iMovie can't import videos from iPhoto

Hi

Try to locate Your movie file
Drop this into the open iMovie event box - or use import in iMovie when You know where
the movie is stored.

Yours Bengt W

Welcome to the  Discussion Forums.

Playing and converting mpeg 1 or 2 files are two different things. Because mpeg files can't be converted with QT, imovie 7 won't import them. You could convert these clips with something like MPEG Streamclip (free) so that you can use them with imovie.

i don't see where is the problem. the old imovie could edit my videos. why the new one isn't able?

iMovie '06 converts all "fully" compatible compression formats to DV as part of the import process. iMovie '08, on the other hand, wants to import and edit the files in their "native" compression format. Since MPEG-1 files cannot be edited in iMovie '08, it will not import them. If all you want is the video content, then import your MPEG-1 file to iMovie '06 and then import the video only DV files (i.e., you will lose the audio content) from iMovie '06 into '08.

why do i need to use a free program to do this?

You only need use a third-party, MPEG-based converter if you want both audio and video content. QT only converts the video content in MPEG-1 files.

isn't apple able to implement a plugin that convert the files automatically?

No. QT employs time-based synchronization of audio and video content. MPEG-1 employs spatial synchronization. If you want to edit your MPEG-1 files in an MPEG editor at the GOP level, then use an MPEG editor application. If you want to edit your MPEG-1 files at the frame level in iMovie '06 or '08, then convert the files to a format that can be edited at the frame level.

is there the posibility to get a plugin for this?

Possible but not likely. Essentially, Apple would have to re-write QT to include separate "engines" for both "muxed" content and "QT" content in orer to perform "Finder" level transfers with conversion. Assume this would add some $200-$250 to the application in research and development which they would likely pass on to you. Might be easier to add an import model like the current MPEG-2 capture/conversion module but then you would likely have to re-imort all of your files from the digital camera and I assume most are no longer stored on your camera. Besides, MPEG-2 is is a currently supported storage format by camcorder manufacturers while MPEG-1 is not.

I couldn,t agree more with you !!!! They set out to make it easier and it ends up being more complicated. Don,t you just feel like sticking to mini dv and imovie 06 !!!
Too many formats and loopholes to get through just to load some **** footage on your mac .

Bruce MCLean.

users really doesn't care if their camera store videos in mpeg-1 or mpeg-2 format. if it worked on imovie 06, it should work on imovie 08!!! that's my point of view.

Unfortunately, many users are like my wife -- she tells me what to do and leaves it to me to figure out how to accomplish what she wants done.

i seem to be having the similar problem. But for me the videos imported fine when i first set up I movie, they were imported immediately, but now i can add additional movies. They all seem to be in the same format, so there shouldnt be any problem. in fact, one of my video in imovie was partially deleted, so i tried to import the original again. but cant. this is crazy. surely this should be a very simple process, but its not, and its driving me nuts!

I have a similar problem with my camera's movies (DivX-5 in AVI), iMovie 7.1 cannot show them.

But the strange thing is : iMovie 7.0 could edit the movies with Perian plugin installed, since 7.1 it's no more possible, but I can use my movies to make a DVD with iDvd '08 or edit them with GarageBand or QuickTime : can cut and paste, convert from AVI to QuickTime, but iMovie 7.1 doesn't want to read the Quicktime Movie.

if i have a video in mpeg-1 and i whant to edit it, and make a moovie with it, IT SHOULD WORK!!!

Just as most people would not go fishing with a shotgun or take their car to a jet mechanic for repairs, most people would not use a frame-to-frame, temporally synchronized application to edit a movie "natively" which does not have "frame" instances of video or "frame" instances of audio but instead is broken down to "blocks" (or "groups") of pictures and audio which are interspersed in a single data stream. You, like my wife, totally ignore the realities of the world in which you live.

i don't care how, that's why users pay for "good" software

Then you bought the wrong "good" software. If you want to edit "muxed" video formats natively, then purchase an editor which which works on compression formats that are divided in "GOPs" and not "frames." There are a few out there. And if you think there is a good "hybrid" editor out there that does both, buy it. Until that time, you, like the rest of us, must use a conversion application to transform an uneditable format into one which can be edited.

I can use my movies to make a DVD with iDvd '08 or edit them with GarageBand or QuickTime : can cut and paste, convert from AVI to QuickTime, but iMovie 7.1 doesn't want to read the Quicktime Movie

There are actually tree levels of support:

1) Playback Only -- which means QT can play but not convert or edit the clip.
2) Conversion Compatible -- which means the QT structure can play and convert the format but not edit.
3) "Fully" compatible -- which means QT structures can play, convert, and edit the format.

As to AVI, remember this is a just a container which can hold many different combinations of audio and video compression formats. To be editable in iMovie '08, both the audio and video formats must be "fully" compatible with QT structures. For instance, many Casio cameras use Motion JPEG (MJEP) in an AVI container which is edit compatible with iMovie '08 but use it with DVI ADPCM audio which is not edit compatible. Have not personally noted any change in the way AVI content is or is not being imported following the v7.1 update.

Are you using the same release of iMovie '08. The movies I created with iMovie '08 7.0 are not displayable with 7.1, I see the thumbnails, but when I try to play the movie screen stays black only the sound is playing.

There are actually tree levels of support:
1) Playback Only -- which means QT can play but not convert or edit the clip.
2) Conversion Compatible -- which means the QT structure can play and convert the format but not edit.
3) "Fully" compatible -- which means QT structures can play, convert, and edit the format.

If I refer to QT my movie is "Fully" compatible as you say. I can play, convert and edit the format in QuickTime Player Pro. I can separate audio and video layer. But iMovie '08 7.1 doesn't read audio, video nor complete movie.

Here are some informations given by QT :
Video format : DivX 5 (Perian), 640 x 480, Millions
Audio format : MPEG Layer 2, Mono, 32,000 Khz
IPS : 30
Speed : 2111.31 kbits/s
Size : 640 x 480 pixels

Thanks for your attention