Importing Video

Introduction

Learn how to import from a camcorder in iMovie.

Importing Video

Get a 6 pin to 4 pin FireWire cable.

The 4 pin is the small side and it plugs into the camcorder's Firewire port (aka DV-in/out, DV terminal, IEEE-1394, and iLink). The 6 pin plugs into the computer. If you have it turned the correct direction, it will slide in easily.

Get the camera ready. Put the tape in VTR mode, and rewind the tape 5 seconds before the video that you want to import.

Open iMovie (if it is not already open). Put it in camera mode.

Click the play button, and then click the import button. Click the stop button when you are done.

By default, the clips are separated where there was a pause in the recording. This can be changed in the Preferences window.

You can import video files also. Just choose "File" -> "Import" and find your .mov, .dv, or .mpg file.

However, files that are not the correct proportion will be stretched to fit the iMovie window. This is because iMovie works with DV format files, and the DV format does not allow video files to have a different size than what the iMovie window uses. There are workarounds for this, but they will be discussed in the third class of this series.