iMovie
Overview
The instructions in this document explain how to capture video into iMovie and perform basic editing functions.
Materials you need to begin working:
Video on a DVD, VHS, Digital 8, Video 8, Hi 8 or miniDV tape
IT Lab hardware & software used:
Mac video workstation
FireWire Media Converter, video switcher, video players
iMovie
Summary of the process:
Important Notice Regarding Copyright
1. Set up the FireWire Media Converter, video switcher and computer
2. Check for attached portable hard drive
3. Open iMovie
4. Create a new project
5. Capture the media
6. Save the project
7. Edit the clips
8. Move the clips to the timeline
9. Export the video
Related instructions:
Creating a DVD on the Mac
Posting a video clip on the streaming server
Before You Begin:
Important Note Regarding Copy Protection.
Due to legal restrictions, the equipment in the CIT Lab cannot capture or process video containing a copy protected signal. Copy protection (also known as Macrovision) may be present on VHS tapes or DVDs in NTSC (United States) or other foreign formats (such as PAL and SECAM).
When playing a copy protected disc or tape, the PROTECT light on top of the Sony Media Converter (see Step 1) will glow red. Even if the computer allows you to capture and view this material, the copy protection scheme will prevent editing or processing of the video and it cannot be output to DVD, videotape or as a streaming movie for the web.
If you are using copy-protected commercially-produced tapes or discs under Fair Use or the TeachAct for your project, please discuss this with a CIT consultant. Alternative versions of this material, such as previously released tapes or discs, may be available through Lilly Library without the copy protection.
1. Set up the Media Converter, video switcher, and computer.
The Media Converter: Press the button marked ANALOG IN on the Media Converter unit.
The Video Switcher:
Select the proper input source on the video switcher.
The Computer: If the computer is not on, start the Mac by pressing the power button on the front of the computer. If the computer is already on, restart it before you begin. This should always be done before any video processing, as it will clear the memory and make things run more smoothly. Restart the computer by choosing Restart… from the Apple menu.
Also, avoid any multitasking when you are capturing, importing, exporting or converting video. Video processing requires all the processor resources the computer can offer, so trying to do anything else while the video is processed can result in corrupted files and dramatically longer processing time.
2. Check for attached portable hard drive
In the CIT Lab, each major video project is assigned a portable hard drive, connected to the computer by a FireWire cable. By saving files on this portable hard drive, the project can be easily moved between the two video stations.
Note: iMovie projects started using the CIT Lab should only be worked on in this lab. Editing of these projects using a different version of iMovie on a different computer can result in corrupted projects and erratic software behavior.
Before you enter iMovie, check to make sure that a portable hard drive is attached and turned on. The quickest way to do this is to look for a portable hard drive icon on the computer’s desktop. It should look like this:
If you need to have a portable hard drive assigned to you, or if you don’t see the icon, contact the Lab assistant for help. If no external drive is available, then create a New Folder under Documents and name it by your full name. Save all of your work in this folder.
3. Open iMovie
Click on the iMovie icon in the Dock at the bottom of the screen to open the program.
4. Create a new project
When you launch iMovie, the last project that was open will usually open automatically. If this happens, use the menus at the top to navigate to File > New…. Do not import clips into someone else’s project.
Save your new project on the portable hard drive (shown by the orange disk) with a descriptive name.
If no external drive is available, then create a New Folder under Documents and name it by your full name. Save all of your work in this folder.
5. Capture the media
Be sure that iMovie is in capture mode. Near the bottom of the main image you should see a button labeled “Import”. Press Play on the video player and you should see the video playing in the iMovie screen.
When you want to begin capturing video, click Import. A clip will appear on the clipboard with a running time code. When you have captured all that you want in that segment, click Import again to stop capture.
Note: iMovie cannot capture a continuous clip that is over one hour long. The program will automatically break clips that are longer than one hour into multiple segments. These segments can be easily put back together when the file is exported.
Control the movie using the controls on the player or the remote. You can capture as many clips in this manner as you want.
Note: Be sure to capture some extra footage, a few seconds, on each end of your desired footage. This extra material can easily be edited out later on, but saves you from recapturing if you miss the first or last word.
6. Save the project
Put iMovie into edit mode by moving the toggle to the scissors.
All of your clips will be on the clipboard on the upper right side of the iMovie workspace. Before editing the clips, it is best to save the project. This should also be done periodically throughout the editing process.
From the File menu, choose Save Project.
7. Edit the clips
The clips are now ready to edit. For easy recognition of the different clips during the editing process, it is best to give the clips unique names. Do this by clicking on the clip, and then clicking again on the bottom of the clip where the current name appears. A cursor should then appear for you to type in the new name for the clip.
Having named all your clips, you can begin to edit them. Click on the clip you want to edit so that it is highlighted in blue. The clip will then appear large in the monitor window, and you can preview it using the Play button and other controllers beneath the monitor.
If you wish to view a certain portion of your clip, find it by dragging the white triangle along the blue bar directly underneath the monitor, called the “scrubber” bar.
To cut out certain portions of the clip, click and drag the start and end points, represented by tiny triangles underneath the scrubber bar. The portion in between these triangles will be highlighted in yellow. This is the portion with which you are working.
Having selected a portion of your clip, you can choose what to do with it using the options on the Edit menu at the top of the screen. The most common options are Cut (eliminating this segment) and Crop (eliminating everything except this segment).
As soon as you have edited something, preview it to make sure it was edited properly. If not, choose Edit > Undo, and then try again.
It is strongly suggested that you save after you have finished editing each clip.
To move on to editing another clip, simply click it.
8. Move the clips to the timeline
The clips have thus far stayed in the upper right corner of the iMovie workspace, called the shelf. To combine clips in sequence to make your final movie, the clips must be moved to the timeline. Click on your clips and drag them to the timeline in the correct sequence.
9. Export the video
Before exporting your finished product, be sure to Save Project.
From the File menu, choose Export…. This will give you a number of options for formats of your finished movie. Choose the method that is most appropriate for your intended use. Please refer to the documentation for burning video onto DVD, creating streaming video, creating iPod video, etc.
