want the recorded audio, then go to the audio-tab and simply set to "Direct stream copy". Otherwise set to "No audio".
After these steps, Gspot should give you something like that about your clip:
Now the clip got converted to something that PremierePro can use.
My Sequence-settings in PremierePro look like this:
If you havent recorded at 60 fps, then change the timebase-setting to fit your original footage.
About FRAPS (also tested it; just wanted to know if it works the same):
With FRAPS its actually a bit easier, because FRAPS somes with a 64-bit-codec. That means that you can start right away with a 64-bit-VirtualDub-version and dont need to install a 32-bit-UT-video-codec-version. But thats the only difference, everything else works the same.
On a note:
This is neither the only way to do it, nor the right way for every material that PlayClaw/FRAPS can give you.
BUT this is a way that works:
- plays back in PremierePro like a charm
- Ut-video-codec saves the quality from the raw files pretty well
I even did a testedit and rendered it with the H.264-format and the HDTV-720p-29.97-High-Quality-preset, just to see how it looks in the end, and I have to say that it´s REALLY good quality-wise for this kind of footage in my opinion so far (after all the final game-montages I have seen the last months).
And because there hasnt been a good work around for this PlayClaw/FRAPS-Raw-files (atleast I couldnt find one as I had the problem), I thought its worth to write it down for some other new PremierePro users.
Now I can concentrate on learning the workflow and some new techniques.^^
Also:
Thanks to all in this thread. Your suggestions and hints got me on the right way to come up with a solution.

Problems with event import on iMovie 10.0.3

My complete movie libraries works fine with iMovie 9.0.9. There are no other malfunctions. The filessystem is clean.
After upgrading to iMovie 10.0.3 the initial startup event and project update process fails on serveral older events and I have problems to import this events folders.
Why does V. 10.0.3 has problems with some older events ? What to do to get this files properly ?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Alexander

when i try to move them together this happens..?

AVI import into iMovie - how long?

Hi
Trying to import a 2 hour avi to iMovie - how long does it take?
(Using a MacBook 2.0)
Started off saying 60 minutes - now its saying 90 minutes - duration still increasing...?
Thanks

Started again today because didn't want to leave on
overnight unattended.
Time estimate in software progress bar is soooo
wrong.
At the moment its 70 minutes left (I know this will
take several hours.)
These are my timings.
17:21 127 mins left
18:05 121
19:21 99
20:21 77
Can anyone explain this?
Thanks
Originally, iDVD didn't try to make wild guesses at the time remaining - it just showed a 'barber pole' - and people complained. Time estimates were added that are USUALLY grossly inacurate and people still complain.
The best advice 'walk away and let it run'. (Remember: A watched pot doesn't boil any faster.)

Why do some AVI files not import into iMovie?

Some of my AVI video does not import into iMovie. When I try, it gives me a non-specific error message. Is there a way I can import it? Other AVI files import with no problem.

AVI is a container, not a format; the audio and video in an AVI may use any codec, and some codecs can't be used in Mac OS X. Installing Perian may help.
(34138)

Problems importing into imovie

I am having trouble getting AVI files into imovie to edit. I have two files I want to use, one is a "movie" in itunes and they both are playing with quicktime. One of the files I can see in imovie but cannot do anything with. Thanks!!!

I posted a similar question recently and my thread may be helpful. For what it's worth, I ended up buying QT Pro and I have found it a better solution that importing/converting these AVI files.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1983033&tstart=0

Can't get AVIs in iPhoto imported into iMovie

I have iLife '08. I imported a bunch of pics and AVIs into iPhoto. I'm trying to import the AVI videos into iMovie but I can't drag and drop the AVIs from iPhoto into iMovie like I thought I could. When I try the "Import Movies..." option I use the file dialog window to browse to the the ~/Pictures/ directory but my iPhoto collection is not in there, there is just an icon "iPhoto Library" which just launches iPhoto. I thought they used to be stored under the ~/Library folder somewhere but I can't find them there either. This is so frustrating! This doesn't "just work"!

I'm trying to import the AVI videos into iMovie but I can't drag and drop the AVIs from iPhoto into iMovie like I thought I could.
Only "edit" compatible videos can be "dragged and dropped" to iMovie '08. Even then they can only be dropped to event names in the Event Library list.
When I try the "Import Movies..." option I use the file dialog window to browse to the the ~/Pictures/ directory but my iPhoto collection is not in there, there is just an icon "iPhoto Library" which just launches iPhoto.
The "Import Movies..." option cannot look into "package" files like the "iPhoto Library" which is where your clips are located. Use the iMovie '08 "iPhoto" browser in the Event Library list instead to locate clips that are both available and compatible.
This is so frustrating! This doesn't "just work"!
Try reviewing the on-line tutorials and reading the software documentation and using the "Help" resource. As they say, "when in doubt, read the instructions."

