Poor import quality from JVC Everio MG750 into iMovie 09

Question

Level 1

9 points

Poor import quality from JVC Everio MG750 into iMovie 09

I recently purchased a JVC Everio MG750 with the 80GB HD. Previously, I was importing video into iMovie 09 using firewire and my old MiniDV Sony videocamera. While the process was slow and tedious (tape based) the quality of the video imported into iMovie was perfect.
I now import into iMovie from the Everio. I am recording in super fine resolution (only gives me 19 hours on the camera instead of 100+) and when I connect the camera to the Mac and browse the files, I can see the MOD files and play them with VLC media player, and the quality is fine. Probably still not as sharp as my tape miniDV, but pretty good.
However, when I import the files into iMovie and iMovie converts them, the quality looks like crap when I play the files in iMovie. Very grainy (no other way to describe it).
Any thoughts? I looked under iMovie preferences and there does not seem to be any import quality setting which if there is, I am missing.
TIA (thanx in advance)

Windows

Posted on Nov 1, 2010 6:58 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 2, 2010 8:24 AM in response to Birdman325

Hi,

I work for JVC and would like to try and help.

Can you give me additional detail on how you import the video? You should simply be connecting via USB, then starting iMovie, and then choosing to capture from your camcorder. iMovie should recognize the JVC, then you should see little thumbnails of each scene in iMovie, and then you should be able to select the scenes you want and import them directly.

If you are importing this way, the quality should be equivalent, and possibly slightly better using the JVC vs. the Sony.

What you do not want to do in any manner is first copy the .mod files to your computer, and then import them to iMovie via any other software/conversion process. They need to come into iMovie direct from the JVC.

Please confirm if this is what you are doing.

Thanks,

Chris

Reply

Answer 2

Birdman325 Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 2, 2010 8:27 AM in response to Chris@JVC

Thanx for your email. That is exactly what I am doing. I open iMovie, I connect the JVC using USB, I select the appropriate option on the JVC menu screen, and then I am presented with a thumbnail of all of the clips in iMovie and I can put a checkmark in each clip. I then "import" and the process works very quickly.
However, when I then view the clip in iMovie, the quality is noticeably reduced and looks extremely grainy.

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 3, 2010 8:12 AM in response to Birdman325

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear you're still having problems. It sounds like you are doing it exactly the way I do it, but we are getting different results.

I encourage you to take your cam to an Apple retailer, and try it on a different Apple in the store. I am curious what those results are. That would let us know if there is any configuration issue on your Apple.

The 750 should at least match your Mini DV, and the quality in iMovie should not be any less than using your VLC Media Player. Having said that, if you want the best quality, you would be better served with an HD Everio from JVC, instead of the 750 which is SD. HD Everios are not necessarily a lot more money than the 750, but you would get higher recording quality.

I will dig a little deeper and see if I can come up with anything else.

Chris

Reply

Answer 4

Nov 4, 2010 1:05 PM in response to Chris@JVC

Hi,

In testing out iMovie further the only import settings apply to HD (1080i) video. There are no adjustments for SD video. Let me know if you have a chance to test this on a different Apple.

Chris

Reply

Answer 5

Birdman325 Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 9, 2010 8:03 AM in response to Chris@JVC

I took it to an Apple store and tried it out. The import quality is just as poor as on my home computer so it is definitely not a problem with my Mac and must be a problem with the camera. The camera is new but no longer able to be returned. I am extremely unhappy with the quality of the video when imported and if the quality of the import file is poor, the camera is unfortunately of little use to me.

Reply

Answer 6

Nov 18, 2010 3:30 PM in response to Birdman325

Hi,

Is there any chance you can post a short example video to You Tube? 10-20 seconds would be plenty. Also, an example from your Mini DV. Then, post your links so I can see them.

If your old Mini DV camcorder was a "10" through firewire, then the GZ-MG750 should be either a "10" or no worse than a "9" on the same computer.

Having said that, either the GZ-MG750 or the best ever Mini DV will only give you 720 x 480 resolution. On a modern Mac with a high definition display which could be 1920 x 1080 or better, both should look ok in a window, but won't look great full screen.

If you can upload these examples, I will let you know what I think, and forward to our service department if I notice anything unusual.

Thanks, and sorry for the hassle.

Chris

Reply

Answer 7

Birdman325 Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 23, 2010 6:49 PM in response to Chris@JVC

Not sure posting to YouTube will be a good indication because when videos post to YouTube the process seems to drop down the quality, but I will try and do a comparison of a short video I just took now (horrible quality) and an older clip I imported from my MiniDV. I will let you know.

Reply

Answer 8

CVmusic

Level 1

0 points

Dec 10, 2010 12:29 PM in response to Birdman325

Im having the exact same issue with my brand new everio GZ-MS230. I created a few test recordings, each with a different quality setting on the JVC. They all look grainy when imported through imovie. Even when recorded in Ultra-fine mode. I don't get it. Do I need to install the software that came with it in order to get a proper resolution? Any help would be great!

Reply