j-m-d

Q: Does iMovie save lossless ?

I have many mpeg-4 files that I created in iMovie. If I bring them back in, and resave them (I want to change the title screens) do I lose image quality (assuming I save at the same HD setting as before) in the unedited portions ???

 

If so, is there to do that ?

 

If I don't edit the title screens, is there a lossless way to just concatenate several mpeg4 files ?

 

thanks

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Apr 21, 2016 9:20 AM

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Q: Does iMovie save lossless ?

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  • by Jim Wanamaker,Helpful

    Jim Wanamaker Jim Wanamaker Apr 21, 2016 7:26 PM in response to j-m-d
    Level 4 (3,661 points)
    iLife
    Apr 21, 2016 7:26 PM in response to j-m-d

    Anytime you transcode video files you lose some quality even if you export to the same format. It may or may not be noticeable to you. The way to preserve your quality is to open the original project and make your changes and export/share again. If you no longer have the original project then I would try importing one of your MP4 movies, make the title changes, reshare and see how it looks. The easiest way to concatenate your movies is to use Quicktime 10 or Quicktime 7 player.

  • by GeeD,Helpful

    GeeD GeeD Apr 21, 2016 7:25 PM in response to j-m-d
    Level 5 (7,676 points)
    Video
    Apr 21, 2016 7:25 PM in response to j-m-d

    Just to add to Jim's answer - concatenating videos with Quicktime Player is as far as I am aware lossless.

     

    Geoff.

  • by j-m-d,

    j-m-d j-m-d Apr 21, 2016 7:26 PM in response to Jim Wanamaker
    Level 1 (28 points)
    iLife
    Apr 21, 2016 7:26 PM in response to Jim Wanamaker

    thanks

  • by j-m-d,

    j-m-d j-m-d Apr 21, 2016 7:29 PM in response to GeeD
    Level 1 (28 points)
    iLife
    Apr 21, 2016 7:29 PM in response to GeeD

    so, I would just drag multiple files into QT, and then save the resulting larger movie ? Thanks

     

    As an aside, dear Apple: in what universe does trying to thank 2 people in 1 minute "exceed my post limit", are you trying to discourage people ????

  • by GeeD,

    GeeD GeeD Apr 22, 2016 2:09 AM in response to j-m-d
    Level 5 (7,676 points)
    Video
    Apr 22, 2016 2:09 AM in response to j-m-d

    "so, I would just drag multiple files into QT, and then save the resulting larger movie ?"

     

    See: How to use QuickTime Player - Apple Support

     

    for details of how to edit in Quicktime Player. 

     

    "As an aside, dear Apple: in what universe does trying to thank 2 people in 1 minute "exceed my post limit", are you trying to discourage people ????"

     

    We are not Apple, but just users like yourself.  I would think this was just a glitch.

     

    Geoff.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 22, 2016 4:20 AM in response to j-m-d
    Level 10 (105,761 points)
    iLife
    Apr 22, 2016 4:20 AM in response to j-m-d

    the post limit is meant to discourage people from flooding these forums with advertisements. Last year there were long periods where it was impossible to find any genuine question between the flood of garbage.  So we now have to wait at least 30 seconds between successive posts.