Is there a way to locally save movie clips imports from iMovie?

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BMBell1919 Author

Level 1

37 points

Is there a way to locally save movie clips imports from iMovie?

I have two test clips that I just imported from my Sony Handycam. Is there a way to simultaneously save them locally in a folder as raw video files?

There is a Photos equivalent to this, whereas you can take your photographs and export them to files as raw images. It's pretty great being able to see both the date and location where the photos were taken.

I understand I may not be able to see the same type of details with video files (especially with a non-Apple video source), but at the very least I'd like to be able to batch export video clips from iMovie if possible. Thanks!

Posted on Feb 23, 2017 11:01 AM

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Answer 1

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Feb 23, 2017 11:52 AM in response to BMBell1919

Hi,

When you import photos and videos into iMovie they already are stored on your hard drive in the iMovie Library (Movies folder in the Finder), in a folder titled Original Media. You can reveal them from within iMovie by selecting one of the imported clips in the Library browser from within iMovie and then do File/Reveal in Finder. The Original Media folder will pop up with the selected clip highlighted and showing the other clips associated with the import. You can copy them (but don't move them) out of that folder into a folder on your desktop.

The recommended way to import media for use in iMovie is to import them into your Photos app and then access them from iMovie. As you have said, you can copy the photos and video from the Photos app into a folder on your computer if you want.

Another way to get the media onto your hard drive is to import them directly onto your computer using the Image Capture app on your Mac. It will be in your applications folder.

Hope this helps.

-- Rich

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Answer 2

BMBell1919 Author

Level 1

37 points

Feb 27, 2017 5:46 PM in response to Rich839

You can reveal them from within iMovie by selecting one of the imported clips in the Library browser from within iMovie and then do File/Reveal in Finder. The Original Media folder will pop up with the selected clip highlighted and showing the other clips associated with the import. You can copy them (but don't move them) out of that folder into a folder on your desktop.

Well I'll be darned...you hit the nail on the head! Thank you! This method does exactly as I had hoped. Bonus - it is compatible with 60p footage as well. I know this point wasn't in my original post, but previous attempts were only successful importing 60i video frames. Meaning my Handycam wasn't shooting at full quality potential. Thanks again.

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