Converting small DVD's to i-movie

A friend has offered me a job editing his home movies which is great news as I have been looking for work for some time now.

I know i-movies inside out and know exactly what he wants, the problem is that the 8hrs of footage he wants condensed into a 1 or 2 hr movie are on 16 half hour mini DVD's.

I have only ever edited importing from DV camcorder and have no idea how to edit using mini DVD's.

I have a demo version of the Hawkeye software but have yet to suss it out, though do I even need that?

I guess there must be a way to import each mini DVD as a Quicktime file then move into the i-movie window frame.

Please help,

Many thanks

CR

DVDxDV converts unencrypted DVDs to quicktime (as well as other formats)

http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.try.htm

I'm not sure what Mac you are using, but if it's got a slot loading drive, I don't know if it will take mini-DVDs?

I have a 15" MacBook Pro and I agree, I don't think it will take the minis as it's slot in but my friend seems to think otherwise.

Very important I get this clarified before trying it out I guess.

PS, just had a look at the link, I don't have a credit card and I'm in Bangkok so no idea how I will do it if I need to buy it... Could I do the job with the demo version?

I guess I will also have to take my MBP somewhere with WiFi capability, can't get internet in my apartment unfortunately.

DO NOT put a Mini CD/DVD in that slot. It will not work and could get stuck ruining the drive. You can NOT use Mini DVD's or Mini CD's in a Slot Load drive. Do a search here on Mac Forums and you will see others who tried and failed. Your friend is wrong.

^ Thanks - I thought as much, luckily I haven't been stupid enough to try.

Anyway, this begs the question - how can it be done?

cameronryan said:

^ Thanks - I thought as much, luckily I haven't been stupid enough to try.

Anyway, this begs the question - how can it be done?

Click to expand...

The only way I can think of 2AM in the morning is an External Tray Loading Firewire or USB 2.0 DVD drive plugged into the Mac.

There is supposed to be some adapter that you insert the Mini Disc into and then into the Slot drive but I have never seen nor worked with one.

Are there shops out there that could do the conversion for me?

Ideally I would like them converted into Quicktime files that I could simply upload to i-movie.

I have just found out that it can't be done without considerable loss of quality, but it can be done on a SONY.

Pop the mini discs in an external USB DVD drive (tray loading), then rip the DVD videos to your hard drive using Handbrake or similar. Import ripped files to imove then edit.

cameronryan said:

I have just found out that it can't be done without considerable loss of quality, but it can be done on a SONY.

Click to expand...

I doubt that. You'll need to explain why you think that is true.

If the DVDs are the type playable on a regular DVD player, than use software that can preferable rip to a full size QuickTime format or DV format. Something that iMovie can understand. Otherwise search the forums for 'video convert' and you'll find some free possiblities.

How about capturing the footage from a regular DVD player? I do this in Final Cut with great success, just get a capture box, plug your DVD player into it (RGB preferably) run a Fire wire out to you computer and start capturing!