capturing mini-dv footage using iMovie11

[zoranb]

Im giving a try to capture miniDV footage using iMovie11. Seems simple and easyer than Premieres capture feature, but i do have a few questions:
1. i have no clue how to save and where to find the captured file! Where can i look for it?
2. what exactly is the feature, "analyzing the clip for people and stabilization"?
3. what is the difference between those two (people/stabilization)?
4. what type of video file is output after capture?

[smrpix]

Seriously?

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2144

[zoranb]

Wow, very helpful but how do i save the captured file?
Also, if im not gonna be editing in iMovie, does the analyze video feature affect the captured video? What should i do if im gonna be editing in Premiere?

[smrpix]

Your questions are answered in the link. If you're editing in Premiere, why capture in iMovie?

[zoranb]

It seems easier, just play and capture. Premiere seems to be a little more meticulous than i can handle! Not to say the fact that there are times it doesn't recognise the camera!

[zoranb]

Your questions are answered in the link.

What about the type of the captured video file? What kind/type of file do i get?

[Cornucopia]

If your are capturing DV footage from a DV (miniDV, DVCam, DVCPro, etc) camera, it will be DV.

If using Premiere, FCP/X, AVID, Quicktime, or most other apps, it usually is captured and then save as Type2 (w/ copy of audio on separate track) Quicktime DV MOV. If using iMovie, it usually is captured as raw DV stream and saved that way (Type1 raw .DV, not in a MOV container). However all these apps should be able to use either kind in the edit session, whether they captured them in that way or not.

Scott

[zoranb]

Are there any drawbacks to have iMovies captured dv format compared with the one of Premieres? Which is preferable and why?

[Cornucopia]

Premiere may want to subsequently "wrap" it inside of a MOV container, but there are no drawbacks. DV is DV, quality-wise.

Now, you may find the the module within iMovie that does the DV capture vs. the module within Premiere may not support all of DV's feature set, such as certain audio track options (4ch, for instance) or may not support a separate true timecode stream (using instead a derived timecode from the initial timestamp). And the way that the various modules will operate in the face of discontinuities will vary (some stop, some glitch, some create a new, separate file, some gloss right over and keep recording, etc), and how/if it breaks up scenes.
So, the apps aren't identical.
I don't work on Macs to such depth anymore that I could give you a full rundown (only 3-10% of my work is on Macs), sorry - you'll have to just try them out yourself. But it's not like you'll find some hidden GOTCHA in there.

IIWY, and I HAD a pro tool such as Premiere on Mac, I'd use Premiere. It probably makes the most sense to capture with the app you're going to be editing with (because then you know it has already formatted the clips the way they like it and put it in the spot they expect it to be found).

Scott

[zoranb]

Now, you may find the the module within iMovie that does the DV capture vs. the module within Premiere may not support all of DV's feature set, such as certain audio track options (4ch, for instance) or may not support a separate true timecode stream (using instead a derived timecode from the initial timestamp). And the way that the various modules will operate in the face of discontinuities will vary (some stop, some glitch, some create a new, separate file, some gloss right over and keep recording, etc), and how/if it breaks up scenes.

Could you say this again with simple vocabulary?

[smrpix]

Now, you may find the the module within iMovie that does the DV capture vs. the module within Premiere may not support all of DV's feature set, such as certain audio track options (4ch, for instance) or may not support a separate true timecode stream (using instead a derived timecode from the initial timestamp). And the way that the various modules will operate in the face of discontinuities will vary (some stop, some glitch, some create a new, separate file, some gloss right over and keep recording, etc), and how/if it breaks up scenes.

Could you say this again with simple vocabulary?

Use Premiere. It will capture a Premiere-compatible file.

[zoranb]

I didn't notice any incompatibility with iMovie dv files when used in Premiere!

[smrpix]

I didn't notice any incompatibility with iMovie dv files when used in Premiere!

There shouldn't be. Capturing in Premiere itself just gives extra assurance. You are good to go.