Need help editing video on Dropbox

This is on 9.3.1, brand new Pro.

I need to take a mp4 video currently on Dropbox. I can play the video just by clicking on it in the Dropbox app.

What I need to do, and I've downloaded six pieces of software from the App Store unsuccessfully, is seemingly very simple: I need to trim the video. Just remove some parts. Then the edited version has to go back on Dropbox. Anybody know how to do it? Someone who knows for sure how to do it?

I'm willing to pay for the software. But will it work?

Many thanks for any help you can give me.

iPad Pro, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Apr 3, 2016 4:28 AM

29 replies

MichelPM

Level 10

81,525 points

Apr 4, 2016 6:11 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

Danielbeisenberg wrote:

The problem with using the delete key is that it isn't there. It is only available if the keyboard comes up, and that only happens if the cursor is in the right kind of field.

Re your second suggestion, I tried again, but tapping in the timeline, or within a clip I selected by dragging the lines in from both ends, did not produce a menu; nothing happened.

Try just double tapping on an actual frame instead of just a general tap anywhere on the timeline.

The movies I edited were a 20 minute continuous video with no clips.

I don't know if this is making a difference and why my method isn't working for you.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,525 points

Apr 4, 2016 6:21 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

You do not use the scissors icon

Above those icons should be names in white that you can tap on.

They say Split, Detach Audio, Duplicate.

Tap the Split command.

Whaddya you don't see frame?

In iMovie, you have the main movie in the upper left and below this in the timeline which should be showing all of the frames of your video to edit.

I'll send you some screenshots of what I didi so you can kind of glean what exactly I did and am explaining.

Give me a liitle time these together.

To take a screenshot of your iPad's screen, you hold down the power button down and click the Home button to take a screenshot.

The screenshot goes into the Photos app on your iPad.

Apr 4, 2016 6:36 AM in response to MichelPM

Thank you again. I did what you said with iBooks, but the only thing I found that seems to go beyond basics is "iMovie: The Missing Manual" and it's $34 and two years old.

This was volunteer work for an organization and I'm telling them I can't do it, they have to find somebody else.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,525 points

Apr 4, 2016 6:47 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

Here's what I have done to edit video frames inside of a video in iMove

I line up the footage I want to start to edit in the middle of the verical timeline marker.

I double tap on the frame I want the edit to start.

I tapped on the split command to set the split point for the edit

I then slide/advance the video to the end frame where I want the edit to end on the timeline marker.

Tap the Split option, again.

Once the split points are set for the edit, tap once inside of yellow banded area, then tap the Delete/trashcan icon to the right to delete the frames.

If I make a mistake, there is an undo/redo arrow at the top right of the timeline area that looks like a upside down fish hook.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,525 points

Apr 4, 2016 6:44 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

That is for iMovie for the Mac, I believe, and not for iPad or iOS?

You need one of the books for iOS/iPad unless you use a Mac, too, and maybe need that version, as well.

Apr 4, 2016 6:49 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

I see nothing remotely resembling your screen shots.

I went back to iMovie, and without tapping on the scissors icon, the only words on the screen are Cancel, iMovie, and Done. I have tried double tapping everywhere on the screen and nothing else appears.

WIthout clicking on the scissors icon:

IF I do click on the scissors icon:

MichelPM

Level 10

81,525 points

Apr 4, 2016 7:02 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

Am I looking at iMovie for iPhone or iPad?

Your screenshot doesn't look like an iPad.

Do you know what format your movie is originally in?

I believe to edit in iMovie, it has to be either an .mp4 or .m4v format.

I do not know why your movie isn't showing in the timeline, either.

Wonder if this is an iOS 9.3.1 issue as I haven't updated, yet, and, obviously, for good reason.

I have no answer for you on this.

If it is in a format that iMovie can't recognise, then iMovie might be able to play this, but not be able to edit.

I am using my iPad 2 and have this particular movie as a duplicate. I, originally, edited this movie on my iPad Pro.

But, like my older iPads, I have not updated my iPad Pro because of all the issues still happening with iOS 9.3.

I am afraid I cannot help you further with this.

This has got me completely stumped.

I am truly sorry I couldn't be of help to you.

I thought we were just having a communications issue

Sorry

😟

MichelPM

Level 10

81,525 points

Apr 4, 2016 7:08 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

What does iMovie on your iPad look like with this movie?

Are you sure the version of iMovie on your iPad/iPhone is current/correct one for each device?

You could try deleting iMovie off of your iPad and make sure you downloaded the correct one for the iPad.

There are two different iMovie versions, you know.

There's a version for iPads and a version for iPhones/iPod Touches.

Apr 4, 2016 7:34 AM in response to MichelPM

IT's almost identical on the iPad. Screen shot below. It is an mp4 movie.

I think you're on target with it being a 9.3.1 issue, or an issue with the iMovies app. In my experience (and others') apps are watered-down versions of desktop programs, and anytime you can see anything (like Tumblr) using Safari you'll have features the app is missing.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,525 points

Apr 4, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

Not that it means anythng at this point, but I believe you are using an olde or scaled up iPhone/iPod Touch version of iMovie on your iPad.

The iPad version STILL looks lke my screen shots.

And from what I can tell fron the iOS App Store, the iPhone/iPod version now look simlar.

iMovie by Apple

https://appsto.re/us/r0rFw.i

Maybe you should delete the versions you have on your iDevices and redownload them and try reimporting the movie from the Photos App camera roll.

Good Luck

Apr 4, 2016 9:07 AM in response to MichelPM

MY iPad is brand new! iMovies was installed less than a week ago.

Apr 4, 2016 9:09 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

But I'll try reinstalling it anyway. And it can't be done on the iPhone?

MichelPM

Level 10

81,525 points

Apr 4, 2016 9:16 AM in response to Danielbeisenberg

Nevemnd.

Mental lapse.

I forgot that you are using an iPad Pro.

I am not having any issues with iMovie, but I haven't updated my iPad, either.

This maybe the issue.

Maybe you should start another post asking if anyone is having issues with iMovie for iOS since the iOS 9.3 updates.

Apr 4, 2016 11:54 AM in response to MichelPM

To my enormous surprise, deleting and reinstalling iMovie on the iPad produced a different version closer to yours. I haven't had time to try it yet.

The iMovie that wasn't working was the version that arrived preinstalled on my iPad that arrived four days ago. It also arrived with 9.2, but it prompted, or nagged, me to update it, which I did. If it had an old version of iMovie it should have updated automatically. Prior to deleting it, in the App store all I got under iMovie was "Open". I call this a bug, or slip-up.

Deleting and reinstalling it on the iPhone gave something else quite different than before and quite different from the iPad.The send to iMovie option is no longer there when opening the video on Camera roll. It sends it to PS Express, whatever that is. I'm not going to mess with it if I can do what I need on the iPad.

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Need help editing video on Dropbox