How to transfer DVD RAM (MPeg 2) videos into imovie?

Hello Clay,

iMovies native format is DV, so everything else will have to be converted.

check out these links for some more info:

Dan Slagle's Unofficial iMovie FAQ

1. Can't hear audio in iMovie when I import an MPEG clip
iMovie doesn't work with muxed mpeg video.
http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6030.shtml

2. Mpeg clips from digital cameras
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6018.shtml

3. Using Mpeg (DVD) footage
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml


Matti Haveri's website

Tips & Tricks for Mpeg/VCD/SVCD/DVD and standard conversion issues
http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/%7Eshmhav/SVCDon_a_Macintosh.html#PALNTSC

the subject was also discussed in this thread:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2422126#2422126

hope this helps

mish

using a DVDcamcoder you stumble into the following hurdles to go:

* DVDcamcorders don't support the firewire protocol
* slot-in drives can get damaged, inserting non-standard-shaped disks (does your camera use normal or miniDVDs?)

* your disks have to be finalized in your camera - read camera's manual how to accomplish that...

after that, you can handle these DVDs as normal ones (selfmade have no copyprotection, so no need of usage of any Ripper/Handbrake..)
you will realize a loss of quality, due to the nature of DVDs, which use a deivery-format, not meant for further processing, but we do read reports here, some people are still satisfied...

your options are, in recommended order:
* DVDxDV (free trial, 25$)
* Apple mpeg2 plugin (20$) + Streamclip (free)
* Cinematize >60$
* Mpeg2Works >25$ + Apple plug-in
* Toast6/7 allows converting to dv/import dvd, hit apple-k
* connect a miniDV Camera with anlogue-in to DVD-player and copy to tape/use as converter

the conversion can not be done by a "drive", just by some software.. lot of computation

follow the links in my other post:
very convenient is DVDxDV, recommended for beginners, one-click-only 😉

or, if you want a "drive", use a converter box: connect DVDcorder to box, hit play...

... I'm looking for a way to not loose resolution...

don't expect wonders... on DVDs, the video is stored with a compressor ("file format") called mp2, which is a delivery format, e.g. it doesn't store every frame of video, which is ok for playback, not for editing.. any conversion is lossy..

that's why I recommend DVDxDV, they offer a trial (with some watermark in it...), to give you an impression of quality and let you decide on your own...

ahh, and the usual advice:
don't judge pic quality on Mac - just on TV!

... ehm, this can get a loooong discussion... 😉

a) iMovie is concepted for miniDV, firewire connected... any other thing is ... "possible", but workaround, huzzle, trouble, problems... and: firewire is also a standarized protocol: any fw connected camera can remotely controlled by iM etc... = convenience

b) miniDV, precisely: dv, is a recording and editing format; compare: 1h dv = ~13GB, 1h dvd = 2GB... ok, compression techniques gets advanced ... but, as said, the videoDVD, precisely mpeg2 was concepted for delivery, not editing... (talking of advanced: mpeg2 is older then dv...)

I wouldn't be sure, that another camera/device can "squeeze out" better quality from your old files... you've recorded them in mp2, done. as said, try the options I've listed, decide on your own..

investment: I would invest into a good 3ccd miniDV camcorder; if you really want to spend some money, get one of these HD beasts... ok, no disk delivery until now (BlueRay/HDDVD?), you have to store final projects on tape... and you need a really fast Mac for handling HiDef content.. (besides: the Sony HDcamcorders use a kind of mpeg2 tp press all data on the small tapes...)

summary:
* test software solutions
* buy a 3ccd miniDV as "inbetween" for the next 3 - 5years (you can use it as convetrer for your old stuff) - then HiDef is standard, harddrive/flashmem-corders are affordable...

actually, that is correct... ehm, me German: Korrekt! (<< as your Governor would pronounce it...)

thanks for usage of forum's marker feature... 🙂

In order to read the discs at all, you need an external DVD drive capable of reading DVD RAM discs (which can be hard to find). You also need to finalize the discs in the camera before you can start converting them (using the tools suggested by others in this thread).