Why doesn't my .AVi file import into iMovies

I cannot get iMovies to recognise my .AVI files (from my Samsung ST50).
I can download the files from my camera to my hard drive (so the computer recognises them), and I can play them via Quicktime, so I know they work. But I can't import the .AVI files into iMovies. It seems to process the video when I go to 'Import'>'Movies'...- then nothing appears. I just get a 'No Matching Video' message in the event folder.
However my previous camera (an old Pentax Optio S40) produced .AVI's which I can import into iMovies. Are all AVI's not the same? Or is it a setting in my new camera (I'm not too tech savvy!).

Hi Rocco,
Looks like we missed this post when you first asked. Sorry about that.
What message are you receiving when you try to print? What version of Windows do you have installed? If you're running Win7, you may be facing this issue: http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat-com/kb/createpdf-desktop-printer-windows-7.html
-David

Unkown error importing avi files into imovie

I'm having unkown errors importing any of my avi files into imovie all of a sudden. I have imported these files to make movies previously (all the files are straight from my Canon digital camera).
Any Ideas?

Muddguts,
did you discover why you received an import error message? I'm getting the same thing and I don't know why.

Importing .avi files into iMovie

How can I import an .avi file into iMovie?

Hi
This thread should help->
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9067554
JG

Is there a way to import avi files into imovie

I mean I have big files to import into imovie and they aren't converted.If I use like screenflow,screenium it messes up the quality and it lags.I dont wanna convert them cuz I dont need the whole vid.Just a certain part.So is there a software for mac that can take half of a video and convert a certain part to .mov so I can import it.

thx, it can work.

Older DV Tapes Will Not Play or Import Into iMovie

I have a lot of DV tapes shot ten years ago on a JVC camcorder that I want to import into iMovie.
I have a new Canon Vixia hv 30 and I'm assuming these older mini DV tapes are compatible because these old tapes play fine in the camcorder itself, and also on my TV, but when I try to import them into iMovie, they do not display in the iMovie import window. However, new tapes shot recently with the new hv 30 display and import just fine.
Is there a problem with the old tapes being incompatible in some way I'm not understanding?
Dino1956 answered a similar problem in 2008:
*iMovie Camcorder Import Fix*
*Connect your camera. put it in 'play' mode (sometimes also called vcr). start up imovie (hd or 08; both work, but i use HD). go to the blue 'import' screen. it should just say 'camera connected'.*
*Now comes the trick. don't click import, but instead put your camera in 'record' mode. you should now see whatever it is that your aiming the camera at on your computer screen.*
*QUICKLY put your camera back in play mode. again very quickly press the 'play' button, either on the imovie import screen or on your camera. your DV tape will start to play back.*
*-On my computer, the video now suddenly shows up in imovie! You can now click the 'import' button in imovie, and imovie will start importing the tape in realtime. This is a bit slower than the normal import method, but hey, at least you can now get your video into imovie!*
...but this solution doesn't work for me. I cannot "quickly" click the Play button on the camera monitor or in the iMovie window after switching from record to Play on the camera because there is a 5 second time lag on both the camera's monitor and in the iMovie window while the iMovie screen/camera monitor switches over from Record to Play.
Is there any way I can get older DV footage into iMovie from my Vixia hv 30? My resources are at a very low ebb right now.

I found a clue on the www.hv20 website: Old DV tapes recorded before HDV...you need to go into the hv 30 menu and select "DV" rather than "HDV", then the video shows up in the iMovie import screen and imports easily.

Getting Started with FCE - Problems with my imported files

Hi,
I'm trying to get started with Final Cut Express, but I'm experiencing lots of problems when I import my project from iMovie.
My project contains video, which I imported into iMovie at 960 x 540. It also contains some keynote animations, which I exported from Keynote as quicktime files.
When I export my files to FCE, I instantly get problems.
1) When I add the imported file to the sequence, I get an "Attention the clip does not match the sequence's setting or any of your sequence settings" error.
2) Whether I choose to translate my settings or not, I try to play the video in the timeline, but there is a continuous beeping sound, no audio from my video and when it hits the keynote animations, it just says "unrendered" or "media offline".
Please can you offer any advice on how I can get started with FCE more successfully.
Thanks!

