Quality loss using iMovie 6 HD?

[deeb70]

Hi, I want to edit a project that I shot in HD. When I'm done editing and I output out back to tape, does iMovie 6 HD degrade the image quality?

I also have Final Cut Express but find that iMovie is easier and quicker to use but I do want to retain the full quality of my footage when going back out to tape.

Which would be better to retain the image quality when going back out to tape? iMovie 6HD or FCE?

Thanks!

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

It all depends how you export. You can choose to export in a lossy format, or a lossless one. iMovie doesn't have anything to do with it anyway (except the fact that it doesn't support 10bit editing, but that's just not even visible by most folks). All Apple video apps use the Quicktime to export, so no matter which editor you use, it's the same encoders that will be used.