how do I edit 2 .mov files?

K

ksignorini

Registered
So I have these 2 movie files in .mov format and I want to combine them into a single file but with some frames from each in a particular order--I don't want to just tack one onto the end of the other.

How do I do this? I opened up iMovie to see if it could do it but I can't even open/import .mov files into iMovie and I can't seem to figure out how to get QuickTime Pro to do it.

Am I using the right tools? Is there something else I need? I mean, this doesn't have to be anything professional--I just want to play with mixing up these two videos into a single one.

Kent!
 
Highlight the files one at a time in the finder, control click, and check the properties. Secondly, open them in QuickTime Pro and type command-I to get the movie info. In one of these two places, the codec used to create the movie should be shown. Can you post your findings? It might be a codec that QuickTime Pro plays but iMovie can't edit; this is done by the codec owners for money purposes.
 
Isn't there any free software that can do the same job? :)
I've been looking for it, but with no luck so far. Anyone found a program like that?


Kris
 
Try converting the 2 .mov files to Digital Video (.dv) files in QuickTime Pro. Then import into iMovie :D
 
If the codec is available, it's available; if not... You might have better luck with a Windows-based machine running Adobe Premiere--I honestly don't know why such a machine would exist, but if you can find one, chances are it will have the codec available, and you can convert the files to a codec available to QuickTime.
 
Thanks chenly. :)

I really think converting from QT to Dv should be available in the "normal" version of QuickTime.. :( Hopefully next time(?).



Kris
 
dricci's got it right. You need QuickTime Pro, and then export the files as DV streams. Then you can import them into iMovie. I do that all the time with great success.
 
Originally posted by chenly
If the codec is available, it's available; if not... You might have better luck with a Windows-based machine running Adobe Premiere--I honestly don't know why such a machine would exist, but if you can find one, chances are it will have the codec available, and you can convert the files to a codec available to QuickTime.
Click to expand...

Windows? Why Windows?

I still use Mac OS 9 for all my QuickTime editing. The QuickTime 5 is the full version (with all the codecs there) just not enabled. Once enabled it becomes QuickTime Pro 5. This means that they are there if you can watch the movie to begin with. Can you edit with QT Pro? Yes, cut and paste. Does it stop you with some movies? Yes. Which is why I use Strata VideoShop 3.0 for almost all my editing (and yes it was free, but I don't know where you can find it now). Any blocks that come up in QT Pro 5 don't effect VideoShop, and I can still use all the codecs that came with QT 5 (Sorenson 3 is the one I use the most).

I'm not sure why Windows or Premiere would be needed, but to each their own.
 

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RacerX, Microsoft has a number of proprietary Windows Media Player codecs which it only makes available to Windows. Kris has one of them in her file(s).
 
What does Windows Media Player have to do with .mov and .qt files? These are QuickTime documents which according to Apple (and Department of Justice testimony) are supposed to be opened by QuickTime by default on Windows systems.

So again, why Windows or Premiere?

:confused:
 
Many codecs are released as play only, or in editable but nonconfigurable editions; Microsoft is the queen of this practice. If iMovie can't edit them, chances are that this is the reason. Of course, I can't be sure without looking at the files myself, but this sounds like it.
 
Key word here is proprietary. Companies, like Apple often have data types that cannot be opened by programs that work with similar media. iMovie is an example of this. Just because Apple makes both iMovie and QuickTime, and that both deal with video media, don't assume that one should be able to automatically open and edit a file created by the other.

Quicktime, as a format, is not automatically a part of the DV world, whereas iMovie was designed specifically for the home user with a DV enabled camera. Quicktime has the ability to save a file in the DV format. Unless you don't have Quicktime Pro (which is releatively inexpensive), there is no easier way to convert the files. In fact, I can't think of another way that is anywhere near as easy for the quality you get in return.

I hope this made sense, or that it's still relevant. I just don't understand where everyone is going by bringing up the use of Premiere, let alone suggesting someone using a PC. Not trying to start a flame war, just don't get it.
 
ebolag4: if Premiere, really the only non-linear professional-level with any kind of numbers among the wretched devils stuck with Windoze as an editing platform, is used on said platform, there is a distinct possibility that the Windows Media Player will be the video engine it uses, not QuickTime (you can pick on Windoze; the Mac version of Premiere only supports QuickTime). If so--bingo! The phantom codecs will be available.
 
Sorry I didn't make this clear in the first place--as Macolytes, we tend to think that QuickTime is the be all, end all; there ARE alternate video production/editing engines, but...why?
 
All you need to do this is quicktime pro.

You can highlight the portion of the video you want to insert and copy it to the clip board. put the playback head in the destination .mov where you want to insert the copied clip and select "Add" from the edit menu.

Exporting as DV and bringing into iMovie is a waste of time unless you are doing something more complicated then just adding two movies together.
 
Sorry... but I'm a bit confused.. QT 5 is QT 5 pro.. almost.. But how to "enable" it? Can Media Player (on a Mac of course!) do the converting job?
QT pro seems to be the easiest way, but you shouldn't have tyo pay for it..


Kris
 
Why shouldn't you have to pay for it? Someone spent time designing and developing it and they made a good product. They should get paid for their work.

To enable quicktime pro, you just need to enter the serial number...no downloading required.
 
I know good programs takes weeks, months and years to make. But to charge for a "little bit better version for QT" seems to me just a way of squeezing out some money from the users. Espcially when it is, at least what I've heard, not such a huge difference between QT and QT Pro. At least I think Apple sould have shipped new computers with a Pro version.


Kris
 
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