Cannot import from a DVD

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Level 1

4 points

Cannot import from a DVD

Recently migrated from PC to MAC and from Premier Elements 8 to iMovie. I have successfully imported from a DVD into PE but I cannot find my way to import the same video from the DVD onto my MAC. The error relates to the folders on the DVD being empty, but they are not ! What am I missing ?

iMAC, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 21, 2011 6:44 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,010 points

Jan 21, 2011 6:57 AM in response to sbhabyn

What kind of DVD is this? Regular playable, set-top box DVD? You should convert the media using MPEG Streamclip.

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Answer 2

sbhabyn Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 22, 2011 2:21 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

This is a 'home' DVD created from some video footage (not mine, or I could go back to the source). The files are VOB. All fairly standard. I was wondering why I just cannot get them into iMovie, but can get them into Premier Elements on my windows machine. I really want to use my MAC !!

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Answer 3

Jan 22, 2011 2:34 PM in response to sbhabyn

It is always better to go back to the source. DVDs are 720x576 mpeg2 compressed video. The process of compressing to mpeg2 will introduce artifacts that were not present in the original. Once compressed for DVD, that video is not meant for further editing.

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Answer 4

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,010 points

Jan 22, 2011 3:16 PM in response to sbhabyn

If you can't get the original media as Jeremy said, which would be best, then you can rip the disc using MPEG Streamclip.

http://www.fcpbook.com/Video6.html

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Answer 5

sbhabyn Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 23, 2011 2:13 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yup. That seemed to do it. MPEG streamclip + the add on you have to buy. Not quite sure how I achieved it, but thanks for the input. Managed to loose the audio for one of the files though, but I am sure I can re-visit it and get it back !!

Message was edited by: sbhabyn

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