Quick IMovie question, IPad vs IMac issue I can’t figure out.

[Resqu2]

My 4K helmet cam creates files that are .MP4 using the MJPG codec Which I understand isn’t IMovie friendly. Trying to use my new IMac to edit video isn’t possible, the file will load but it’s like watching a bunch of photos put together with a delay between each frame. It’s unusable and even QuickTime plays them back the same way on my IMac. Once I can get the file to my IPad the files plays just as it should but IMovie is pretty limited on the IPad.

Do I need to buy a converter or just give up on IMovie and get the Lumafusion app since I’d rather just use my IPad anyway?

Bit more info, it doesn’t matter how I record the video, 4K or 1080 and tried several frame rates up to 120 but nothing helps on the IMac. These are Fire scene videos that all I need to do is cut certain scenes out to shorten the video and maybe delete scenes that have non fire people in them to protect myself from complaints. Not needing or wanting to make a heavily modified film.

 

[Gwendolini]

What exact camera do you use? Can you use MediaInfo (free in the Mac App Store) to open one of the MP4 files and attach the report from TREE VIEW (CMD+2) in your reply?

Btw, it is spelled "iMac" and "iPad" and "iMovie", the "i" is not capitalised, and auto correct normally does correct the spelling to the marketed one.

 

[Resqu2]

What exact camera do you use? Can you use MediaInfo (free in the Mac App Store) to open one of the MP4 files and attach the report from TREE VIEW (CMD+2) in your reply?

Btw, it is spelled "iMac" and "iPad" and "iMovie", the "i" is not capitalised, and auto correct normally does correct the spelling to the marketed one.

I just got the camera not long ago and I’m new to editing video, it’s a Firecam Onyx 4K. I will try to get that program today if time allows. Just really confused as to why one works and one doesn’t. I could understand if neither worked.

 

[Gwendolini]

I can't find anything, if the camera uses H264 or M-JPEG as encoding mechanism, thus cannot help further.
Either use Media Info and its Tree View option to share the technical details of one of those MP4 files it produces or better yet, share a small sample file you can easily share. You could just record a blank wall for a second or three and that MP4 will probably be easily shareable via WeTransfer or anything else, as it will be less than 10 MB in size.

Is that something you can do?

PS: You could try using HandBrake to transcode the file to an H264 MP4, though that will do some doing, as you have to use another preset (maybe Presets > PRODUCTION > Production Max) could work to lose not much information.

PPS: I just found an M-JPEG sample file, but it had an .mjpg file extension instead of MP4.

 

[Resqu2]

Yes, I will try to do that later on today when I get back in, the camera for sure uses M-JPG according to the spec sheet that I got with it. Thanks for looking.

 

[Gwendolini]

Yes, I will try to do that later on today when I get back in, the camera for sure uses M-JPG according to the spec sheet that I got with it. Thanks for looking.

No worries.
I looked and searched, but I couldn't find anything on the official website or via Google.

You could also just do a screenshot of the Media Info window via CMD+SHIFT+4 > SPACEBAR and click with the mouse pointer onto the window.

 

[Gwendolini]

Any updates?

 

[Resqu2]

Any updates?

No, thanks for checking in, work got so busy this issue has been put on the back burner. But I do need to take time to post the info you were wanting.