Hi(Bonjour)!
(please specify iMovie and FCE version)
Well, your sequence settings in FCE should be DV-PAL 48 Khz.
Create a new sequence.
From iMovie and Keynote, export your movie with quicktime conversion andd select DV-PAL 48 kHz (*And Not* DV Stream...). This material should play without rendering because his format and codec match the sequence's codec.
Import your files and everything should be OK.
Michel Boissonneault
The audio should be AIFF 48 kHz 16 bit linear PCM

Screen Capture Video Loses Quality When Imported Into iMovie - WHY?

I am using screen capture software to make a video of my screen at 1024x768. The video is for a tutorial. I want to use iMove to get things like transitions and such into the movie, and to add text and audio. The problem is that, although the video looks great in QuickTime, it loses quality significanly when I import into iMove. The text on the screen is blurry, and the quality of everything else is terrible as well.
Is this s limitation of iMove? Can screen capture video be imported? Does it only work with DV?
Also, I tried to convert the file to many other formats, from QuickTime to MPEG-4, so it's not the file type.
If anyone can help me out, I've be very grateful.
Thanks!
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Your dimensions are getting in the way. iMovie converts your 1024X768 to a DV Stream file that is 720X480.
One workaround would be to set your display resolution smaller. Try 800X600 (if your windows fit that size).
If you're using Snapz Pro you should set your window capture to 640X480. This size will import nicely into iMovie.
An even better way would be to do all of the work using QuickTime Pro. Again a 1024X768 QT.mov file would not fit on the most common display settings used. When you add the QT Player window the controller would be below the screen and not accessible for most users.
800X600 would make a better file (smaller, too). It would still be 4:3 aspect and would also import into iMovie.

Trouble opening mpeg movie files and importing into iMovie 08

Hi, I'd be most grateful if anyone could provide any solutions to the following problem...
A friend has emailed me two .mpeg movie files which are parts 1&2 of a home movie which I want to edit in iMovie and burn to DVD. The footage was shot on a miniHDV camcorder (not sure which brand).
Opening in QT 7.6 gives the following warning dialogue: "The movie could not be opened. The file is not a movie file."
The files will however play fine in VLC Media Player, but not in mpeg Streamclip (the file appears to play but the viewer is blank with no audio/video). Trying to import into iMovie is unsuccessful. The iMovie browser won't let me choose the files or drag/drop.
Any ideas. I read somewhere that iMovie 08 can't import mpeg-1 files. Do I need to convert the files, and if so how?
Thanks in advance, and apologies - this is my first experience of video editing.

I have QT Player but it hasn't "kicked in" when I try to import my videos.
Something called PIXE VRF Browser is supposed to help in the conversion. The QT MPEG-2 thingy won't install until I buy QT Pro, according to what I get on the screen.
Sounds like you have too many applications trying to do the same thing. Either use the Pixela Pixe VRF Browser or use the Mac applications (Mac OS Finder, Apple QT MPEG-2 Playback Component w/MPEG Streamclip) but not both to do the same job. The Apple Finder should be able to copy multiplexed VOB/MPEG-2 files from either your PC burned DVD or directly from your camcorder DVD to your MAC hard drive where MPEG Streamclip/QT MPEG-2 component can convert them for use in iMovie '08. Frankly, I don't understand your work work flow or why you want to import your files to a GOP editor in the first place if your goal is to do frame level editing in iMovie '08.
As for Jon's suggestion, I am on dial-up and cannot download big files at 3-4 Kbps snail pace.
What does this have to do with importing your camcorder files to your PC and re-burning them to DVD for use on your Mac? If I were to make a recommendation here, it would have been to use an external hard drive here rather than DVDs for transporting files between platforms and then only if you want the files available to both. If your goal is only to edit them in iMovie '08 or iMovie HD on your Mac, then why not cut out the "middleman" platform?
I wish I could purchase these updates on DVDs but the genies couldn't even tell me if there's such a service.
Totally confused here. Are you saying your DVR-D300 files were commercial produced or that you are dealing with torrent downloads of copy-written material? These are two separate issues with facets beyond the scope of this forum.
As for "platform", I have iMovie08. iMac does not read the mini RAM disks when I connect the camera to a USB port.
Are you saying the Finder doesn't read them or that iMovie '08 doesn't read them? Do you "finalize" your DVDs before trying to read them via USB as the manual states may be necessary as indicated on page 150 of your manual?
How can I find out that iMovie09 will let me import and edit my Panasonic videos?
You could try going to the Apple site and checking the the tapeless camcorder compatibility chart. The Panasonic DVR-D300 is specifically listed along with a hot link for additional information. However, this still won't help you you don't finalize the content.

Widesreen Problem with .avi Import into iMovie HD

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