point and shoot camera

iM is a DV-editor, meant to copy (=import lossless) from miniDV camcorders via firewire ...

means: no all-purpose-all-video-editor...

and:
.avi is just a container, no 'video format'... read your devices manual and tell us, what codec is in use...

so, to convert other codecs than dv (as in use with miniDV/iMovie), you have to convert your files first...
tool No.1 is Streamclip (free), but some camera manufacturers 'brew their own stuff', meaning: exotic codecs...

tell us brand & type of your device, maybe we find a workaround...

for serious movie-making, get a miniDV camcorder.. 😉

wow, the 'important' infos are well hidden on that site.. 😉

they speak of 3vix as codec, so, you could give a try:
purchase a licence of QTpro at apple.com
install the free www.perian.org component..
open avi with QTpro and convert/export as dv-stream...

could work, no gurantee from here.. 😉


... my German recommendations for a camera are of no use in Atlanta... 😉
get ANY miniDV camcorder which fits your wallet...
connect with a 4/6pin firewire/iLink/dv/IEEE1397 cable... (diff.words, same product...) ...

.. you sound very professional. ..

< cough > nooo! I'm just a professional home movie maker..

movie making/how movies are done is just a hobby for some 30 years, ... I did work for many years in the ads industry and at a TV broadcaster.. but as Executive Producer, which was in real life 'the office guy, sitting at his desktop doing phonecalls', .. I learned the terms, never worked as a 'maker' ...