Newsroom Update

The redesigned iPad Air and new iPad Pro with Apple silicon are now available. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

0 points

How do I get iMovies to see my imported videos?

Using iPad2, I purchased the iMovie app, and when I take my home movies in .mov form and import them from iTunes to the iPad, iMovies does not see any videos. Surely this app will work with existing home videos and not just videos shot wight the iPad. If the was the case I never would have bought the app in the first place, I wanted to be able to edit my family vacation videos shot with a local hd cam directly on my iPad.

Anyone know if I am doing something wrong?

Thanks.

iPad2, iOS 4

Posted on Mar 11, 2011 9:37 PM

57 replies

Chris CA

Level 10

82,440 points

Mar 31, 2011 6:10 AM in response to andybel

Since it is in the iMovie events folder on the computer, simply open iMovie on your computer, edit as needed then send it to iTunes.
Then you don't need to waste time doing all these other conversion steps or using iMovie on your iPad.

Apr 4, 2011 12:02 AM in response to floridonet

To floridonet - You are a GENIUS. I was ready to give up until I tried your suggestion and it worked like a charm. Now I am able to convert HD movies taken with my Kodak Z8 video camera and edit them in iMovie on my IPad 2. The lowered resolution does not bother me because the people I'll be sending them to can't use the HD videos anyway. The main thing is that I did not waste my money on iMovie, even though I did have to cough up many more bucks to buy Arcsoft Media Converter 7. So I'm poorer but happy, since the IPad 2 purchase is still not negated.

Message was edited by: gunnergoz

Chris CA

Level 10

82,440 points

Apr 4, 2011 9:14 AM in response to gunnergoz

even though I did have to cough up many more bucks to buy Arcsoft Media Converter 7.

Why?
Converting can be done with iMovie on the computer or directly in iTunes.

crh24

Level 3

930 points

Apr 4, 2011 9:40 AM in response to Chris CA

Chris CA wrote:

even though I did have to cough up many more bucks to buy Arcsoft Media Converter 7.

Why?
Converting can be done with iMovie on the computer or directly in iTunes.

From his sig he doesn't have iMovie on his PC but he did waste his money on Arcsoft. Handbrake is free, runs on both Mac and Windows and works nicely for converting to a format usable for iMovie on the iPad 2.

Conversion of video is not iTunes forte and Handbrake provides a better conversion.

PJRives

Level 1

85 points

Apr 4, 2011 10:05 AM in response to iCara

Then everyone at your apple store is dumb. because it totally works. Just like how your mac can actually see an iphone as a camera in iphoto, the camera kit and iphoto on the ipad sees it as a camera. I do it on a daily basis.

I've also done it with non iOS cameras but you have to make sure that the footage is QT friendly and no larger than the ipad res. Big 1080p videos or proprietary formats like some camera use will not work.

rombe3jr

Level 1

0 points

Apr 6, 2011 12:48 PM in response to The Matt Guy

I finally managed to get some HD video playing on my iPad 2 with the VLC App (though I believe they have since pulled it from the App Store for some reason). And I can indeed see and play my 1080P video clips from here... However, I get a "Warning Your iPad is probably too slow to play this movie correctly," "Cancel," or "Try Anyway," notification... and low and behold if I "Try Anyway," the video is very slow and choppy. Also, when I try to put the file into iTunes photos, and "include video," when it tries to sync it says "this file cannot transfer because it is unable to be played on this iPad." Interesting. I need to try 720P and see if that is any better, I'll get back with you on it.

PJRives

Level 1

85 points

Apr 6, 2011 7:24 PM in response to rombe3jr

The ipad doesn't supports 720p playback so you should have much better results as far as playback

As for the VLC thing, yes Apple pulled it. Seems that the license VLC was developed under prohibits ANY form of DRM being put on the program including Apple's. Pity really because it was a nice program

Chris CA

Level 10

82,440 points

Apr 6, 2011 9:11 PM in response to PJRives

The ipad doesn't supports 720p playback

Yes it does.
-> iPad technical specs
"Video formats supported: H.264 video *_up to 720p_*, 30 frames per second"

Apr 6, 2011 9:29 PM in response to rombe3jr

These apps will play 1080p video better than VLC.
GoodReader
USB Disk
TagDiskHD
yxplayer2
FileBowser

Apr 10, 2011 12:21 AM in response to The Matt Guy

*GOT IT

**

Mac

Open the video file in Quicktime. File > Save As > Select Movie format.
NAME THE FILE WITH A STRING OF NUMBERS ONLY!

