drew879

Q: iMovie Won't Import MP4 Files

For some reason iMovie '11 won't let me import videos.  Specifically, I'm trying to add MP4 files that I copied to my hard drive from my GoPro HD 960.  For GoPro users, I used the R2 (720p) format.  They open properly in QuickTime and VLC but can't be imported into iMovie (or iPhoto).  When I select File-->Import-->Movies and browse to the directory where I saved all the .mp4 files on my hard drive, they're all greyed out.  And actually, it seems that just about no video files at all on my computer can be added (all greyed out)--even other MP4 files.

 

I downloaded MPEG Streamclip but that says "unrecognized file format" when I try opening the videos.  I also installed Perian and rebooted.

 

In case it helps:

- I have an Intel MacBook running OS X 10.6.8 with iLife '11

- QuickTime info for the video format says "H.264, 1280 x 720, Millions; AAC, 2 channels, 48000 Hz"

- VLC says "Stream 0 (Video) - Codec: avc1" and "Stream 1 (Audio) - Codec: mp4a"

 

Any ideas?  This is incredibly frustrating!

Posted on Apr 6, 2012 4:10 PM

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Q: iMovie Won't Import MP4 Files

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  • by Jennimedi,

    Jennimedi Jennimedi Apr 8, 2016 12:06 AM in response to drew879
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 8, 2016 12:06 AM in response to drew879

    Why Sometimes Can't Import MP4 to iMovie?

     

    Reason One: iMovie only supports importing MP4 formats with MPEG4/AAC or H.264/AAC data, not all kinds of MP4 formats. Some MP4 files from like Sony, Hybrid camcorders and other devices cannot be accepted by iMovie.

     

    Reason Two: iMovie contains all the essential codecs to read MP4 files. Any different codecs included in audio and subtitle will cause the issue. In the circumstances, we still cannot successfully import MP4 files to iMovie.

     

    All in all, to smoothly import MP4 to iMovie, you'd better to convert these MP4 files to iMovie totally compatible MP4 or MOV (QuickTime) formats.

  • by iStockholm,

    iStockholm iStockholm Apr 27, 2016 11:31 AM in response to stan58
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 27, 2016 11:31 AM in response to stan58

    thanks, that actually did the trick, simple solutions are the best ones!!! :-)

  • by Apple Support Gappy,

    Apple Support Gappy Apple Support Gappy May 19, 2016 7:46 PM in response to Jennimedi
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 19, 2016 7:46 PM in response to Jennimedi

    imovie is not a good program. If you right click on a mp4 file and try to open it with Select Application > Imovie, it says that imovie can't open it. BUT, if you open imovie and Import Media >open the SAME mp4 file, NO PROBLEM, it opens it !!!

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