iMovie can't see imported videos from other cameras.

I movie is made to edit video shot on iOS devices; other cameras may not be supported.

iMovie imports video from the camera roll or 'Photos' albums.

So you need to put the videos you want to edit in iphoto, and import the videos in to your iPad via the photos Tab of iTunes.

There is an option in the 'Photos' tab to imprt a folder of photos (or in this case video).

If you are able to view the videos in the photos app, then it is likely that it can be edited in iMovie.

But as I said, iMovie sadly is very limited in what formats it can edit.

There is a high chance that you will have to convert your video to Quicktime or Mp4 video before you can edit.

There are other editing apps that are more compatible, try splice or Voddio.

I have a somewhat comical issue: I shot some awesome material of NYE's fireworks using my iPhone 4S. I then took the videos off the phone to my PC, using Windows Explorer (as in, not via iTunes but just drag them from the device onto the computer). As my editing software apparently doesn't support whatever format the iPhone 4S shoots in, I then decided to edit the movie using iMovie. So, I imported the video files in iTunes and dragged them to the iPhone. This was all well and good, but...

They were put in the Movies section of the phone. iMovie can't access that area as it only scans your Camera Roll and Photo app for media files, not the Movie section. I've already tried putting the files back onto the iPhone using Windows Explorer but of course that doesn't work as you can't put files onto the phone that way (booo!). Is there some way I can put the video files back onto my iPhone and have them go back to the Camera Roll so iMovie will pick them up?

What you need to do is put the videos in the photos app,

and you can do this via the photos tab in iTunes.

Plug your iphone in, go to the iphone,

Then go to photos tab / section.

There you can import a folder.

Someone dropped the ball on this (just like iTunes is called "tunes", photos is actually for photos and video).

But once in the photos import, it can be seen in the photos app, and thus iMovie will see them.

Kiwiphone4 is totally right.

The problem remains how we can import video to iPhoto. After studying, it was found that iPhone supports audio in AAC, 44100 sampling rate and 128 bit rate, video in h264 video codec, 30 frame rates and 2500 bit rate. So if we convert camera video or camcorder video to this specification, you can import video to iPhoto and can see and edit on iMovie.

Here is a detailed guide on how to get all things works:

http://www.bigasoft.com/articles/how-to-import-camcorder-to-imovie-iphone4-ipad2 -ipod.html

Thank you for your reply.

I have downloaded Bigasoft and can see how it converts but still cannot get the Video off my Everio JVC GZ HD 6AH onto my Apple 10.6 computer.

I am a senior citizen and would appreciate you taking the procedure step by step

Many Thanks Pauline

I had a look and it looks to be an AVCHD camera.

You will need to use either iMovie Mac (the latest version), or use a dedicated app to get the AVCHD Files.

There are many AVCHD video converter programs.

I like to use Video Pier:

http://www.aquafadas.com/en/videopier/

If you can mount the camera on your computer then you could search through the directories till you find the .MTS files (these are the AVCHD video files).

But to find out how to access the files from the JVC you'd be better to ask JVC.

All video will have to be converted before it can be edited on the iPad or iPhone.

The MTS files can be dragged into Bigasoft by the looks of it.

I've never used this program, there are free alternatives that work perfect.

Here is a free converter, worth a try before you pay anyone:

http://www.macxdvd.com/dvd-to-imovie-converter-free/

I had a play and it works great.

The settings need to be just right to get it to work for an iPad or iPhone.

I find the red settings here need to be like this:

Then you need to create a new folder/album in iPhoto and add the .mp4 clips there.

Then go to the photos tab in iTunes and add the photo album with the videos:

The videos should show up in the camera app, and so also in iMovie.

Thanks a lot Kiwiphone 4. I have downloaded Bigasoft. This has lead me to see light at the end of the tunnel and lead me to more useful info. I understand the issues better now and look forward to solving the issue.

Unfortunately I cannot use Video Pier We tried for weeks to reinstall when it collapsed but no go. It did work earlier though.

Unfortunately again I will be out of action for a month or two but when I get back I feel mor econfident of suucess and will contact you again,I hope.

JVC was no help at all merely printing out a few pages from their manual which I had alrady read and then telling me that it was all Apples fault. Not good!

Thanks, but don't you think this is crazy? I.e. videos put in the videos app can't be seen by iMovie!

Not really, as iMovie was made to edit video shot on the device.

It was never made or sold as a video editor for any video.

Apps like avid are standalone video editors, iMovie iOS was only ever made to quickly edit the video you just shot on the device.

And as such I believe they can import via file sharing, or the movies app.

I think it's great that we can edit other video in iMovie, and have workarounds to do so.

But in the end we are using the app for more then it was ever intended for.

Except: who shoots video on an iPad? I haven't used the camera once for still or video shots (only for FaceTime).

I shoot with my iPhone and Panasonic camera, but then I use the camera connection kit to edit on my iPad.

There is no need for a computer to be between them.