No spaces, no special characters, no letters!
Import into iPhoto. (You can rename it something else here if you like.)
Open iTunes, go to your iPad.
Go to the Photos Tab and make sure the Include Videos checkbox is checked.
Synchronize!

Windows

Use HandBrake to convert to Apple TV format video.
Name the file with letters only.
Place the file in whatever folder you are synchronizing your images with.
Be sure to check the (Include Videos) option in your photos tab for your iPad.
Synchronize!

Apr 10, 2011 12:42 AM in response to HektikLyfe

Macden

Level 1

9 points

Apr 10, 2011 1:07 AM in response to The Matt Guy

This response is more for Apple than the users. Introduction of iMovie on iPad is a dream come true. The possibilities of editing video on a bigger screen than iPhone, is great. However, judging from this post, Apple has made a cardinal sin. IPad 2 should have had a memory card slot. Simple. Provides more storage, and would present a simple way to input videos into the iPad. I don,t really want to shoot video on my iPad! Sometimes Apple's ingenuity is hindered by their pragmatism. I don't think consumers want to but a new iPadbevery year! Watch out for the iPad 3. It will probably have a memory card slot and many iPad 2 owners will be muffed!

May 29, 2011 12:34 AM in response to The Matt Guy

I have a kodak playsport, having tried every option offered so far (apart from quicktime export as I only have a windows machine and using mpg streamplayer to export - this just crashed my machien repeatedly), the following is all I can get to work

1. Convert all files using Handbrake (set to 'ipad' export setting)

2. Synch them to iPad using iTunes using 'photo sync' with'video' ticked. It will not work transferring them as films.

3. Use 'Vimeo' app to import, then export them this finally seems to get them in a format usable by iMovies

Long winded, but it gets me a solution for my needs. I have to use the playsport to capture, as its a pocketsized waterproof camera unlike iPad.

From the mix of previous responses, it seems that some HD cameras are compatible and some aren't. I've ordered a camera connection kit to see if this might remove the need for the Vimeo step.

One of my main justifications for buying the iPad was to edit video, therefore I am pretty disappointed I have to go through this rigmarole each time I have to edit movies. Hopefully Apple will provide a fix soon!

Jun 30, 2011 8:23 AM in response to iCara

Thanks, I finally can view my imovie on my computer now.

mereman

Level 1

0 points

Jul 10, 2011 12:45 PM in response to HektikLyfe

Hi everyone this is my first post so forgive me if I appear to be ignoring some protocol or other.

I have diligently read (and tried!!) most of these solutions and I'm not a novice having been a macuser since before there was a mac (if that makes sense! Apple II, Lisa anyone).

Well thank you HektikLyfe. I came to your solution eventually and it has produced a solution for me. This is it:

- Open the video file in Quicktime (and anything that quicktime will read seems ok. The files I am using are simple .movs imported years ago from miniDV using a DV codec)

- Save As > Movie (Apple TV) format.

[NAME THE FILE WITH A STRING OF NUMBERS ONLY! No spaces, no special characters, no letters! I did this to begin with thinking maybe this was the magic. It's not]

- Name the file whatever you want.

- Import into iPhoto. Name the Event.

- Open iTunes, go to your iPad.

- Go to the Photos Tab and tick 'Include Videos' and the appropriate event.

- Sync

- open iMovie on iPad and voila!

I tried this using Handbrake and no joy. I assume the magic is in the Quicktime conversion, which creates a movie which can be seen in the photo library of the Photo app on the ipad, and thus in the iMovie app. No messing with non-Apple software, at least on a mac dunno about windows.

I can't vouch for the quality or whether there may be other problems on the way but hey! small steps.

Cheers it's been fun.

How do I get iMovies to see my imported videos?