DavidO198
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Importing files from DVD to iMovie

I am a complete novice!

 

I have just had my old camcorder tapes converetd to digital and given back to me on DVDs.  I thought that, as with all thiings Apple, it would be easy to load them into iMovie so I could start editing them. After trawling through the various support resources, clicking, dragging into vario, DATus folders and generally not succeeding I thought I better ask for help!

 

I have got a range of files on the DVDs with extensions like BUP, IFO, DAT and VOB.  I am running OS 10.6.8 on my iMac which came pre installed with IMovie 9.0.4.

 

If anyone give me some simple steps to follow so I can get the content into iMovie it would be much appreciated!

 

Thanks

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 30, 2014 7:08 AM

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DavidO198

Q: Importing files from DVD to iMovie

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  • by QuickTimeKirk,

    QuickTimeKirk QuickTimeKirk Jan 30, 2014 7:34 AM in response to DavidO198
    Level 9 (53,188 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 7:34 AM in response to DavidO198

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3951

  • by DavidO198,

    DavidO198 DavidO198 Jan 30, 2014 8:49 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 8:49 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

    Thanks that has moved me forwards a lot.

     

    I seem to have succeeded in creating two files.  One with AVI and the other MOV.  I was quite pleased with that!

     

    In iMovie I tried Import/Movies and found the files but they were both greyed out so I couldn't open them.

     

    I tried dragging them into iMovies projects and events but neither worked.

     

    Two other thingsa are nagging me:

     

    1. the Video TS folder that I dragged into streamclip had 4 VOB files but the output from streamclip was just one file.  Is that righ?

    2.  I can't see MPEG streamclip in my Applications folder so wonder how I will get back to it if I close it?

  • by QuickTimeKirk,

    QuickTimeKirk QuickTimeKirk Jan 30, 2014 8:56 AM in response to DavidO198
    Level 9 (53,188 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 8:56 AM in response to DavidO198

    1. One file is the default setting. Don't bother making an AVI as iMovie doesn't like the container.

    2. It should be installed in the HD/Applications folder but your may have installed it in the User/Applications folder.

    The movie dimensions should be either 640X480 or 720X480. Make sure you use a Standard Definition size in iMovie.

  • by DavidO198,

    DavidO198 DavidO198 Jan 30, 2014 9:12 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 9:12 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

    Good news on Q1, thank you.

     

    I don't appear to have HD/Applications and I can't see it in Applications but the good news is that when I search for it the computer finds it.

     

    I just took the default of 768x576 which is the same ratio as 640x480 so hopefully OK?

     

    The only remaining issue at this stage is that I can't import it into iMovie.  When I go File/Import/Movies I can see the file but it is greyed out and I can't import it.  What do I do now?

  • by QuickTimeKirk,

    QuickTimeKirk QuickTimeKirk Jan 30, 2014 9:19 AM in response to DavidO198
    Level 9 (53,188 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 9:19 AM in response to DavidO198

    576 is PAL format and if you're looking for NTSC it should be 480. Both use 720 width.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL more info on the two formats.

  • by DavidO198,

    DavidO198 DavidO198 Jan 30, 2014 9:27 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 9:27 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

    Ok, I have tried again Exporting to Quicktime checking the box for 720x480 (DV-NTSC), the only 720x480 option there was but I still can't import the MOV file into iMovie?

  • by QuickTimeKirk,

    QuickTimeKirk QuickTimeKirk Jan 30, 2014 9:33 AM in response to DavidO198
    Level 9 (53,188 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 9:33 AM in response to DavidO198

    Let's try a different format.

    From MPEG Streamclip export to DV Stream. The file size will be huge but you can delete the file after you've finished in iMovie.

  • by DavidO198,

    DavidO198 DavidO198 Jan 30, 2014 9:39 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 9:39 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

    Nope!!!!!

     

    Two things:

     

    1.  In Fiinder the file size of that DV file is only 4KB

    2.  Mid export I get a message saying that I need to install MPEG-@ playback.  I have done it twice so just click through.  Do you think that might be what is causing the problem?

  • by QuickTimeKirk,

    QuickTimeKirk QuickTimeKirk Jan 30, 2014 9:43 AM in response to DavidO198
    Level 9 (53,188 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 9:43 AM in response to DavidO198

    A 4kb file size isn't anything except a "reference movie". It points to data not found in it. You may have done the same with the other exports. Double check them in Finder.

    You need  to export from MPEG Streamclip as a "self contained" file.

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Jan 30, 2014 9:44 AM in response to DavidO198
    Level 8 (48,858 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 9:44 AM in response to DavidO198

    You need to convert the VOB files in the TS-Folder of the DVD back to DV which iMovie is designed to handle. For that you need mpegStreamclip:

     

    http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html

     

    which is free, but you must also have the  Apple mpeg2 plugin :

     

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/D2187Z/A/quicktime-mpeg-2-playback-component-f or-mac-os-x

     

    (unless you are running Lion in which case see below))

    which is a mere $20.

     

    Another possibility is to use DVDxDV:

     

    http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm

     

    which costs $25.

     

    For the benefit of others who may read this thread:

     

    Obviously the foregoing only applies to DVDs you have made yourself, or other home-made DVDs that have been given to you. It will NOT work on copy-protected commercial DVDs, which in any case would be illegal.

     

    And from the TOU of these forums:

     

    Keep within the Law

    1. No material may be submitted that is intended to promote or commit an illegal act.
    3. Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.

     

    If you are running Lion or later:

     

    From the MPEG Streamclip homepage

     

    The installer of the MPEG-2 Playback Component may refuse to install the component in Lion. Apple states the component is unnecessary in Lion onwards, however MPEG Streamclip still needs it. See this:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3381

     

    To install the component in Lion, please download MPEG Streamclip 1.9.3b7 beta above; inside the disk image you will find the Utility MPEG2 Component Lion: use it to install the MPEG-2 Playback Component in Lion. The original installer's disk image (QuickTimeMPEG2.dmg) is required.

     

    The current versions of MPEG Streamclip cannot take advantage of the built-in MPEG-2 functionality of Lion. For MPEG-2 files you still need to install the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component, which is not preinstalled in Lion. (The same applies to Mountain Lion even though that has it preinstalled.) You don't have to install QuickTime 7.

  • by DavidO198,

    DavidO198 DavidO198 Jan 30, 2014 10:15 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 10:15 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

    If by "self contained" you mean with everything in it then I couldn't  see a button or option to take that said "self contained" so I  tried converting to mpeg rather than exporting from Streamclip. That certainly made the machine work harder and produced a 3.2GB MPEG file but......iMovie still wouldn't import it!

  • by QuickTimeKirk,

    QuickTimeKirk QuickTimeKirk Jan 30, 2014 10:40 AM in response to DavidO198
    Level 9 (53,188 points)
    Jan 30, 2014 10:40 AM in response to DavidO198

    Your OS doesn't support import of MPEG-2 in iMovie so don't use it.

    A 30 minute DV Stream file should be in the 6.5 GB range. An hour is 13 GB's.