I movie conversion?

alanwjones · 17-11-2007, 12:57 PM

Hi, I have some video footage on my HD, that was edited in Imovie, I'm trying to re edit this using Pinnacle studio 11 to produce a dvd , I am not able to transfer these files directly into 11, therefore I assume I need to convert the files from imovie ? I would appreciate any pointers as to how and where to go from here. Alan.

redsox_mark · 17-11-2007, 3:15 PM

Are you trying to edit a rendered file which was edited in Imovie... if so what format is it in?

If you are trying to open the Imovie "project file" (may not be the right term in Imovie-speak), that can only be opened in Imovie.

dejongj · 17-11-2007, 6:04 PM

iMovie in its latest incarnation either uses dv or mp4 or mpeg2 (only when you use DVD camcorder), and avchd. But the changes are most likely that is just digital video inside a QuickTime container and the look like a .mov file. Windows is not clever and actually just looks at the file extension instead of the actual file. But changes are that when you rename the file to end with .dv or .avi they will get recognised.

alanwjones · 18-11-2007, 11:36 AM

Thanks for your time guys, I've tried renaming the files but still no luck, I am able to view each file individually in WMP, but Pinnacle or WMM cant see them to enable editing, I have downloaded a few screen-grabs of the files for your information http://public.fotki.com/Alanjones/screengrabs/. Hope this makes thing a little clearer. Alan

dejongj · 18-11-2007, 2:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwjones

Thanks for your time guys, I've tried renaming the files but still no luck, I am able to view each file individually in WMP, but Pinnacle or WMM cant see them to enable editing, I have downloaded a few screen-grabs of the files for your information http://public.fotki.com/Alanjones/screengrabs/. Hope this makes thing a little clearer. Alan

unfortunately that does not make it clearer. Really need to understand as what those files were created. Can you download a utility like gspot which helps checking what file it really is and what codec is required.

Based upon the size I still think it is just digital video files. But chen them out with gspot and we can help further.

alanwjones · 19-11-2007, 1:24 AM

Thanks for sticking with me on this dejongj, Honestly i'm totally lost on this, I've downloaded to my fotki the gspot result, Hoping this sheds some light. Alan.

dejongj · 19-11-2007, 9:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwjones

Thanks for sticking with me on this dejongj, Honestly i'm totally lost on this, I've downloaded to my fotki the gspot result, Hoping this sheds some light. Alan.

I am at a loss now, if gspot can't tell what it is we have little to go on. Did you mention earlier that you can play them in windows media player and QuickTime. If so could you check the information screen in those? I can remember how to get to it. On the mac it is easy as in apple I.

alanwjones · 19-11-2007, 4:44 PM

I have a total of 18 clips totaling 3.6gb. each file plays separately in windows media player and is showing in properties - as DV Video Decoder, The problem was that i needed to edit this into one continuous video, I have now emailed the owner of the clips and referred him to this forum post to see if he can throw any light on the matter, as he only uses apple macs for his editing I doubt that he can help, One little question has come to mind, would it be possible to re record these files onto a dv camcorder and then re edit them as dv files that one can edit? Alan.

dejongj · 19-11-2007, 5:43 PM

If they are digital video, then changing the extension to either .dv or .avi must work. If that still does not work it can only be that you have got "hide extensions" switched on in folder options in explorer. Switch that off using explorer view folder options for all and you will be able
to change the real extension.

Hope this helps.

dejongj · 21-11-2007, 7:09 PM

Hi Alan,

I got the file, and with a little change of the extension it came life for me. It is just Digital Video in there as can be seen from the attached screen shot. But for some reason that I just do not understand it is not working on Windows XP. It works perfectly fine on my Mac but have no idea anymore on what to do on Windows XP.

It seems to be a CODEC issue, I am surprised no codec is included within XP for digital video.....I tried a freeware one from panasonic but that still did not work...

Sorry this is where my knowledge stops, maybe have to give a call to pinnacle as that should come with the codecs for files of this type....

alanwjones · 22-11-2007, 11:58 AM

Thanks for all your effort JP, as mentioned will have another look over the weekend and let you know what comes up. Alan