iMovie a Great Tool for Getting Started with Video Editing, Putting Your Movies on DVD
- 2006.07.14
iMovie first
debuted with the iMac DV back in
2000. The idea was for home users to be able to connect their MiniDV
video camera and import video to their computer to store and edit
footage.
Six years with iMovie, and I'd never actually had the opportunity
to use it until now.
The task was initially to copy old 8mm and a few MiniDV tapes to
DVD for easier storage and better archiving purposes. The older tapes
had become damaged with temperature and humidity changes, and it's
more difficult to make a copy of them. A DVD won't last forever, but
it's easier to store and much easier to copy - just stick it in the
computer and use Toast to make a duplicate.
At work we had been using an Akai DVD recorder, which has for the
most part worked very well, to transfer 8mm tapes to DVD. We ordered
it from the World Gift
Center because we liked the idea of it being region-free and
copy-protect free (so we can make copies of home video DVDs without
the machine assuming, that it's a commercial DVD).
While this provides a good solution for copying 8mm tapes to DVD,
MiniDV tapes can be copied to the computer and the video edited there
for a better quality result. And, as I mentioned, I had no experience
editing video with any application, iMovie or otherwise.
Not only does using the computer provide a better way to edit the
video, it also makes a nicer looking DVD.
When I first opened up iMovie 6, it provided onscreen controls to
import the video from the camera that had been connected via
Firewire. It automatically separates the footage into "clips" based
on where the camera had been shut off and restarted. This allows you
to arrange it as you want in iMovie before you burn the DVD.
You can add titles and even select a theme, which provides a very
professional look to the final product.
If you plan to burn it to a DVD, the project can be imported right
from iMovie into iDVD, where you can add a scene selection page as
well as an opening page.
iMovie and iDVD are very straightforward applications - things
generally work as you'd expect, except for drop zones. Drop zones are
little openings where you can add images and audio to appear in the
themes you apply to your project, although it's a bit unclear how
you add things to them.
I eventually figured out that you had to drag and drop the files
from the desktop or from a file browser in the application's main
window. Not exactly intuitive.
The DVDs you make with iMovie and iDVD look professional. They're
easy to navigate, as you can add a chapter at any point in the video
that you want. You can personalise them with your own pictures, and
even add your own soundtrack if you so choose. The video quality is
excellent when played on a TV - far superior to the DVDs made on the
Akai from the 8mm tapes.
Unfortunately, it takes in excess of two hours to actually encode
the video and burn the DVD, whereas burning a DVD on the Akai takes
just the time of the tape. Still, I have to say that the additional
features are worth the extra time.
iMovie's not a bad application. It's relatively easy to use, and
with iDVD it produces very good results. It's perfect for someone
putting together archives of home videos like we're doing. Perhaps if
you were actually dealing with a movie, Final Cut Express or Pro
would be necessary, but iMovie 6 is a great place to start.
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We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
