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How do I convert from .mp4 to .mov?
Hi All,
Boy, this CC is a great resource. Thank you all for reading and responding to my questions!
My latest question: I’m importing from dvd. I’ve been using handbrake to convert dvd to .mp4. When I imported the .mp4 files into iMovie my files seemed to convert (automatically!?) to .mov format. Now, using FCE I don’t know what will import – because I’ve tried .mp4 and no conversion occurs.
But, if I take my .mov clips out of iMovie and move them to FCE that works! So, I know there must be a way to do this conversion sans iMovie – I just haven’t figured that out yet!
In short – how do I convert from .mp4 to .mov?
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10 Replies
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Squared 5’s “MPEG streamclip” is the way to go:
https://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html
You can even use it to convert the DVD straight to a DV mov for cutting. Saves the extra compression to mp4 and back, you may just have to rip it first…?
Enzo Tedeschi
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Editor
Sydney, Australia -
Hi Enzo,
Thanks for your suggestion. I’ve installed Streamclip but it doesn’t list .mp4 to .mov as an option. To be truthful I don’t know the best raw file to import into FCE. So, maybe I’m just asking the wrong question?
Basically I just want to bring a file into FCE and edit it just as I was easily able to do from .mp4 into iMovie to .mov
Any suggestions will be used immediately!
Thank you!
Karl
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by jove, you’re right!
MPEG streamclip doesn’t support mp4, despite supporting DiVX… gob figure…
I am doing a test with a downloaded mp4 using Quicktime Pro…
Worked fine. Convert it to a qt mov using DV PAL codec, and FCE should have no dramas.
Enzo Tedeschi
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Editor
Sydney, Australia -
Hi Enzo,
Thanks again. I’m experimenting with Streamclip. One more question though – .mp4 to iMovie is a single step to edit within iMovie and another step to export/output. But .mp4 to FCE (a step up as far as applications are concerned) requires the additional intermediary step of this additional converter (Streamclip) for the current scenario. That seems to be a little bit roundabout and counterintuitive. Isn’t there a single-step method for importing the correct data/format of DV into FCE for immediate editing?
Make no mistake – I appreciate your suggestion of Streamclip – but why the workaround? Shouldn’t FCE be able to import more directly albeit from another format? Using Handbrake I have a # of options but maybe I’m just ignorant of the best considerations in trying to figure out the optimum parameters!
Karl
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Karl,
It would seem that the issue here is the ripping process. I am not all that famliar with Handbrake, but it seems to only offer mp4/AVI/H264 output. What you would need, I guess is a ripper that converts directly to quicktime DV. I am not sure that this exists for Mac (at least not for free, anyway).
ffmpegX and Forty-Two are other apps that might help, but unless I’ve missed it, it’s pretty much: rip to disk drive > encode to DV.
FCE works in DV only, but unlike iMovie which is designed to be as user-friendly as possible, it won’t convert on import. Either way (even into iMovie) you’re still ripping, then encoding, right?
I am at a loss for any other suggestions, but if I can find some time, I’ll try and work it out (there is a large short film comp here in Sydney – deadline for submissions is in 2 days…. it’s hectic at the moment!)
Enzo Tedeschi
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Editor
Sydney, Australia -
Enzo,
with mpeg stream clip you can use APPLE KEY E and export to QT. Here you can set up a preset to go to any codec that QT supports. DV, DVCPRO, uncompressed, etc.
It is totally doable to DV. You might need QT pro however, which FCE does not support, but is well worth purchasing from Apple. (especially if you are going to be ripping all of that content for free 🙂
David
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Yes, David. mpeg streamclip rocks, I know. I swear by it!
Karl’s issue is that he wants to be able to rip from DVD directly to DV – which straemclip won’t do. He still needs to rip off DVD, and then convert using a separate progie from each step.
Do you know of a one-step solution?
Enzo Tedeschi
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Editor
Sydney, Australia -
Hi Enzo & David,
Actually, after I rip the dv from within Handbrake I then go to FCE with the (unrealistic?) expectation that I can take the rip that’s now an .mp4 and import it into FCE. I went to the Apple store today and the genius said she’s had the same problem and her workaround is to bring the file into another program to convert it too. So, I’m back at square one – I think! Apparently this limitation also existed in iMovie 4 and was updated/corrected in iMovie 5.
Anyway, thanks for your communication. I appreciate it!
Karl
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Karl,
Any kind of MPEG compression is really not suitable for editing due to the IBP encoding. Most NLEs either won’t accept it or crash (or convert on import!).
There are programs on the PC that will let you convert to any codec you please while ripping from DVD (instead of just MP4 and it’s variants). This is the kind of thing you need, but I don’t know if there’s anything out there for the Mac.
For now, you may just have to live with the two step process – or digitise off the playing DVD!
Enzo Tedeschi
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Editor
Sydney, Australia -
I just use Mpeg streamclip to do this.
Open the VOB and export to whatever codec you want.
David
I can’t believe it’s not butter!
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