Lost Video project

Thanks for the kind words Chris.

Regarding formats, you really don't need to worry too much about them, unless you have special needs. You mentioned in one of your earlier posts in this thread that you are using a camera that records in the AVCHD format. The video in this format is compressed, so that it doesn't take up a huge amount of storage space on your camera (be it a hard drive camera, or one that uses SDHC cards, perhaps in conjunction with internal flash memory).

On import, iMovie converts the AVCHD clips to Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC), as I think we discussed earlier. This allows iMovie to work at the individual frame level, as the video is expanded to full frames.

When sharing (exporting), from the Share menu, select one of the following standard preset options (these all have default settings built in by Apple to optimize quality and file sizes for the chosen export size):

• Media Browser (exported file will be placed in the project's Package Contents folder)
• iTunes (exported file will be listed in the iTunes Library)
• Export movie (allows export to your preferred location, for example, Desktop)

Other export options are also available, including sharing to YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo. However, there is generally no need to use the more advanced option "Export using QuickTime" as this is where things can get confusing due to the different codecs and other choices that are available. Unless really necessary, keep things simple by using one of the standard preset options I've listed above.

When sharing using one of the standard preset options, select one of the availabel sizes - either Large (960 x 540), HD 720p (1280 x 720), or HD 1080p (1920 x 1080), or smaller size if desired (that is, Mobile or Medium). Whatever size you choose, (using a standard option), the movie will always be exported in the widely used H.264 format. This will be in a container - either .m4v or .mov. In other words, the movie file name will have the extension .m4v or .mov, depending on the size exported (but the file format will be H.264). Files with an extension of .m4v, .mov or .mp4 for example, are simply containers that "hold" the codec/format that the movie was encoded as (in this case H.264).

So, in summary, the following "elements" are all you generally need to consider:

• AVCHD - as recorded by your Camera
• AIC - generated by iMovie on import of the AVCHD clips
• Export (Share) using one of the Apple presets
• Files with the extension .m4v or .mov (known as containers)
• H.264 exported movie (which is contained in either a .m4v file or .mov file)

Unless you have a special need, don't worry about files/formats/containers such as .wav or .mp4. Using the presets, iMovie takes care of everything for you. If you need something more advanced, use the Share item "Export using QuickTime" and experiment with other formats and settings (a wide choice is available).

The H.264 files (.m4v or .mov) can be used virtually anywhere - for example, when authoring and burning DVDs, the web (such as YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo), playing in iTunes and on Apple TV, and playing back through other media players such as Western Digital's Media Player.

Hope this helps Chris. Please come back if you need more information about any of this.

John

CMBP wrote:

What does puzzles me is that I haven't found any reference to "finalise project" to be found under the file menu. In a previous experience with a DVD recorder attached to my TV after I had recorded a programme, it was essential to finalise the disk before removing to play on another machine. I naturally thought that the same must apply in the case of Imovie once I wanted to share or file somewhere. Apparently this doesn't appear to be the case ? If so what does "finalise" do and why is it there ? Does it convert to something else ?

Chris, you may have missed it but in my second post in this thread I said:

"Projects don't have to be finalised before sharing. Finalising simply publishes a movie in each of the supported sizes for the media (clips) you are editing. For example, Medium, Large, HD 720p, HD 1080p. Just share in the size you want - no need to finalise unless you want all the available sizes. It will be much quicker just sharing at the one size."

DVD's recorded on a DVD recorder (DVD-R or DVD+R) have to be finalised if you want to play them on equipment other than on the machine that was used to record them (as you mentioned). That is not the case with movies exported from iMovie - just export them at the size you want. As I said earlier, finalising in iMovie will export at all the available sizes (and will take forever). Unfortunately, "Finalise" is not an ideal choice of name by Apple for the process involved - perhaps it could have been named "Export at All Sizes", or similar.

John

Message was edited by: John Cogdell

Should have also mentioned that finalising exports in a format identical to that produced by a standard export using one of the preset sizes. That is, in the H.264 format contained in a .m4v file or .mov file.. No other conversion is applied. Exactly the same type of file is exported, but in ALL sizes (dimensions).

John

Hey guys! Here's what I did that saved my project.

-SHORT VERSION-
Use the Finder window on your Mac to copy and paste your old project (the one not showing up in imovie) to a new folder so that iMovie will see it.

-LONG VERSION-

CONDITIONS:

The project has to exist on your hard drive. To see if it's hiding around somewhere go to:

• Home (your name)>Movies>iMovie Library (right click and select Show Package Contents)
• In the iMovie Library folder (the default is usually the date) open it to see if your Project is inside. If it is, you are in luck!

RESTORING PROJECT:

• Open iMovie
• start a new folder under the iMovie Library (again, the default is usually todays date)
• Close iMovie
• In the finder window (as explained above in the CONDITIONS section) select the files and folders of your project and copy them (in my case these consist of folders called Analysis Files, Original Media, "MYPROJECT", Render Files, Shared Items)
• There should now be a folder with today's date in that Show Package Contents folder.
• Paste a copy of your project;s files into this folder.
• When it is done copying, open up the "Original Media" folder and all of your images and clips should be present.
• reopen iMovie. Your project should show up in the Libraries list.

*If your full project isn't showing in the iMovie timeline (mine just had empty bubbles where all my clips and audio should be) try dragging and dropping the clips and images from the project's "Original Media" folder into the import section of your project. Once the files were reimported, iMovie recognized them all and put them back in the correct place for me.

Hope this helps someone!