.mpg files and iMovie, Final Cut Express

[celliott]

So, do I have this right or am I missing something?

I have a JVC hard disc camcorder. It puts out files with a .mod extension. If I simply change that extension to .mpg (these are mpg files), I can import it properly into iMovie 7 with no problems. The video is shot in 16:9 format and iMovie 7 maintains that ratio. However, QuickTime won't do it correctly- it makes them 4:3 ratio files. Also I can't import them properly into Final Cut Express (the latest version) because it also imports them in 4:3 ratio. What gives? Why can cheap iMovie do it but it's big brother can't? I don't like iMovie 7, I'm used to iMovie 6 and am in the process of learning Final Cut Express- but it appears I need to go to the lowest quality program to do something.

That doesn't make sense. Am I missing something? I don't want to convert them into DV files- they are bigger and serve as a lengthy intermediate step that shouldn't be necessary in my view- not if iMovie 7 can do it.

As a side note- what is the best way of getting iMovie projects into iDVD, Apple makes that hard as well. Looks like there is no streamline solution to getting these mpg files onto DVD.

[iaJim]

Did you set up your project in FCE as a 16:9 project? I think it defaults to 4:3.

[celliott]

Yep, I set it up for 16:9, but that only seems to work on video capture, not the import of a video file such as an mpg file. Still searching and experimenting.

[TheTominator]

Try using MPEGStreamClip to repackage the file. And use the file it created. That is a free application.

I don't think i will need to recompress it. It is probably a MPEG-2 file with ambiguous or unconventional wrapper information.

[celliott]

Just kept experimenting- The Tominator put me onto a good lead. Here's what I found to work.

I used MPEGStreamclip. Loaded up the video and then went to the Demux option in the File menu where I had several options. I chose to export as Demux to Headed M2V and AIFF.

It exported very, very quickly because it did not have to reencode the mpg part. I dropped the M2V file into Final Cut Express where it imported both the video in widescreen along with the audio portion. Files are small unlike DV and it was much, much quicker. I'm a happy camper. Now if I can just get past the learning curve of Final Cut Express

[tahoedrew]

Look into the program Voltaic. I used it to convert HD files from a Canon camcorder to .mpg files I could use in iMovie HD.

~A

[kate59588]

FCE4 handles AVCHD footages shot in 1280*720 and 1440*1080. If your footages shot in 1920*1080, need to convert the MTS to editable format for FCE.

These MOD files are often accompanied with small .MOI files which contain the videos' time-stamp information. MOD format is simply a MPEG-2 formatted video file, and if you simply wish to view the files on your computer, it is reportedly safe to rename the extension from MOD to MPG or AVI. So i suggest you use a MOD Converter.There were one or two other similar programs, but I am running 10.4 still, and that made it the clear choice. So far Pavtube has worked as advertised--I can finally watch my movies from my JVC camera on my Mac using iMovie.
http://www.pavtube.com/mod-converter-mac/