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Level 1

20 points

Wolsky vs others on the benefit of using iMovie '06 during tape transfer

I'm having a hard time getting a certain issue joined, so let me make the choice stark. Here is something Tom Wolsky said:

"There is no difference between capturing DV tape in iMovie 06 or iMovie 11. The difference is in the project. I can't speak to which will give better output for DVD. Those more experienced with iMovie than I say the older version is better, and I have no reason to doubt them. Certainly you can produce better results with FCS."

As far as I can tell, this has been contradicted by at least two people--in the sense that they have claimed that the benefit of iMovie comes precisely in the importing (transfer from tape to computer). Which side is right?

But there seems to be a problem with the others' claim: If the benefit (only?) comes during the initial importing from tape, why would they also say that the only time you need to use iMovie rather than a later version is when your end product is a DVD? A higher quality imported product would improve the look of a movie on the computer and the Internet too, would it not?

MacBook Pro 17", Mac OS X (10.6.5), 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Time Capsule + 2 LaCi d2 Quadras with eSATA connections

Posted on Dec 10, 2010 1:19 PM

52 replies

Paul Bullen Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 30, 2010 8:56 PM in response to Paul Bullen

I should add that I have no idea what the operating system sense of QuickTime is, although it presumably has something to do with the computer's ability to display moving pictures.

Coolmax

Level 2

195 points

Dec 30, 2010 11:00 PM in response to Paul Bullen

Paul,

To simplify the understanding. Quicktime X is tied to the OS (Snow Leopard), but does have the ability to call upon components of Quicktime 7 to fulfill requests from programs that need a 32bit codec to properly encode or decode a footage. Quicktime 10 or 7 player is a player and conversion program. 7 Pro provides more conversion and editing features. If you delete the player, the inherent 64bit modern codecs built into the OS stays.

Every video program that needs to play a video footage of any kind requires a codec. Codec stands for Compression and Decompression and as far as I understand it from Tom, it is Quicktime's job to do it. In Snow Leopard, Quicktime X will use the modern 64bit codec first and then will call upon older legacy 32bit codec if need be. The transition is seamless as I was told.

During the Final Cut Express test, the import quality and saving to the DV stream afterwards is perfectly fine. The quality is what you would expect if you finalize it in Vegas. There is no question FCE is working as it should be. Whereas with iMovie 11, the import and saving to the DV stream yielded less resolution and fidelity. So I am not sure if Quicktime X has anything to do with it. However, I am waiting for the expert Tom W. to do more in depth testing. He's the expert in this field.

Ziatron

Level 5

4,186 points

Dec 30, 2010 11:04 PM in response to Coolmax

Perhaps I didn't state my original question properly.

I really don't care how my video looks (imported with iMovie 06) when shown by QuickTime.

I only care how the video looks when put onto a DVD. So, perhaps this means that QuickTime is not an issue for me in the way that I use iMovie 06 with iDVD 11.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,064 points

Dec 31, 2010 4:58 AM in response to Ziatron

You can't make a high quality DVD from DV media using iMovie 08 or later.

Dec 31, 2010 5:09 AM in response to Ziatron

Z it matters a great deal. If you are importing a large number of tapes to online media, you only want to do it once.

Ziatron

Level 5

4,186 points

Dec 31, 2010 10:08 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

You can't make a high quality DVD from DV media using iMovie 08 or later.

I understand that. What I am unsure about is, if it matters whether I use QuickTime 7 or QuickTime 10 when using iMovie 06 and iDVD 09 / 11.

My only concern is how the quality will be on the DVD.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,064 points

Dec 31, 2010 10:38 AM in response to Ziatron

I honestly don't think it makes any difference. What matters is the way the application works.

Wolsky vs others on the benefit of using iMovie '06 during tape transfer