tcmartin

Q: How do I import my video to iMovie?

I have video recorded for our preschool graduation and it says it's importing, but when it's done, there is nothing there!  I'm getting very frustrated.  It was originally a .vob file and I FINALLY got it converted into something else to use, but everytime I try to import to iMovie....NOTHING!

 

PLEASE HELP!

Posted on Jun 29, 2013 5:40 AM

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Q: How do I import my video to iMovie?

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  • by Bengt Wärleby,

    Bengt Wärleby Bengt Wärleby Jun 29, 2013 7:12 AM in response to tcmartin
    Level 6 (19,450 points)
    Jun 29, 2013 7:12 AM in response to tcmartin

    Hi

     

    vob file ? - Are You tryimg to import material from a DVD disk into iMovie.

     

    No version of iMovie can do that directly - other programs needed to convert to a working Video Codec.

     

    see my notes (a bit old - still most is valid)

     

    DVD back for future editing

     

    A. don't put a mini DVD into Your Mac unless it’s a tray-loaded DVD burner/reader

     

    B. iMovie’08 prob. 09 can import from DVD (homemade without copy-protection) - BUT I never got it to work - think Karsten Schlüter knows an elaborate way around to get it to work ??????

     

    C. I prefer one of these two ways

    • Copy to miniDV tape Camera from set-top DVD-player --> Camera -or-

    • Roxio Toast™ - Can back convert to streamingDV for iMovie or FinalCut

     

    D. Read what Karsten collected.

     

    DVD back to iMovie.

     

    .. and here the complete 'full 9 yards' ... .

     

    //discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3822853&#3822853

     

    DVDs are in a so-called delivery format (mpeg2), which isn't meant and 

    made for any processing as editing...  or, as honorable forum member 

    QuicktimeKirk stated. [i] I use the analogy of the old Polaroid 

    "instant" cameras. Push the button, wait for the print to develop and 

    show it off.[/i] ..

     

    for using the iLife apps, you have to convert-'em first, in 

    recommended order, choose one of the following tools/workarounds.

     

    • DVDxDV (free trial, 25$, Pro. 90$)

    • Apple mpeg2 plugin  (20$) + MPEG-Streamclip (free)

    • Cinematize >60$

    • Mpeg2Works >25$ + Apple plug-in

    • Toast 6/7/8/9/10/11 allows converting to dv/insert dvd, hit apple-k

    • connect a miniDV Camcorder with analogue input to a DVD-player and transfer disk to tape/use as converter

    • Drop2DV (free) a free tool claiming to convert DVDs into dv-stream...

     

    • Use iSquint for your conversions . www.iSquint.org

    from. Bobby Keene 

     

    none of these apps override copy-protection mechanisms as on commercial DVD's...

     

    //danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml

    //danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6018.shtml

     

    be nice to copy rights ^-^

     

    ... and, next time,  try the forum's search-feature...

     

    from Beverly M.

     

    //docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42724

     

    Yours Bengt W

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Jun 29, 2013 9:57 AM in response to tcmartin
    Level 8 (48,888 points)
    Jun 29, 2013 9:57 AM in response to tcmartin

    What did you convert the VOB file to?

     

    You need to convert the VOB files in the TS-Folder of the DVD back to DV which iMovie is designed to handle. For that you need mpegStreamclip:

     

    http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html

     

    which is free, but you must also have the  Apple mpeg2 plugin :

     

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/D2187Z/A/quicktime-mpeg-2-playback-component-f or-mac-os-x

     

    (unless you are running Lion in which case see below))

    which is a mere $20.

     

    Another possibility is to use DVDxDV:

     

    http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm

     

    which costs $25.

     

    For the benefit of others who may read this thread:

     

    Obviously the foregoing only applies to DVDs you have made yourself, or other home-made DVDs that have been given to you. It will NOT work on copy-protected commercial DVDs, which in any case would be illegal.

     

    And from the TOU of these forums:

     

    Keep within the Law

    1. No material may be submitted that is intended to promote or commit an illegal act.
    2. Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.

     

    If you are running Lion:

     

    From the MPEG Streamclip homepage

     

    The installer of the MPEG-2 Playback Component may refuse to install the component in Lion. Apple states the component is unnecessary in Lion onwards, however MPEG Streamclip still needs it. See this:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3381

     

    To install the component in Lion, please download MPEG Streamclip 1.9.3b7 beta above; inside the disk image you will find the Utility MPEG2 Component Lion: use it to install the MPEG-2 Playback Component in Lion. The original installer's disk image (QuickTimeMPEG2.dmg) is required.

     

    The current versions of MPEG Streamclip cannot take advantage of the built-in MPEG-2 functionality of Lion. For MPEG-2 files you still need to install the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component, which is not preinstalled in Lion. You don't have to install QuickTime 7.

  • by tcmartin,

    tcmartin tcmartin Jun 30, 2013 5:37 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 30, 2013 5:37 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

    Thank you for all the info, but I guess I should state that I finally got our home recorded movie from VOB format off the DVD to a Quicktime format using combination of Handbrake and Quicktime.  So I now have a decent quality Quicktime file, but everytime I go to import it into iMovie, it says it's processing, takes about an hour and then "nothing".    It's like it just disappears.  Now I did get it to come in at one point, but I had exported it to Quicktime to be 400 x 300 when it was originally a wide screen, so it looked really "tall".  So I re-exported to Quicktime again keeping the aspect ratio and that's the one I need, but also the one that won't come in. 

  • by tcmartin,

    tcmartin tcmartin Jun 30, 2013 5:50 AM in response to tcmartin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 30, 2013 5:50 AM in response to tcmartin

    And the one that I did get to import that was "tall" or "squished" also had no sound. 

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Jun 30, 2013 6:11 AM in response to tcmartin
    Level 8 (48,888 points)
    Jun 30, 2013 6:11 AM in response to tcmartin

    I did not recommend Handbrake. Try the method I suggested.

  • by tcmartin,

    tcmartin tcmartin Jun 30, 2013 8:12 AM in response to Klaus1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 30, 2013 8:12 AM in response to Klaus1

    I understand you didn't recommend Handbrake, but that was the one thing that I'd found thus far that worked and converted it for me -- for free.  So am I going to have to buy this Quicktime mpeg2 for $20 from Apple?  I haven't wanted to purchase ANYTHING unless I knew that it worked and gave me the quality I wanted.  I must have tried out about 10 different programs to convert this video and Handbrake was the first to do it well.  I'll spend $20 IF I know it works for certianty, but right now....I keep coming up short and there's no way to test what you're describing without spending money first.    Or am I wrong?