How to Import Flip Mino HD

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How to Import Flip Mino HD

I used Flip minoHD and have quite some MPEG-4 videos. I can play them with Quicktime no problem. But, when I use iMovie 9 to import the video, all files are gray out. I try to save the file from Quicktime, it gives error. I open the video qith Quicktime and use Inspector, it shows

Source: /Users/xxx/xyz.MP4

Format: H.264, 1280 x 720, Millions AAC, 1 channels, 44100 Hz

FPS: 30

Data Size: 80M

Data Rate: 9.03Mbit/s

Current Size: 1280 x 720 pixels (Actual)

Any one know how to let iMovie recognize this file? Or, what is wrong with the video? Many thanks,

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.3), iMovie 9

Posted on Aug 29, 2012 9:44 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 30, 2012 4:38 AM in response to RouterHiker

iMovie should recognize video files with the H.264 format. Possibly the file extension .MP4 is causing the problem. Try changing the extension to .mov - but copy the file first in case something gets corrupted, then change the extension on the copy.

Failing this, you may have to convert the file to another format. You can use the free application MPEG Streamclip for the conversion. It will be best to convert it to the Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) format, as this is iMovie's preferred editing format. If you need help using MPEG Streamclip, please post back. It can be downloaded from the developer Squared 5 here:

http://www.squared5.com

John

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Answer 2

RouterHiker Author

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Aug 30, 2012 8:50 AM in response to John Cogdell

John,

I tried the steps you recommended, it is still not working. StreamClip cannot open the file as well (unrecognized format). Quicktime seems happy. Thus, I think somewhere the format of file is different. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

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Answer 3

Aug 31, 2012 2:53 AM in response to RouterHiker

Try converting the file using the free application Handbrake, available here:

http://handbrake.fr/downloads.php

Handbrake uses an (purportedly) improved version of the H.264 codec named x264 to convert videos, resulting in an .mp4 file in H.264 codec. This may be worth trying.

John

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