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What is the max file size iMovie can handle?

cwattsclayton

cwattsclayton

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 13, 2015
2
0
Portland, OR
I am currently working on a summer fellowship program in a national research facility. We are using Zeiss/Xradia computer tomography instruments to make 2D and 3D digital images from multiple CAT scan images of materials (solid) to see the exterior and interior portions of the objects.

My mission is to make presentation movies of these images, some the the .avi files I am needing to use are quite large. I want to know if anyone know the size limitations of files iMovie can convert/work on? Is size limited by the computer's abilities or the software?

Anyone who has suggestions of methods to work with these large images so they can be presented in a group audience (projected) environment, I appreciate your input. I use iMovie in my teaching but have not taken it to its limits, like I intend to do now....
 
Define "quite large".

I import from a miniDV camcorder, which produces files of about 12Gb per hour of video. I've imputed 1 hour videos without any problems.
 
iMovie should only be controlled by the space you have on your drive(s). And, that's whether the drive is internal or external. The connection to an external can make things move slower. This is especially true if you have a Mac that has USB2. Solid state drives will also help the overall process with large files.

I primarily use Final Cut Pro X, but have used iMovie for many projects in the past.
Here is a link to an article entitled: iMovie for OS X Yosemite: Final Cut Pro X for Yosemite clues
http://alex4d.com/notes/item/imovie-for-os-x-yosemite
The article doesn't give a maximum size or length, but it does describe how the latest iMovie is actually a different interface for Final Cut Pro X - "As before, a large proportion of iMovie's almost 3GB bulk are made of frameworks used in Final Cut Pro X."
In that iMovie is now included with the operating system, you don't have to buy a movie editor. That being said, Final Cut has significant capabilities, can use plugins, ability to edit in Motion, etc. You can also download a 30-day trial version of Final Cut. After that, you will have to pay Apple $300 for FCPX software.

I would be interested to hear what equipment you are using to perform your edits.
 
not sure, but as large files are common in video productions, i'd be surprised if it can't handle 100gb+ files.

it probably won't take .avis, though....
 
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