help with quicktime -> imovie.... please.

[jumbotron]

My ongoing saga continues to archive my 35 Mini DV tapes - so far I have captured the video of 5 movies using iMovie, compiled each tape with iDVD and now want to chop up the key clips from the capture for my "best of" project.

so here's my question - some of these clips are long, but when you crop or trim with iMovie the original clip isn't really touched right? so if I crop 1 minute out of a 3 minute capture - i still have a 600 mb file.

so I started using Quicktime Pro to trim the video, but some of the new smaller clips are bigger than the original long video clip - what gives? i've been googling but haven't found a good link on the best way to save or export the new clip. should I be doing a save-as "movie self-contained" or should I be exporting the clip? and what setting do i export at?

All I want is shorted clips that I can re-import into iMovie and author with iDVD somewhere down the line.

Sorry for the all the question - I'm trying to get this done for Xmas and time is-a-ticking....

thanks for any input

[WiseWeasel]

Use iMovie for your trimming needs, as it's much more precise than QT Pro. The original footage will always be on the MiniDV tapes as long as you don't export back to camera from iMovie. It's always a good idea to keep MiniDV backups of important footage for future use (or you can backup the raw DV clips that iMovie makes when you import to DVD-R or something). This way (using iMovie to trim), you can export directly to iDVD without worrying about export settings. If you must export edited content from iMovie for use elsewhere, you must choose the "QuickTime: Expert settings..." Export option, and in the following window, select the "movie, self-contained" format.

[jumbotron]

Use iMovie for your trimming needs, as it's much more precise than QT Pro. The original footage will always be on the MiniDV tapes as long as you don't export back to camera from iMovie. It's always a good idea to keep MiniDV backups of important footage for future use (or you can backup the raw DV clips that iMovie makes when you import to DVD-R or something). This way (using iMovie to trim), you can export directly to iDVD without worrying about export settings. If you must export edited content from iMovie for use elsewhere, you must choose the "QuickTime: Expert settings..." Export option, and in the following window, select the "movie, self-contained" format.

Thanks for the input, but my goal is the reduce the size of the clips - some clips are 3 minutes long and I only want to keep about 30 seconds of it.

Trimming it in iMovie leaves the original clip intact, yes?

Won't exporting all these little clips from iMovie take forever? (and can I re-import these self-contained Expert Quicktime back into iMovie as clips for another project?)

Thanks

[WiseWeasel]

It won't take long at all to export these small clips from iMovie. And yes, as long as you export the way I told you, you can re-import the clips into an iMovie project with no quality loss.

The operations you do in iMovie leave the clips you import intact until you throw some in the trash and empty it. To be sure, you can save the project before you start editing the clips in the timeline, make sure you don't delete any segments, and then after you've finished editing and trimming, you can just quit iMovie without saving the changes to the project. You will still have the original footage on the MiniDV tapes which can be imported again as well.

[jumbotron]

It won't take long at all to export these small clips from iMovie. And yes, as long as you export the way I told you, you can re-import the clips into an iMovie project with no quality loss.

The operations you do in iMovie leave the clips you import intact until you throw some in the trash and empty it. To be sure, you can save the project before you start editing the clips in the timeline, make sure you don't delete any segments, and then after you've finished editing and trimming, you can just quit iMovie without saving the changes to the project. You will still have the original footage on the MiniDV tapes which can be imported again as well.

Won't sharing to Quicktime "Compress movie for Full Quality DV" be okay as well? It says that there is no loss in quality.

[jumbotron]

Hey WiseWeasel,

Can you shed some light on something - I went through your notes, but I can't seem to follow your directions verbatim. After I trim my video in iMovie and hit share - my options aren't the same as you list. There doesn't appear to be a way to select "self-contained movie" under Expert Settings.

That said, I re-imported the share to Quicktime, Full-Quality DV - but when I hit "show info" - the capture date and time are gone. I think when I edited in Quicktime, the chopped clip retained this info.

Help! this video project is coming to a grinding halt.

Thanks

[SERBIAN]

Everything You shuld know about iMovie You can find here:

The "Unofficial" iMovie FAQ..

[WiseWeasel]

Don't use the Full Quality DV option!!! It will resample your audio at 32kHz, and sound like crap. That option is the biggest misnomer ever, and Apple should be ashamed at making such an interface blunder. The Export option I'm talking about is visible when you choose Export from the File menu (command-shift-E).

