Importing a DVD into iMovie ’09
A while back, I wrote a post on how to import a DVD into iMovie ’08. This solution worked well but I think Apple released a software update that caused this method to often crash. With the release of iMovie ’09, I thought I’d give it another go.
The results? Zero. iMovie ’08 would recognize the image file and start importing the video immediately. It looks like iMovie ’09 doesn’t even know such an image file even exists.
So I’m back to using either VisualHub or HandBrake to convert the DVD into a more iMovie ’09 friendly file. I guess progress doesn’t always mean that you get what you want.
The bottom line, try to convert your DVD into DV using a third party utility. Video import should then be smooth sailing. If you’re desperate, convert the DVD to MP4 using HandBrake and then import, but be warned that this process can take a long time.
Do you have a preferred method of importing DVDs into iMovie ’09? Please share them in the comments section.
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I stumbled upon your original iMovie ’08 blog looking for a way to import a DVD into my new iMovie ’09. It worked like a charm for me!
I used disk utility to right to a .cdr file on my desktop, mounted it, and iMovie saw it and imported it. Maybe you should give this another go? Thanks for the awesome tips!
Steven’s suggestion works like a treat! This has helped me to convert important analog material via my Sony HDD/DVD recorder. Made me very happy!
I’m afraid my iMovie ’09 won’t import from a DVD either. I loved that iMovie ’08 would do it with just a few steps (the ones you outlined in your iMovie ’08 post). But with iMovie ’09: Nothing. Very frustrating. I wish I hadn’t upgraded.
Steven how did you create a cdr file as i always get a dmg format when i do this?
Hey – my iMovie 09 is pulling in my mounted disk just fine! Try yours again – maybe an update fixed it. I had it sitting on the desktop when I could not do it with 08 a couple of months back.
bari
To make a .cdr image
-When in Disk utility press make a new image
-When save as questions come up under “file format” select cd/dvd master. Instead of compressed file which is the master.
I made a cdr image but my iMovie 09 still does not recognize it. I tried using Disk Utility and also HandBrake in different ways but nothing. Any advice?
Finally I found the secret. At the right side of HandShake there is a menu. I first tried the Apple options, but no one worked well for iMovie. I tried then Basic/Classic and it finally produced a file which works with iMovie.
Mauricio,
The problem you’re having probably relates to one pesky setting in Handbrake.
Look under the CHAPTERS tab and make certain that “Create Chapter Markers” is NOT checked.
As soon as I unchecked this I had great luck with several formats.
The disk image method works just fine for me too, but the “Import” window always leaves out the last portion of the image… anyone else have this problem?
As with Paul, the disk image method works. Similar problem — where the last 60-90 seconds of each DVD “chapter” does not import. So, if the DVD has no chapters, but is just recorded straight through, then I lose the last 60-90 seconds of the DVD.
Thanks for the tut Jason. Original tut from iMovie 08 works fine with me too. I think you don’t need to convert for 09. Try this:
After you’ve mounted the cdr and launched iMovie 08, click on the little icon on the upper right of the Event Library panel. This will change your view and the cdr that is mounted will automatically be detected. Hope this helps . . . thanks again from the 08 tut. Note: Import will not allow you to import the cdr . . . only works from Event Library.
Hi.
The disk image method worked well for me with a .dmg compressed image and iMovie 09.
As suggested by Rose, I used Event Library and iMovie recognized the image.
Thanks a lot.
Hi
Does anyone have any suggestions for doing all this on iMovie 06? I can’t see that ‘Event Library’ panel on it
Cheers
Gaz
I am not up with all the lingo unfortunately so some of you guys are losing me. I tried importing on my new Mac with iMovie09. I was told by the Mac expert that all would be good aflter being frustrated in other attempts to make movies. iMovie didn’t recognise except for 1 disk. I have ten discs recorded on my sony 608E from a europe trip. All discs are the same type. The second disc I tried worked as per the Mac speak. Imported easily. Nothing happens with the rest though. I don’t know why. Is there an iMovie 09 guide that works for dummies. Otherwise I fear my movie making days will be short
Alan, you probably need to “finalize” the discs on your DVD camcorder. This prevents you from adding more material to the disc, but makes it readable by most computers and DVD players.
