I know you can import AVCHD into Imovie9 from all my reading here, but what about Imovie6? Also is an Intel Mac needed for AVCHD or can a G5 Powerbook work? I am looking at buying a new HD flash memory camcorder for my dad and his main task is to use Imovie to do the basic importing and exporting to IDVD for dvd creation. He does not do any editing. Pretty much uses the wizard for importing and burning. Any info appreciated. Thanks
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AVCHD and Imovie6
- Thread starter hgiljr
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Since you are wanting your final medium to be DVD, I would suggest converting the AVCHD files to the DV codec if you want to still use iMovie 6. You're going to have to downsize the resolution anyway if its going to DVD, and the quality of your DVD will be far superior going from iMovie 6->iDVD than from iMovie08/09-> iDVD.
Use MPEGStreamClip to convert to DV ( NTSC, interlaced )
Oh and did you mean G4 powerbook? There was no G5 powerbook.
I have a sony sr11 and I import from the camcorder into iMovie 8, then export it to iMovie 6HD. No problems except the size will be downgraded. Haven't tried iMovie 9 yet though. About the same time involved converting using mpeg streamclip then importing into iMovie. Very good picture quality.
Bearcatrp,
How are you exporting to iMovie 6HD from iMovie '08? (I have '09). Are you doing any edits (titles, transitions, etc.) in '08?
Jay S.
r.j.s
Thanks. That looks more like just a straight export w/QT and import into iMovie HD. I didn't know if there was a more direct connection I was missing.
Jay S.
I use the export feature to export out to a file. Then use iMovie 6HD to import. I don't do any transitions or anything in iMovie 8, just use it to import AVCHD. I haven't tried this but heard somewhere you can save your work in iMovie 8, then direct iMovie 6HD to import that file. been away from editing for a bit so haven't had time to try this. If I find that link for this, i"ll post it.
Hgiljr,
Yes, you need an IntelMac to import & transcode AVCHD footage into (in case or iMovie) Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC). See also
support pages.
So if you plan in editing with iMovie HD 6 on a G5, you will need an additional IntelMac to do the conversion into AIC.
Once the material is in AIC, you can copy that to your G5 and use iMovie HD 6.
Do take Huntercr advice at heart: if your end result is supposed to end up on a regular DVD (DVD5), you may as well reduce the AVCHD material to SD first using the DV codec.
Coen
Yes, you need an IntelMac to import & transcode AVCHD footage into (in case or iMovie) Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC). See also
support pages.So if you plan in editing with iMovie HD 6 on a G5, you will need an additional IntelMac to do the conversion into AIC.
Once the material is in AIC, you can copy that to your G5 and use iMovie HD 6.
Do take Huntercr advice at heart: if your end result is supposed to end up on a regular DVD (DVD5), you may as well reduce the AVCHD material to SD first using the DV codec.
Coen
Thought I might highjack this thread as it seem to relate to what I'm after.
My tape based camcorder has just died and I'm looking to replace it with a hard-drive based one.
I'm basically just filming video of the 2 kids which I then want to edit in imovie 9 on a unibody macbook, for distribution to an apple tv and a dvd for the family.
Some camcorders seem to record to AVCHD, which from what I understand needs to be converted before I can edit in imovie? Does this affect the quality? Also I've read that it inflates the file size massively? Alternatively others seem to record to MPEG-2, would this be better for imovie?
Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
My tape based camcorder has just died and I'm looking to replace it with a hard-drive based one.
I'm basically just filming video of the 2 kids which I then want to edit in imovie 9 on a unibody macbook, for distribution to an apple tv and a dvd for the family.
Some camcorders seem to record to AVCHD, which from what I understand needs to be converted before I can edit in imovie? Does this affect the quality? Also I've read that it inflates the file size massively? Alternatively others seem to record to MPEG-2, would this be better for imovie?
Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
You can use Voltaic to convert AVCHD to AIC on PPC Macs. It just takes a long time to do the conversion. I've read that conversions can take up to 12x realtime.Yes, you need an IntelMac to import & transcode AVCHD footage into (in case or iMovie) Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC). See also
My personal opinion is that HDD-based camcorders are a bad idea. Too many moving parts make for a less reliable device. Plus, if you are in the habit of waiting to download your video, then a HDD crash puts more of your footage at risk.
I would suggest a flash-memory based camcorder for your situation. Normally, I'd suggest HDV, but you have a new MB without Firewire, so that won't work.
If you're going to get an HD (HiDef) camcorder, then it doesn't really matter whether you get AVCHD or HDV (MPEG-2) in regards to file size. Both of these formats will need to be converted to AIC. And yes, file sizes grow enormously. At the highest resolution settings, AIC clocks in at approx. 40 GB/hr. Fortunately, HDD's are cheap.
Thanks for your response, not sure I would need a HD one, as like I said it's just for family videos, and don't want to spend too much.
Don't know much about the flash-memory based ones, what format do these record in? Any recommendations?
Ok just did a bit of research and flash based still record in AVCHD or MPEG-2. If I just go for a SD are the file sizes going to be a lot smaller? 40GB/hr seems a lot!
Don't know much about the flash-memory based ones, what format do these record in? Any recommendations?
Ok just did a bit of research and flash based still record in AVCHD or MPEG-2. If I just go for a SD are the file sizes going to be a lot smaller? 40GB/hr seems a lot!
AVCHD is always in HD. MPEG-2 comes in many flavors, including HD and SD.
If you're only interested in SD, then you have a couple of options. Flash, DVD, HDD, and miniDV. miniDV is out since you don't have Firewire. Of the 3 remaining, I would go with Flash for the same reasons as my previous post.
I think many of the newer SD-Flash camcorders record in MPEG-4, which iMovie can edit natively. Some of the older SD-Flash camcorders record in MPEG-2, which iMovie can't edit natively.
I would go with an MPEG-4 model. As for file sizes, it depends on the bit rate. The very popular Flip Mino records at 4 Mbps, which according to them equates to 2 GB/hr. I'm not sure about iMovie compatibilty, but I pretty sure they are. They are at least, Mac compatible.
There are plenty of other SD-flash camcorders from Panasonic, Canon, Sony, etc.
ft