[jumbotron]

WiseWeasel - I must be losing my ming, but I can't find an option for "self-contained movie" under "shift, command + e" or "share" - all I get under quicktime is a pull-down for:

email
web
web streaming
cd-rom
full quality dv
expert settings

choosing "expert settings" give me a pull down for:

movie to 3g
movie to avi
movie to bmp
movie to dv stream
movie to flc
movie to hinted movie
movie to image sequence
movie to mpeg-4
movie to mpeg2
movie to picture
movie to
movie to quicktime media link
movie to quicktime movie

and default options under "quicktime movie" are:

VIDEO
compression: video
quality: medium
key frame rate: 24

SOUND
format: uncompressed
sample rate: 44.1 khz
sample size: 16
channels: 2

and "Prepare for Internet Streaming"

Are these setting okay? or do I need to nudge the rates or something?

BTW, I'm using iMovie 4.01 in Panther.

I looked at the FAQ, but couldn't find the answer to my question.

Thanks

[OmegaSupreme]

If all you want to do is delete the unused footage to make space for more clips on your hard drive, then empty the trash in iMovie, this will permanently delete the footage. This cannot be undone.

[WiseWeasel]

I'm using iMovie 3, and there's an option above Movie to 3G, above a small divider line, that says "Movie, self-contained". If it's not there for you, that's pretty strange...

[jumbotron]

I'm trying to compile an archive of "best" clips - this means for example trimming 30 seconds out of a a 3 minute capture. This should be a simple task, but for some reason it isn't. I can split the video etc, but it doesn't actually affect the clip by shortening or reducing the size.

[jumbotron]

I'm using iMovie 3, and there's an option above Movie to 3G, above a small divider line, that says "Movie, self-contained". If it's not there for you, that's pretty strange...

I'm guessing that there was a change from 3 to 4 and that the self-contained thing is standard or automatic in the save process.

That said, are there ideal settings for the video and audio - or are the settings I listed sufficient?

thanks

[TugBoat]

If it were me, I'd choose;

email
web
web streaming
cd-rom
full quality dv
expert settings

movie to 3g
movie to avi
movie to bmp
movie to dv stream
movie to flc
movie to hinted movie
movie to image sequence
movie to mpeg-4
movie to mpeg2
movie to picture
movie to
movie to quicktime media link
movie to quicktime movie

VIDEO
DV/DVCPRO-NTSC
quality: Best
key frame rate: 29.97
720x480

SOUND
format: uncompressed
sample rate: 48 kHz
sample size: 16
channels: 2

and NO for "Prepare for Internet Streaming"

These are the standard settings for standard definition DV and should produce a QT movie that has a bitrate of 3.6 MB/s. It's what we use to use back before all the HD crap came around :P

[jumbotron]

If it were me, I'd choose;

email
web
web streaming
cd-rom
full quality dv
expert settings

movie to 3g
movie to avi
movie to bmp
movie to dv stream
movie to flc
movie to hinted movie
movie to image sequence
movie to mpeg-4
movie to mpeg2
movie to picture
movie to
movie to quicktime media link
movie to quicktime movie

VIDEO
DV/DVCPRO-NTSC
quality: Best
key frame rate: 29.97
720x480

SOUND
format: uncompressed
sample rate: 48 kHz
sample size: 16
channels: 2

and NO for "Prepare for Internet Streaming"

These are the standard settings for standard definition DV and should produce a QT movie that has a bitrate of 3.6 MB/s. It's what we use to use back before all the HD crap came around :P

Thanks, I tried those settings but the end result a pig of a file - almost the same size as the original clip - despite being 1/2 the time.

This video thing is so outside my world - I wish it were simpler and more straight-forward.

[OmegaSupreme]

I'm trying to compile an archive of "best" clips - this means for example trimming 30 seconds out of a a 3 minute capture. This should be a simple task, but for some reason it isn't. I can split the video etc, but it doesn't actually affect the clip by shortening or reducing the size.

Put the unwanted footage in the iMovie Trash. If you empty the trash in iMovie it will trim the file. This cannot be undone.

[jumbotron]

I'm trying to compile an archive of "best" clips - this means for example trimming 30 seconds out of a a 3 minute capture. This should be a simple task, but for some reason it isn't. I can split the video etc, but it doesn't actually affect the clip by shortening or reducing the size.

If you empty the trash in iMovie it will trim the file. This cannot be undone.

Is this empty the trash thing withing iMovie or in the finder? I don't see any option to empty the trash within iMovie 4.01

[TugBoat]

Thanks, I tried those settings but the end result a pig of a file - almost the same size as the original clip - despite being 1/2 the time....