I’ve done everything I can think of to import a DVD into iMovie. no luck. I used handbrake, I unchecked the create chapter markers, I chose Basic Classic. I have an .avi file and an .mp4 file. Neither will drop into iMovie. I bought this MacBook in March of this year so I’m on a newer OS. Any insight? I’m a long-time PC user; all of this is new to me.
I tried Handbrake and it worked, but for some reason it gave me a 12GB file. It worked in iMovie, but it didn’t give me any thumbnails. So i found this site. And, I just tried the .cdr trick and it worked for me. It imported perfectly, with thumbnails and all. But IDK if it was just this one DVD, it couldn’t import the last chapter because of an error. Yet it does play in DVD Player. That’s my .02
I am trying to import a personal DVD to my ’09 Mac and create a movie with iMovie. I have create a new image using disk utility but evertime I open iMovie the import window does not open. Any thoughts anyone? I did it once and it all worked fine, but the next video would not open the import window. No Idea why…
I have 50 DVDs (ts file) I need to edit. I have imovie09 and bought final cut express and am looking for solutions to convert or import them for editing. Using the above info I had a go with disc utility to create a cdr file on desktop but when I went to import it to imovie it said it would take 111 hours to my hard drive, or 250 hours to my external hard drive. Is this normal? I didn’t import in the end because It would take weeks to import the lot and I’m wondering if I’m doing it wrong or there is a better solution.
I haven’t edited digitally before; this is my first mac and so I’m researching what I should do. There is software out there I could buy which will convert TS files and make them compatible with FCE and I presume imovie, but I was hoping I could avoid that and use imovie to do the initial edit and import the files into FCE for the final cut.
I am using the iMoive 08′ walkthrough with 09′ and everything works, almost. The problem I am running into is after I am done importing I look in my event library in the new event that I imported and it says there is no matching video. I am trying to import from a dvd made from a dvd recorder hooked up to a tv. The clip plays when I open the normal dvd player on the computer so I know it is a working video, I’m just not sure why it imports fine but then acts like there is no video to play once it is imported.
I followed the imovie 08 guide in 09, and it didn’t work initially. Then by accident I had imovie 09 open and double clicked the dmg to mount and imovie popped up straight away asking me to import. I recreated this scenario a couple of times and it worked each time! So that might be the best method to get it to import a dmg.
i am able to import my home movie DVDs into iMovie but for some reason the chronological order of the video footage is being mixed around! Clips seem to be coming in in reverse order and/or completely shuffled. Anyone have any ideas about how to fix this? Why might this be happening? Anyone else have same experience? Thanks!!!
When I mount a dmg or cdr file, I just get a window in finder that has two folders. A Roxioplasma folder and a videoTS folder. If I open either one, imovie 09 does not recognize them and does nothing. What am I doing wrong? If I use Handbrake, the video quality is really poor and it takes forever to convert to an MP4. Its a DVD of home movies I had put on DVD’s from a mini DV tape
It finally worked for me!!
I didn’t even have to download or buy any other software.
i used utilities to save a new image as “read/write”
it saved the file as a “.dmg” (just put it in the desktop)
then in the side bar that has the saved file listed and right clicked (this is where my memory fails me) and i think i clicked “reveal”
an iMovie window came up and i “imported all” into my new iMovie project.
Now i can edit it!
I do have iMovie 09 and i think i’m on the right track. Thanks people!
maybe not “reveal” but “convert” ????
MAuricio , thank you … your change the menu to classic in handbrake idea has solved the problem and saved me hours of time…. thank you thank you. genius
D, thanks, but there’s no “reveal” nor “convert” when I right click on it. Can you help by being very precise on what you did? It seems with your ???? marks you’re not being exact. I am more than frustrated over this. I have a .dmg file and when I double click on it it instantly imports into iMovie. But I have another .dmg file that does not.
HELP!
Anyone manage to import their DVD into iMovie but finds that it cuts it off/doesn’t import the whole thing? Is it due to a maximum length/file size import? Pretty annoying when the part of the DVD you REALLY want is at the end…
Hi, I made dmg file with disk utility and import it to imovie. Then all the audio is gone. Only video got imported. Please help!! I have tried twice and audio doesn’t get copied only video.
Please help!!!