Importing videos into iMovie

[tillie]

Somebody please help!

I want to import some clips into iMovie (not from a camera, but a file) and it just won't work! The programme goes through all the steps, but in the end there is no file in iMovie; it just says 'No matching video'. I've checked the folder where clips should go (movie events --> eventx) and the clips have been moved to there, so why won't it show up in iMovie? It's driving me mad!

Do the clips have to be a certain length (i remember that in iMovie 04 they had to be under 9minutes) or do they have to be a certain format? [I've been using .avi files.]

There isn't even an error message so I don't understand why they won't import!! Please help me before i throw the computer out the window!

 

[spinnerlys]

.avi is only a container for audio and video encoded with different codecs, the two most prominent being Divx and Xvid.

Thus those .avi files will not work, you have to use MPEG Streamclip to convert them something usable.

Most likely you use SD .avi files so as export setting you can use the DV codec.

Also take a look at MRoogle, since that question has been asked and answered several times.

 

[tillie]

Most likely you use SD .avi files so as export setting you can use the DV codec.

Also take a look at MRoogle, since that question has been asked and answered several times.

I'm sorry but i didn't get any of that!

I get that i can't use .avi files and probably need MPEGs but perhaps you could try again? How do I convert the files?

 

[spinnerlys]

Have you taken a look at MRoogle (my sig and my first post)?
You can search the forums, and the results should give you at least three threads I can remember participating in the last two months or so.

MPEG Streamclip is a software you can download at www.squared5.com, which allows you to convert the .avi files to .mov files, for which you should use the DV (Digital Video) codec, as most likely the .avi files don't exceed a resolution of 720x576 pixel, which is called Standard Definition (SD).

MPEGs are not meant for editing though, so don't use that to convert to, it's just that the software has MPEG in its name, maybe due to its origin in handling MPEG streams.
Again, use that software, load your .avi file (or files, it even has a batch function), select Export to DV and go with that.
Have at least a try, if you encounter problems on the way, see if those threads can answer your questions, and if not come back here.

 

[tillie]

I understand now; i need to change all files to DV so I can import them to iMovie.

There isn't a time limit? The clips don't have to be under a certain amount of time to import do they? Like 9 minutes? Because I understand everything else

 

[spinnerlys]

I understand now; i need to change all files to DV so I can import them to iMovie.

There isn't a time limit? The clips don't have to be under a certain amount of time to import do they? Like 9 minutes? Because I understand everything else

There is no time limit as far as I know.

Be sure to checkout the Batch function (CMD+B) of MPEG Streamclip, which lets you open all your files and select one output setting for all of them.

 

[tillie]

i converted a file into a DV (.avi --> .dv) and it deleted the audio? why?

 

[spinnerlys]

i converted a file into a DV (.avi --> .dv) and it deleted the audio? why?

Have you checked any settings you used in MPEG Streamclip?

Could you watch and listen to the .avi file in MPEG Streamclip?

You need to install Perian as it seems to play those .avi files back and export them successfully.
www.perian.org

I just tried it (with Perian installed) and it worked, video and audio were in the DV file.

 

[tillie]

i didn't have perian before. I 'll try again :S