Is it possible at all to import MPG into iMovie?

[iSamurai]

Greetings,

AFAIK iMovie only allows me to import MOV files and edit... which is a hassle to convert all my MPG video clips to MOV using QT Pro. Can't iMovie read MPG clips at all? Edit: So there's no way of importing MPG after a bit of research... 😡 For once Windows Movie Maker actually outruns iMovie... 😵

I tried using QT Pro to convert them to AVI/MOV but there's no sound! What's happening?

Any solutions would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[MisterMe]

... iMovie only allows me to import MOV files and edit... which is a hassle to convert all my MPG video clips to MOV using QT Pro. Can't iMovie read MPG clips at all? ...

You are totally confused. .mov is the preferred export format of iMovie, not its required import format. Remember that this app is the amateur video editor of choice. It imports video directly from miniDV/HDV camcorders over FireWire. These use the DV or HDV format. As a general rule, iMovie can handle video in any format for which you have a QuickTime codec.

MPG files are usually multiplexed (aka muxed) MPEG-1 files. This means that they have a single track with both the audio and video data. To edit these files, you need to demux them. A demuxing utility separates the audio from the video.

 

[TheReef]

I ran into the same problem attempting to copy clips from an old sony still camera into iMovie.

This is a really bad workaround but what I did was use Wiretap pro to create a separate audio track whilst I played the video in quicktime, then import that sound into iMovie.

 

[iSamurai]

Thanks for the two replies. I eventually found a way to convert the clips retaining much quality (almost no compression) with MPEG Streamclip. It worked like a bomb and sound was also converted.

I eventually converted them to QT with H264 at maximum quality. The result is great, although the file size is about a third larger than the original.

 

[cfs]

Thanks for the two replies. I eventually found a way to convert the clips retaining much quality (almost no compression) with MPEG Streamclip. It worked like a bomb and sound was also converted.

I eventually converted them to QT with H264 at maximum quality. The result is great, although the file size is about a third larger than the original.

I',m also looking to do what you accomplished. Did you use Quick Time Pro or just plain 'ol Quicktime?

-cfs

 

[killmoms]

Windows Movie Maker just indulges bad editing habits by allowing you to use non-editing formats.

As a rule, delivery formats like muxed, interframe MPEG should not be used for editing (I will grudgingly make exceptions for high-bitrate formats like AVCHD or HDV, but I'm no fan). 😡

 

[QuarterSwede]

Windows Movie Maker just indulges bad editing habits by allowing you to use non-editing formats.

As a rule, delivery formats like muxed, interframe MPEG should not be used for editing (I will grudgingly make exceptions for high-bitrate formats like AVCHD or HDV, but I'm no fan). 😡

Not everyone is a pro. We just want our crappy home videos to look a bit better so we can archive them and share them on the net with family. That's me at least.

 

[danielwsmithee]

Not everyone is a pro. We just want our crappy home videos to look a bit better so we can archive them and share them on the net with family. That's me at least.

If cameras record to that format iMovie should support it. This is the most common complaint I hear about iMovie is it won't edit/import muxed video files that are recorded on peoples cameras/phones.