How to Import a DVD into iMovie ‘08
The latest iMovie represent a major change from the previous version. The developers put in a lot of improvements to speed up the movie making process. Unfortunately, the ability to easily import DVDs was not on their to-do list.
Importing a DVD into iMovie is not a straightforward process. However, there is a way of doing it that doesn’t require the use of third party software. A far as I know, this method only works with iMovie ‘08 and the DVD you want to transfer can’t contain any copy protected material.
- Insert the DVD you want to transfer to iMovie.
- Launch Disk Utility.app (found in the Utilities folder under Applications).
- Select the DVD and click the New Image icon located in the toolbar.
- Name your image and select a save location (I normally save to the desktop).
- Once you have your image, doubleclick to mount it.
- Launch iMovie. The program should automatically recognize the DVD image and begin processing the files.
- Have fun editing your video files!
Update: Most likely due to a software update, this solution often results in iMovie crashing. One possible workaround involves using Handbrake to convert your DVD into an mp4 file. You can then import that file into iMovie. Depending on the length of the video, this method can take quite a long time.
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Comment by Kiyoshi
iMovie sucks at titling and I believe you cannot export to tape with this version. I also believe apple has iMovie 6 as a free download available to combat this problem although I do not think a lot of people know about that. I like the new interface though.
Comment by Kaiser KASIMALI
I love it. I was able to process my home made movie just fine after reading the post. Thank you so much.
Comment by Jessica
When i save the disk in ‘disk utility’, it tells me that there is an error and it refuses to save the other disk image!
Comment by Jason
First, I would make sure that the DVD you’re trying to import is not copy-protected. If it’s a DVD from a major studio, there’s a good chance that it has some sort of protection and that will give you problems.
Second, as an experiment, try importing a different DVD. It could just be that the data on the DVD in question might be damaged.
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Comment by Jimmy
I managed to get a disc image (DMG file) but using iMovie 6 did not recognize any files to import. Do I need iMovie 8? Cheers
Comment by Jason
I never used iMovie 6 but to the best of my knowledge, I think you need iMovie ‘08.
Comment by Kengi
I tried this and thought “how easy” but after double clicking to mount the .dmg file and then starting iMovie, iMovie crashes. It gives a quick warning about checking camera or something and then the whole thing disappears. I am new to Mac. and this is a brand new computer. Any suggestions of what I am doing wrong or what I can do to fix this? I have tons of home movies I want to edit.
Comment by Jason
I’ve had this happen to me a few times. My best guess is that the DVDs in question are in a slightly different format that causes iMovie to go crazy.
I don’t have direct solution to this problem.
Another way to transfer your DVDs would involve connecting a DVD player to your Mac via a firewire video converter box. This solution doesn’t offer the best quality and it costs money. Canopus is one company that makes such a device.
If anybody has suggestions for Kengi please post them here.
Comment by CommentDogg
Exact same problem here…has anyone figured this out. This is frustrating.
I noticed that you can import a .mov file to iMovie (although i haven’t tried it yet). Can you create a .mov file from an existing DVD (home movie/no protection)… easily and without buying Toast or something?
Comment by CommentDogg
(Comments wont nest below this level)I found a short .mov file on my mac and imported it successfully to iMovie 08. So the question now is…
Can you create a .mov file from an existing DVD (home movie/no protection)… easily and without buying Toast or something?
Thanks
Comment by Jimmy
(Comments wont nest below this level)I managed to import a DVD of stuff I had recorded from old videos and the telly to .mov files but there was no sound with them. Has anyone else had this problem? I am using the latest version of QuickTime Pro.
Comment by Alex
I’m having the same problem. I record TV shows onto DVD and have had no problems in the past with the image files loading into iMovie until today. I’m using the same brand and type of discs as before, but with this disc, iMovie crashes every time. I’ve even tried creating the disc image several times. I am current on all of the updates.
Comment by Jason
Perhaps the Apple updates are making iMovie more finicky? I tested a DVD with iMovie the yesterday and it worked without a hitch.
I then tried another DVD today and iMovie crashed. Did Apple mess up iMovie with all the updates? I don’t know for certain but it kind of looks that way.
Comment by gh
I have tried to import as outlined above and below and I get the option at the bottom of the window to select the source for the import by it I select the umounted dvd which appears as audio and video-TS folders, imovie 08 crashes..
What to do now??
GH
Comment by ROBERT
Unbelievable…. I’m new to Mac and imovie and immediately discovered the dilemma of importing DVDs. This solution was clear and seems to have worked wonderfully .. although I somehow got a duplicate of my DVD!!
