Cant download from Mini DVD camcorder to IMac....

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Level 1

9 points

Cant download from Mini DVD camcorder to IMac....

I have been trying to get information from the Mini DVD's on my Canon DC220 onto my IMac. I started with IMovie 6, but the camera utilizes a USB and was not compatible. I checked the specs on IMovie 08 and the camera was listed as compatible, but I still am unable to get the video from the camera to the IMac. Each time I connect the camera to the IMac's USB port and switch the camera to "PC Mode" I will get a prompt on my screen stating "You have inserted a blank DVD." The DVD is not blank, but I cannot figure out how to get the IMac to see it. Please advise...

JC

Posted on Jan 22, 2008 3:14 PM

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Answer 1

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Jan 22, 2008 3:23 PM in response to jcole78

Search this page (link) for "How do I finalize a DVD disc".

Any DVD needs to be finished before it can be played on anything other than the device it was made on.

Later you can unfinalize a RW disc to add more video.

mrtotes

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Answer 2

jcole78 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 23, 2008 6:08 PM in response to mrtotes

Wow mrtotes. Thanks. I cant believe it was something that simple. What a rookie. Well now my Mac does recognize it as a DVD and will play it using the "DVD Player" but my I-Movie still does not recognize it. Any suggestions on how to get it on the computer? Thanks so much.

JC

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Answer 3

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Jan 24, 2008 2:21 AM in response to jcole78

The video content on a DVD is MPEG2/1 and can't be used directly in iMovie without conversion. I used to use OpenShiiva (link) (ensure you check to encode audio) but it hasn't been updated in years and wasn't written with Intel processors in mind so won't be quick.

As you clearly need this for genuine home use: try having a look on MacUpdate (link).

Drop me an email for more help, or if the link breaks.

cheers

mrtotes

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Answer 4

Will-Hi

Level 5

4,307 points

Jan 24, 2008 5:12 AM in response to mrtotes

mrtotes wrote:
The video content on a DVD is MPEG2/1 and can't be used directly in iMovie without conversion.

My understanding is that iMovie '08 supports MPEG-2, or can convert it automatically. According to the iMovie page on Apple.com, iMovie '08 features "Expanded format support":

iMovie supports standard and high definition video, as well as the most popular formats, including DV, HDV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and even AVCHD.

I've never used the new iMovie so I don't know how you can import MPEG-2 video from a DVD. jmcole78, you should probably ask your question in the iMovie '08 forum.

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Answer 5

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Jan 24, 2008 5:42 AM in response to Will-Hi

I have to admit I'm still using iMovie 06 rather than iMovie 08, mainly because having used iMovie now and again since iMovie 1 I can't get used to iMovie 08's interface, not to mention some missing features.

Unfortunately we're talking about .VOB files here which AFAIK are muxed MPEG2:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42996

So they will need some conversion else the audio will be missing.

cheers

mrtotes

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Answer 6

Will-Hi

Level 5

4,307 points

Jan 26, 2008 10:54 AM in response to mrtotes

mrtotes wrote:

Unfortunately we're talking about .VOB files here which AFAIK are muxed MPEG2:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42996

So they will need some conversion else the audio will be missing.

cheers

mrtotes

Unless imported with iMovie '08 and a compatible camcorder:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42996

Important: iMovie ’08 does allow the import of MPEG-2 when imported directly from from supported cameras. Exporting MPEG-2 clips imported in this manner will not lose audio when the export is performed from within iMovie ’08.

And here's the list of supported cameras:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014

The Canon DC220 is listed as compatible (which the original poster already noted). However, I don't know why iMovie '08 isn't working with his camcorder. People may be able to offer advice in the iMovie '08 forum though…

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Answer 7

richvid

Level 1

116 points

Jan 26, 2008 1:37 PM in response to jcole78

In order for you to be able to import your DVD footage into iMovie 08 you need to change the format of the video files.

I use MPEG Streamclip which is a free download from http://www.squared5.com/ to convert the video.

Once you have downloaded the software and installed it, pop your DVD into your iMac, open up Streamclip, then click FILE > OPEN DVD > Select the DVD from the Devices. You should see VIDEO_TS but ignore this, simply click on SELECT, then select from the drop-down list which track on your DVD you wish to open and click on Select.

After a few seconds the video should open in a new window. If you see 'Warning, the stream may have timecode breaks', click 'FIX NOW', the next page opens, make sure that 'DO NOT SKIP ANY FRAME' is ticked and click 'PROCEED'.

Wait until the video is processed and the opened page shows the video.

Now click on FILE > EXPORT TO QUICKTIME, select compression 'APPLE DV - PAL' from the dropdown menu, and move the quality bar to 100%. Click on 'Make movie'.

From the next page rename the video footage to something more memorable, and save it to th Desktop or somewhere else NOT the DVD which it defaults to - if you forget it will fail!!!

You can now import this video footage into iMovie 08 using the FILE >IMPORT MOVIES from within iMovie 08

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