Advise on Mac editing software

[iThinkergoiMac]

Oh, I see. Never knew you could do that.

[derekw]

Thanks for your input concerning my problems.

If you share the movie and select output to tape, its possible to save the file for transfer to tape at a later time. That m2t file can be transferred to a USB stick and played directly on the Playstation. I use this method to check the project before realtime output to tape-

Tim G

Hi hotsewer, I have complaint about capturing via Vegas getting ficker in another thread without editing where the imported file is m2t file. If you have Vegas, could you try to import and and see whether the same flicker is existing? I suspect it is due to m2t format where there trailing frames have a copy of the another scene (sorry about the description here as I am not a tech person).

In iMovie08, this problem is no longer there. However, I did see one scene with iMovie08 where the flicker is there. I think it is due my using my finger to press the pause rec button and the camera was moved a little to a lot. I always think if I use the remote then this problem would disappear but not so sure as I never try.

Regards

[derekw]

Most likely, it's because your external drive is USB 2, which doesn't have the bandwidth. Vegas may have done something to cover it up, I don't know. The other likely issue is that iMovie '08 (all version of iMovie that support HDV, really) transcodes the video from HDV to AIC on the fly. If your computer can't handle doing it in real time, it will lag. Get a firewire drive, it's an absolute necessity if you really want to work with video, and it will help a lot with the lag factor. If your machine has a FW800 port, definitely get a FW800 drive, that will be a massive improvement over USB2 and FW400.

The logic behind my statements about firewire is essentially this: USB 2 has a rated speed of 480 Mbps and FW400 has a rate of 400 Mbps (that's megabits, not megabytes). However, USB 2 can keep the speed up, and after the initial burst of speed, it slows way down. Firewire doesn't do that, which makes it much faster for moving around large files, such as video files. FW800 is rated at 800 Mbps, and it's quite fast.

FCS2 has the ability to directly edit HDV, and you would likely not hit the lag issue. Even FCE still transcodes to AIC. AIC is faster to edit with, and still the same quality, which is why FCE and iMovie do it.

Having a faster drive would help with the lag, though it may not eliminate it altogether. It also helps to have FW because transferring on USB takes specific processor governance and FW doesn't, leaving that much more power for transcoding. It really depends on how fast your computer is. I have an old PowerBook G4 (1.25 GHz) and so there's definite lag, but it is less pronounced when I import straight to a FW800 drive. Alternatively, you could import to your internal drive and then manually move it to your external. Fun fact: if you hold down the command (apple) key while moving something to an external drive, it will move it there instead of copying it there, essentially copying it to the external and deleting it off the internal in one action.

Yes, I have a very powerful imac, 2.8mhz, 4GB RAM, 512MB graphic, 930GB HDD, therefore definitely not due to hardware.

Yes, I now import to the internal but very concern about crashing the hdd, and move it to external. The iMovie08 can do editing from the external via USB2.0 without problem. Therefore, it is the software and not due to the technology limitation as Vegas doesn't have this problem.

[iThinkergoiMac]

Yes, I have a very powerful imac, 2.8mhz, 4GB RAM, 512MB graphic, 930GB HDD, therefore definitely not due to hardware.

Yes, I now import to the internal but very concern about crashing the hdd, and move it to external. The iMovie08 can do editing from the external via USB2.0 without problem. Therefore, it is the software and not due to the technology limitation as Vegas doesn't have this problem.

Importing to your internal drive won't crash it any more or less than doing anything else with the internal drive will. If you're so concerned, get a firewire drive and be done with it.

[paradiseisle]

I have recently upgraded to FCP 7, I have an HV30, use a Sony GV-HD700E deck to ingest into FCP7, What would be the best setting to bring video into FCP? I have only used Apple Intermediate Codec. Can I use any of the Pro Res settings?

[iThinkergoiMac]

ProRes is better, though it will also use more space.

[cgbier]

700E? PAL?

Check if the ProRes function is not grayed out. I wouldn't see a reason why not.

[rameish]

Shooting on a HV20 (PAL) camcorder at 25p here. Importing using iMovie HD 06. iMovie settings are 25fps 1080i (i'm obviously not viewing 25p am I?) Which software will enable me to take advantage of the 25p look that the HV20 (PAL version) offers. I really want to shoot in 25p and see what's the difference to 50i before getting a letus mini or another DOF adapter.

Thanks

[iThinkergoiMac]

You're doing it right. It's confusing, I know.

[rameish]

You're doing it right. It's confusing, I know.

So am I right that I'm not seeing/viewing 25p in iMovie? What reasonably priced software will allow me to import and edit in both 25p and 50i? Strange that iMovie should have import settings of HDV 720p and HDV 1080i wonder what the problem is with 1080P.

I am at the crossroads here in terms of editing software and hardware. I could stick to Mac or actually build a new PC based computer with Sony Vegas.

[iThinkergoiMac]

No, I meant you were importing 25p correctly. Someone correct me if I'm wrong since I know little about PAL, but I'm pretty sure you import 25p with the 1080i50 setting, at least in iMovie.

