Kodak Zi8

Question

Level 1

4 points

Kodak Zi8

iMovie doesn't seem to recognize the Kodak Zi8 camera. Anyone have any idea how best to get iMovie to recognize the Kodak Zi8 and import the videos?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Sep 3, 2009 1:39 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 3, 2009 7:26 PM in response to PTH14

yes. I read somewhere on a blog that imovie won't recognize it, but they can be processed using streamclip. So bring them into that application and export quicktime using AIC codec. Then import the AIC file using file import movies in imovie.

http://www.squared5.com/

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Answer 2

thisand

Level 1

0 points

Oct 22, 2009 4:02 PM in response to Sheryl Kingstone

What's AIC? Please help me......it's my problem too

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Answer 3

Oct 22, 2009 4:18 PM in response to thisand

AIC stands for apple intermediate codec. Its a codec that imovie uses. mpeg streamclip can take the files and turn it into AIC files that can then be imported into imovie.

also try using voltiac HD to convert AVCHD

Message was edited by: Sheryl Kingstone

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Answer 4

woutje

Level 1

0 points

Oct 30, 2009 5:10 AM in response to Sheryl Kingstone

don't convert the video!!! iMovie doesn't recognize the Zi8's video automatically, however you can import the files easily. Go to Archive --> Import --> Movies (possibly: films, my OS X is in Dutch) and select the file(s) or folders. You can preview seperate files before importing. Works perfectly.

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Answer 5

Oct 31, 2009 5:35 PM in response to PTH14

Hi, I just got a zi8 and connected it to my mac book pro via the built-in usb. Both imovie and final cut express 4 can import the video from the zi8. Use File/Import/Files and you should see your zi8 in the list of devices. If you don't, try pressing the on/off button on the zi8 and then it should show up. So please don't bother converting anything with other software first, it's nice a simple and works easily. Cheers.

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Answer 6

pemarsh

Level 1

12 points

Nov 25, 2009 5:20 PM in response to englishchrissy

there is no option for files/import/FILES under imovie 09....
can you elaborate

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Answer 7

Nov 29, 2009 6:07 PM in response to PTH14

Having the same problem the video will not import. Strange thing is that the video is already a .mov file and is using H.264, AAC codecs. Seems like it should be compatible.

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Answer 8

Nov 30, 2009 5:03 AM in response to pemarsh

I can import movies

import >>> films

However, importing seems to inflate the filesize considerably (x2 or even x3).

Is there a way to make it retain the original fileformat / size?

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Answer 9

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Dec 1, 2009 1:47 PM in response to plastic_sushi

Is there a way to make it retain the original fileformat / size?

Not and have the files editable. H.264 is a highly compressed format not designed for editing.

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Answer 10

Gadir

Level 1

0 points

Dec 3, 2009 4:50 PM in response to PTH14

Confirmed - it is not necessary to convert zi8 video for use with iMovie. Connect camera with built-in USB. Choose File | Import | Movies... and browse to the DCIM folder on your camera's SD card. This will pull each video into iMovie without requiring a transcode

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Answer 11

Dec 6, 2009 8:38 AM in response to Gadir

I second the Confirmed.

Just got a Zi8. I use the internal USB and connect it to my MBP. Two mounts are established in Finder: "no name" (the SD card, which doesn't have a name) and "arcsoft sw" the internal software for Windows only (??).

In iMovie, go to File - Import Movies, and select the name of your SD card mount (for me, it's "no name"). Then, drill down into the DCIM folder and find the .MOV files, and begin importing.

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Answer 12

tdownerd

Level 1

1 points

Dec 13, 2009 5:17 PM in response to PTH14

When I plug in my Zi8 to the keyboard USB, iPhoto launches and wants to import the videos, not iMovie. ...just seems odd to me. Any thoughts on fixing that one?

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Answer 13

Dec 24, 2009 5:31 PM in response to Dr. Livingstone

You can get rid of the Arcsoft disk image if you update your firmware.
You can get that from Kodak's web site or this url http://tiny.cc/Jzdzg

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Answer 14

Gadir

Level 1

0 points

Jan 5, 2010 9:22 AM in response to tdownerd

Do you have still photos saved in the Zi8? This could be why iPhoto opens when you connect the camera to the USB port on your keyboard. If video also exists on the device, use the iMovie file menu to import the video files off of the attached removable storage icon on the desktop

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Answer 15

tdownerd

Level 1

1 points

Jan 5, 2010 3:33 PM in response to Gadir

No photos on mine. I just close iphoto and open imovie and do my import....not as I'd like it to work, but it all gets where I need it. Just seems to me that the just as the computer recognizes you've attached a still camera and opens iPhoto, it should recognize you attached a video camera and open iMovie.

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