Mmmmm, that's strange. Your camera must export different DV than mine. Mine exports the footage in exactly the same format. So naturally half the duration would be half the size. Try opening an original clip from your camera in QT and see what the format is. You might as well save in the same format that your camera exports in. You can't make it any better, no matter how big it is

*****
Ah, just a shot in the dark here. Kinda a guess. But, if all you're doing is cutting the clip at the playhead, you are not trimming anything. To trim portions off the video, you use the little triangles below the display to make a selection and then select 'clear' from the 'Edit' menu. That will move the selection to the trash. That's the little trashcan in the lower right next to the XXX GB Free meter. You don't have to empty the trash. But when you then export the clip, the portions in the trash will not be part of the export. When you then quit iMovie, choose not to save changes and then all your original clips will remain unaltered. If you empty the trash, your original files will be clipped. RTFM ?

[OmegaSupreme]

iMovie has its own trash icon in the bottom right of its window. Drag the unwanted footage to the trash can in iMovie. You can then empty the trash by clicking on it or use the menu; File ==> Empty Trash.

[jumbotron]

Thanks, I tried those settings but the end result a pig of a file - almost the same size as the original clip - despite being 1/2 the time....

Mmmmm, that's strange. Your camera must export different DV than mine. Mine exports the footage in exactly the same format. So naturally half the duration would be half the size. Try opening an original clip from your camera in QT and see what the format is. You might as well save in the same format that your camera exports in. You can't make it any better, no matter how big it is

*****
Ah, just a shot in the dark here. Kinda a guess. But, if all you're doing is cutting the clip at the playhead, you are not trimming anything. To trim portions off the video, you use the little triangles below the display to make a selection and then select 'clear' from the 'Edit' menu. That will move the selection to the trash. That's the little trashcan in the lower right next to the XXX GB Free meter. You don't have to empty the trash. But when you then export the clip, the portions in the trash will not be part of the export. When you then quit iMovie, choose not to save changes and then all your original clips will remain unaltered. If you empty the trash, your original files will be clipped. RTFM ?

Quicktime says the format is DV/DVCPRO - NTSC, 720 x 480, Millions DV, Stereo, 32000 Hz
Movie FPS is 29.97
Playing FPS is 30

Is that the same as what you prescribed?

And, yes I am trimming the beginning and end off - it's just this exporting thing that I'm trying to get my head around. There isn't much of a manual to read and I don't think it really covers exporting clips to be re-imported again - more about exporting for iDVD or emailable clips. And, I have read the F... Manual.

[jumbotron]

iMovie has its own trash icon in the bottom right of its window. Drag the unwanted footage to the trash can in iMovie. You can then empty the trash by clicking on it or use the menu; File ==> Empty Trash.

Got it, thanks. This might be the easiest way to do it - thanks for the tip.

[WiseWeasel]

FYI, you should go to your Profile page, and switch "Always allow BBCode" to "Yes" so that quotes and other code work properly...

[jumbotron]

FYI, you should go to your Profile page, and switch "Always allow BBCode" to "Yes" so that quotes and other code work properly...

Thanks, I thought it was only my machine - hope the change worked.

[MacDSL]

Just to throw in some (hopefully) levity... If you are just trimming off 30 sec. of a clip, there's really no reason to take the time to export/shrink/re-capture/save disk space. If the breakpoint of hard drive space is 30 seconds or even a total of 30 min. of video. You should really be thinking about getting more drive space/moving data to another drive. Video takes a ton of space, always has, always will, with the new HD coming out, and new codecs and faster throughput; it's only gonna get worse. save yourself the time and spend it getting the editing perfect rather than worrying about a couple hundred MB of space

[jumbotron]

Just to throw in some (hopefully) levity... If you are just trimming off 30 sec. of a clip, there's really no reason to take the time to export/shrink/re-capture/save disk space. If the breakpoint of hard drive space is 30 seconds or even a total of 30 min. of video. You should really be thinking about getting more drive space/moving data to another drive. Video takes a ton of space, always has, always will, with the new HD coming out, and new codecs and faster throughput; it's only gonna get worse. save yourself the time and spend it getting the editing perfect rather than worrying about a couple hundred MB of space

In a perfect world - I'd love to toss the footage onto HD for future editing but I'm trying to edit the clips down now and keep them manageable - otherwise, I'll have over 400 Gigs of video

Storage isn't a huge issue and it's so cheap these days - I just picked up two 200g Maxtor Diamondmax drives for $100 each. I cringe when I think about what I paid for a 20mb drive 14 years ago.