i can open the files in quicktime but i want to import in to iphoto so that i can organise with the rest of my events. I've also tried converting to mov but for some reason the file quality is made significantly worse during conversion (i've tried both smart converter and also flv crunch). Any ideas? thanks vm
iPhoto '11, OS X Mavericks (10.9)
Is the problem, that iPhoto does not import the videos or does it not play them?
If iPhoto imports them, but does not play them, install Perian: Perian and Quicktime 7.
Is the problem, that iPhoto does not import the videos or does it not play them?
If iPhoto imports them, but does not play them, install Perian: Perian and Quicktime 7.
when i drag the files in to iphoto it normally adds them to my library. When i try and drag in mpg files it says mpg files are not valid and it doesn't work. i have an imac with osx 10.9. it came with iphoto 9.5.1 which is the latest version i believe. the error message when i try to drag in says that the files are unreadable. I can click on them and they open in quicktime to view. BUT, i want to get all my videos in to my iphoto library and categorize by events.
What is the codec, that your camera is using? Not all codecs and sizes are supported, even if the videos will play in QuickTime.
If the codec is AVCHD, see the link I posted above: Using AVCHD video with iPhoto '11
And for ther codecs, see this list of supported sizes: About Video and Audio formats
(This list is for Aperture, but since iPhoto and Aperture share the same libraries, it should apply to iPhoto as well; also, more formats might be supported - the list is not exhaustive).
What does codec mean and how can i find out what it is so that i can let you know? It was from my old sony video camera. thanks
"Codec" is the format, how the video in your video is encoded. There are many ways to do this, and not all are supported by iPhoto.
For quicktime movies and mp4 movies the codec is shown in QuickTime Player, if you use the command "Show Inspector":
Or, you can see it in the Finder's info panel, when you select the video clip in the Finder and use the command "File > Get Info ⌘I".
Léonie
This is what it says when I showed inspector as per your instruction:
MPEG-2 Video, 720 x 576 (1048 x 576)
AC3, 48000 Hz, Stereo (L R)
Does that help?
Thanks so much for your help so far btw!
That is indeed a format that is not supported in iPhoto. I assume, the videos have been taken with a video camera and not a photo camera? I'm not sure about the actual codec inside the Mpeg-2 - that format is also just a container for streaming media, just like Quicktime.
You have to convert these videos, but I doubt, that iMovie will be able to import them. When you use your converters - with smart converter, try to convert the videos to exactly the same dimensions they are currently having, and pick a high quality setting. In Smart Converter the best option to preserve a high quality will be converssion to QuickTime, but you said, that this already is reducing the quality of your movies noticibly.
I'll try to see, if I can find a video expert to help.
A fellow poster recommended these conversion settings; try to download the free MPEG Streamclip:
And then use these settings - screenshot thanks to babowa
Export as a Quicktime movie
This should result in a .MOV file compatible with iMovie,(and hopefully with iPhoto).
Also check the MPEG Streamclip website for the MPEG2 Playback Component.
thanks so much for all your help. I havne't had a chance to come back to this until now... Can you please repost your screen shot as I can't actually see anything other than a question mark in the middle of the screen? thanks
There is an excellent free Open Source app called "Handbrake" that will convert most formats to mp4 or m4v for use with iTunes and I suppose iPhoto.
Here is the screenshot again: Can you see it now?
“HandBrake.app” can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.
this is the error i get when i downloaded it and tried to open!
yes i can thanks. problem is that the app won't install properly! it says 2 apps are needed, mpeg streamclip and then also the mpeg2 playback compoenent. the second one is a nightmare to install, says i need to click on some kind of quicktime dmg file but i don't know what that is and can't find it anywhere.
This is such a nightmare just to get some file types converted!!!! Argh!!!!!
You will need to go into the System Preferences>Security & Privacy and allow it to install apps from anywhere, for the duration.
putnik wrote:
You will need to go into the System Preferences>Security & Privacy and allow it to install apps from anywhere, for the duration.
No need to go to all that trouble.
Just Right-click on the installer and choose Open. Then, click Open when it warns you that it is unsigned.
whats best way to import mpg in to iPhoto