Comment by Robert Morrow
Has anybody found a work around for iMovie crashing when the created volume is mounted on the desktop. If I eject the volume, iMovie starts right up. This really bites… come on Apple fix this problem!
Comment by Jason
As another option, you can use a program like HandBrake to convert your DVD to an mp4 file. You can then load up iMovie and import the mp4.
Depending on the length of the video, it can take iMovie quite a while to do the import.
Comment by Jason
PLEASE HELP!
I upgraded form iMovie 06 to iMovie 08 because I read this post. I can image the disc just fine, but when I mount the DMG, iMovie does nothing. If I file File->Import, and choose any of the import options, it tries to import fromt he built in iSight. When I select the video import options with the iSight window open, it doesn’t let me choose any other source. I am soooo frustrated. I need to do this with about 8 discs, and handbrake takes dozens of hours to convert on my computer.
Specs: 24″ iMac W/ iSight 10.4.11
1.5GB RAM
Comment by Jason
Jason,
Here’s what I do:
-make sure no other apps are running
-make sure iSight is turned off
-image and mount the video
-load up iMovie
If you’ve already done all of the above, then I’m out of answers.
Comment by Jason
(Thank you very much for the quick reply)
I have done all of that. I don’t know what you mean by “make sure iSight is turned off”. Then I double click the dmg, (or mount in disk utility) and it loads as a drive on the desktop./ Then I load up iMovie, and nothing happens . . .
Comment by Jason
Regarding my previous comment: “make sure iSight is turned off” I mean make sure the iSight activity light next to the lens is off. If you have no other apps running then that shouldn’t be an issue.
Comment by Jason
No other applications are running, but the light is on next to the isight after I hit “Import video”, and a window opens with the live feed from the iSight giving me the option to capture. It doesn’t even attempt to read from the mounted image. If I hit File—>Import and choose the mounted image, it shows a bunch of grayed out .vob files and that is about it.
Comment by Jason
To answer my own question: The autolaunching of importation in iMovie requires that you open the dmg from disk utility, and that the iMovie vob update is installed using apple software update.
Comment by Jason
Congrats on getting it working.
Comment by tamara Micallef
hey .. i am trying to copy a small dvd cd - dvdv rw i believe - from a digital camcorder into a normal dvd cd to be able to edit it on imovie.. however i dont think i can insert the small dvd into my mac.. is that right? wat options do i have to do this?
Comment by Jason
Yeah, you don’t want to insert that small dvd into your Mac if it’s the slot loading type. Doing so could result in a stuck disc.
They do make adapters that will convert your small DVD into a standard size one but I don’t have no experience with them.
If your camera has some sort of digital output like firewire then I would choose that option before attempting any kind of disc solution.
Comment by Arif
imovie crashes for me too
Comment by Joni
This is frustrating as hell. Imovie always crashes.
Is there another work around?
Comment by dyilie
Beautiful! Thank you for this tip. I do have a question though. When the iMovie import window comes up, there are duplicate clips. I’ve just been ignoring the second set, but want to be sure I’m not missing something. Any ideas? If it helps, the disc I’m making an image of has two folders: video_ts and video_rm. Thank you.
Comment by Carolin
My imovie freezes/quits when I open it after I mounted the image file (.dmg).
Any advice???
Thanks…
Comment by Samuel Tay
After I clicked the “new image” icon, it processed for a while but suddenly said, “Unable to produce image. Error with DVD (Input/output)”.
Thanks.
Comment by Jason
I think you’ll run into this issue if your DVD disc is damaged or copy protected. If you consistently get this message with a variety of discs, you might have a hardware problem.
Comment by mim
I just had my tape transfered to a dvd and i tried your steps but it won’t import. At first it seems to work it says “creating image “DVD_VR.dmg” and it looks like its uploading but then it stops and says there’s an error. Can you help?
Comment by les Tallon-Morris
In imovie 08…If you export to quicktime then….burn on to dvd….. then put dvd into into another computer and import movies…it works fine
Comment by allen
I had the problem of being unable to import a DVD home movie back into iMovie. After mucking about and reading a bit I worked out that if I go through Disk Utilities and “New Image”, I can then open the application Popcorn and select “Video_TS folder” and export it to “Player” and choose the type of your choice (MPEG4 or H264, etc). This can then be imported into iMovie. The only problem is this takes time.
Comment by Teresa
Thank you Thank you Thank you
)
I have now successfully imported my sons birth and first year from old tape to DVD to iMovie - one happy mumma here.
Never thought I would find the answer so easy (well to you it was easy
Comment by Daniel
i made it all the way to the import stage but when i press import it begins to import but then a message comes up saying “an error occurred during import”. does anyone know how to fix this????
Comment by Chris
Brilliant tip! Worked beautifully. Thank you!