This was not an issue in earlier versions of iMovie. The original file was imported as an mpeg-4 filesize 2.45 GB. It was imported from a VHS tape. After some very minor edits like adding titles and inserting transitions, I exported the project to share --> file and the size balloons to over 10 GB. This can't be burned to disk and is totally useless. Any ideas?
This is Mojave 10.14.5 and iMovie 10.1.12
iMac 21.5", macOS 10.14
Hi,
The file that you exported from iMovie probably was less compressed than the file that you imported. When you import a file into iMovie it unpacks it for editing. The exported version may be less compressed, particularly if the original imported file was highly compressed. Therefore, larger file size.
Your settings and edits can affect file size. If, for example, you exported at Best Quality (pro res), that has a much higher bitrate than Mp4 and is much less compressed, then the exported version would be about 4x file size not counting your edits.
You wouldn't be able to burn a 10GB file to a standard 4.7 GB disk if you were making a data DVD -- i.e, using the burning program on your Mac. However, you should be able to burn the disk if you are using iDVD or other standard DVD authoring programs. With an authoring program the file size is not as important as the duration of the movie. As long as the movie is under 2 hours in duration, including your edits, the authoring program would compress it to fit on a standard DVD no matter if the movie's file size is larger than the disk's indicated capacity. This is what would happen with iDVD and I am assuming that other authoring programs work the same way, otherwise everyone would be limited to 20 minute movies on their DVDs.
-- Rich
Hi,
The file that you exported from iMovie probably was less compressed than the file that you imported. When you import a file into iMovie it unpacks it for editing. The exported version may be less compressed, particularly if the original imported file was highly compressed. Therefore, larger file size.
Your settings and edits can affect file size. If, for example, you exported at Best Quality (pro res), that has a much higher bitrate than Mp4 and is much less compressed, then the exported version would be about 4x file size not counting your edits.
You wouldn't be able to burn a 10GB file to a standard 4.7 GB disk if you were making a data DVD -- i.e, using the burning program on your Mac. However, you should be able to burn the disk if you are using iDVD or other standard DVD authoring programs. With an authoring program the file size is not as important as the duration of the movie. As long as the movie is under 2 hours in duration, including your edits, the authoring program would compress it to fit on a standard DVD no matter if the movie's file size is larger than the disk's indicated capacity. This is what would happen with iDVD and I am assuming that other authoring programs work the same way, otherwise everyone would be limited to 20 minute movies on their DVDs.
-- Rich
iDVD, unfortunately, has become increasingly dysfunctional with each upgrade of the opeating system. With Mojave it is very dysfunctional. Themes don't work properly. There are rendering issues. It seems that iDVD has conflicts with the new APFS format of the newer operating systems. Some users have found more success by moving iDVD to an external drive formatted Mas OS Extended (Journaled). Then create an alias of the Themes folder and put it on the external drive. If you need to reformat an external drive, be aware that reformatting erases all data on the drive. So first back up any data that you want to keep.
There are not any great alternatives to iDVD out there. There are several DVD authoring programs offered by the Apple app store. Roxio's Titanium Toast is used by some members of this forum.
-- Rich
Rich, thanks for your reply. I will try to burn using iDVD.
If by any chance there is a Mac in your household that is running El Capitan or earlier, iDVD works fine on those operating systems.
-- Rich
When exporting project to file, filesize is 5x larger.
