iMovie Hints & Tips

[Steve WyethMember]

How do I get the movie files into iMovie? They are .MOV format but iMovie doesn’t recognise it. I cant drag and drop and when i try the ‘import’ feature it tries to download the file and then right at the end it says it can’t complete the operation???

Starting to crack the shits with iMovie! It’s easy to use……..once you’ve pissed about making the files available. Do I need to save them as a different format?

[Scott SouthwellMember]

Moto I just go to file – import – movies then select the file from where I stored it. I store files in iPhoto, Aperture 3 and on the desktop and all import fine this way. If thats not working then I got nothin, sorry.

[scott bockingMember]

moto wrote:

How do I get the movie files into iMovie? They are .MOV format but iMovie doesn’t recognise it. I cant drag and drop and when i try the ‘import’ feature it tries to download the file and then right at the end it says it can’t complete the operation???

Starting to crack the shits with iMovie! It’s easy to use……..once you’ve pissed about making the files available. Do I need to save them as a different format?

.MOV files are difficult to work with on PC’s too so it is not just a Mac issue. They are a quicktime format that is used for final render not editing. Think of them as concrete, they are already set. You want sand, cement and water so you can manipulate the mix. Download the link I have attached here
http://www.squared5.com/
and convert to a more usable format (MP4 etc)

STM

[Steve WyethMember]

Cheers guys, I don’t know how it happened last night but one of the movies got loaded into iMovie. I tried all of the import functions, drag and drop from Finder and from a copy on the desktop as your picture tutorial Scotty but I kept getting error messages.

I then converted a file to MP4 using Handbrake and before it even had converted the file I re-opened iMovie and there was a movie in there.

So, I don’t really know how it happend….lol!

I know .MOV is a quicktime filetype, being that Apple invented quicktime you would think it would work seamlessly with iMovie though right? I guess it’s like hoping Apple will let you use your phone as mass storage too huh

I wonder if there is a way to change the output file type on the Liquid Image camera as there is no way I’m going to convert every clip I record into a different file format just to be able to do a quick edit in iMovie.

That or iMovie is going in place of Adobe software.

[ChrisMember]

I disagree with .mov view…

they are easily imported into iMovie and edit no differently than any other movie format…

[Steve WyethMember]

God knows what I’m doing then. I would be happy using .MOV. If I get more time at the wekend then I’ll try and see what filetype has been successfully imported and see if I can repat the results……

[Nathan HeatherMember]

If i was to purchase a MAC product to do nothing but movie edits then what one is the cheapest option and is it really worth the dollars to buy one over a different type of video program? I have been looking around for ages and i am just gonna bite the bullet and buy something before the november ride if possible. Id even consider buying 2nd hand if anything is at the right price.

[GregMember]

I bought my mac only for video editing and OBT, nothing else. There are other programs out there and funny that the people using them swear by them same as the people here using mac’s and Imovie swear by it. Its what you are used to, imovie is good but I am sure it and a mac isnt the be all and end all. My choice was cemented by the fact that STM had experience that he was willing to share. Chris on the other hand has done some awesome movies I have seen at his place not on youtube he did on a PC.

Get the mac its easy :laugh:

TB

[Scott SouthwellMember]

Nato if you have a windows based PC then check out something like Adobe Premier Elements 11. This is supposed to be very similar to use to iMovie. Adobe usually do free trials.

http://www.adobe.com/au/products/premiere-elements.html

or you could try Sony Vegas Pro.

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegaspro

If you’re not a Mac user than don’t go buy one just for iMovie as it’s really a very basic program with for cutting video together but both the programs above will also do that and have more editing features.

I’m a Mac user and currently using iMovie but I’m already looking for something better to edit videos. I can tell you all those awesome promotional videos put together by Gopro and other camera companies would not have been done on iMovie.

[scott bockingMember]

Scotty wrote:

Nato if you have a windows based PC then check out something like Adobe Premier Elements 11. This is supposed to be very similar to use to iMovie. Adobe usually do free trials.

http://www.adobe.com/au/products/premiere-elements.html

or you could try Sony Vegas Pro.

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegaspro

If you’re not a Mac user than don’t go buy one just for iMovie as it’s really a very basic program with for cutting video together but both the programs above will also do that and have more editing features.

I’m a Mac user and currently using iMovie but I’m already looking for something better to edit videos. I can tell you all those awesome promotional videos put together by Gopro and other camera companies would not have been done on iMovie.

iMovie is designed to be simple and intuitive. Once you move on from that you use Final Cut Pro and Aftet Effects. I will bet my left ball that is what was used for the GoPro trailer.

STM

[scott bockingMember]

Hey Nato,
I did all my editing in the early days on Pc’s using Adobe products and they are very good. If you are happy with your PC and it can handle 1080p video then just gets Elements. If however you need new hardware as well just go a second hand iMac. They are great machines and don’t suffer the same cross compatibly issues that PC’s do. Give me a call if you want to discuss in detail.

STM

[scott bockingMember]

I have been asked a few times about the best settings to export in and this can be a very confusing topic. I found this on YouTube and it seems to give a good result. I am using these settings to export all my final edits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pywOf7ENi8E

Below is a screen shot of the difference in file size using these settings rather than the standard ‘Share’ ‘Export Movie’ tabs. Even though they are named differently they are the same clip. The one that uses the settings above is on the right and the standard ‘Share’ ‘Export Movie’ file is on the left. Check out the difference in file sizes. It takes longer to render but you are left with a very good archive copy.

STM

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