If iMovie doesn't do it, I believe that FCE does.

[guru]

I have some strange problems with iMovie 09 quality. When I transfer the video from my HV20 (full HD, maximum quality), my files on the hard drive are all fine when I watch it with eg. VLC player. But, when I import it in iMovie09, the quality is automatically worse. In all the darker parts of the video, it's like there is only 32 colors or something like that, there are no fine gradients of colors. That's clearly visible on SD imported footage too, and the files on hard drive are also fine. When I import those files in iMovie 06 HD, everything is ok, but the UI and the speed of iMovie 09 is much better, so I would like to use it, but it is impossible with a quality like that.

I have searched the net and I see there is a bunch of people complaining about the same stuff, so is there a solution or I'm stuck with FCP no matter how simple editing I have to do ?

Thanks in advance...

[Batmanspal]

Hi all! Acc. to David Pogue's Missing manual on iDVD09 and iMovie 09 there is no way to export your HD at full quality to tape, disc, or anything else. I desire to burn HD video to a DVD for commercial purposes. All I have for software rt now is iMovie09...my previous version is 4.01...didn't get iMovie 06HD w 09- I think that only came w 08...

What do I need for this? FCE and a blu-ray burner? Can I get, or is there soon to be, an HD burner that will do this?
Setup is PowerMac G5 dual 2.0 gHz w/ 8 GB ram, (hey, its old but its good, like me...)running OSX.5.8, and a canon hv40. Any replies will be most appreciated! Nice forum btw!

[cgbier]

You need a BD Burner and Toast (oftentimes you'll find an OEM Toast in your BD burner box).
Export your stuff as 1920x1080 from iMovie, and let Toast do the rest.

[iThinkergoiMac]

Considering that AVCHD requires Intel and BluRay is essentially AVCHD, can you create and burn BluRay with PPC?

Also, Batmanspal, did you hack iMovie 09 to run on your computer? It won't run on PPC unless you do...

[Makey]

First of all I believe that HD6 is no longer available from Apple, even for 08 users. The only way to get it now is to BUY it via a third party such as Ebay.

I use my Canon HV30 with HD6 and, subject to the good advice previously given in this thread, it seems to import O.K. However, there is one very big problem and that is the AUDIO (sound) is either badly distorted or even missing from some clips and it requires a lot of work round by importing into IM 08 first (IM HD6 & 08 do both co-exist on my iMac) then importing to QuickTime, then finally importing to HD6! Apart from this annoying Audio problem it all works properly.

Good luck in getting HD6, it's a lovely movie editing program & worth buying.

Regards, Makey.

[Makey]

First of all I believe that HD6 is no longer available from Apple, even for 08 users. The only way to get it now is to BUY it via a third party such as Ebay.

I use my Canon HV30 with HD6 and, subject to the good advice previously given in this thread, it seems to import O.K. However, there is one very big problem and that is the AUDIO (sound) is either badly distorted or even missing from some clips and it requires a lot of work round by importing into IM 08 first (IM HD6 & 08 do both co-exist on my iMac) then importing to QuickTime, then finally importing to HD6! Apart from this annoying Audio problem it all works properly.

Good luck in getting HD6, it's a lovely movie editing program & worth buying.

Regards, Makey.

[pblucero]

FIREWIRE for the HV20 is impossible (or is it) Ive not noticed a firewire capability on mine. Its a hard drive camera so no streaming video to 'drop' on transfer am I missing something here? In the mean time, I'm still struggling with iLife 08 not recognizing the Canon files; haven't exhausted every option yet but will be trying 'four-square' and Final Cut Express 2day... we'll see...

[pblucero]

OMG! I think I'm in the wrong Blog I have an HF20 NOT HV I apologize!

[iThinkergoiMac]

Hahaha... that happens.

[cinemorphics]

I am using OS 10.4.11 on an iMac G5 and iMovie 6.0.3. I am thinking of buying an HV40. Should I be able to capture and edit OK with my existing setup?

[Fade to inferno]

I am using OS 10.4.11 on an iMac G5 and iMovie 6.0.3. I am thinking of buying an HV40. Should I be able to capture and edit OK with my existing setup?

Yes, you'll be fine

[cinemorphics]

So I have the HV40 and am trying to capture with iMovie 6.0.3 as I mentioned in my previous post. I get a warning and it is capturing at 1/2 speed and I can hear no sound while capturing. I do get sound on playback but it is out of sync.
Any suggestions?

[cgbier]

Sound is off while capture. Don't sweat that one.
1/2 speed? Are you capturing to a firewire drive or a USB (F/W is recommended)? How fast is that drive (7200rpm minimum)? What other programs run in the background? How fast is your processor, how much RAM (2 GB should be the bare minimum).

[cinemorphics]

I am connected via firewire not USB. I'm using OS 10.4.11. Processor 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5. Memory 1.25 GB DDR SDRAM. Drive MATSHITADVD-R UJ-825.

I am able to capture with Final Cut Pro 5.0.4 but I really would like to be able to use iMovie 6. Any suggestions?