Imovie HD won't do HD

I'm using a GoPro HD to record my drifting in 720 and trying to use Imovie HD to edit the video on my macbook because I can't use final cut express.
The problem is that when I export the video, it comes out in low quality no matter how I tweak the settings in imovie.
I bought a cheap program for my Ipad and that doesn't seem to have a problem.


Imovie output.
YouTube - ‪SantapodDWYB 11/5/2011‬‏


Splice for the Ipad output
YouTube - ‪Pembrey. 28/5/11‬‏

You probably only get HD when you export through iDVD onto a DVD disc.

ok.

Well I've just been playing and it doesn't seem to be importing the full quality.

You won't get a HD dvd from iDVD and your Mac due to the limitations of dvd video:

To record moving pictures, DVD-Video uses either MPEG-2 compression at up to 9.8 Mbit/s (9,800 kbit/s) or MPEG-1 compression at up to 1.856 Mbit/s (1,856 kbit/s).

The following formats are allowed for MPEG-2 video:

At 25 frame/s, interlaced (commonly used in regions with 50 Hz image scanning frequency - PAL):
720 × 576 pixels (same resolution as D-1)
704 × 576 pixels
352 × 576 pixels (same as the China Video Disc standard)
At 29.97, interlaced (commonly used in regions with 60 Hz image scanning frequency - NTSC):
720 × 480 pixels (same resolution as D-1)
704 × 480 pixels
352 × 480 pixels (same as the China Video Disc standard)

Click to expand...

J_K said:

I'm using a GoPro HD to record my drifting in 720 and trying to use Imovie HD to edit the video on my macbook because I can't use final cut express.
The problem is that when I export the video, it comes out in low quality no matter how I tweak the settings in imovie.
I bought a cheap program for my Ipad and that doesn't seem to have a problem.


Imovie output.
YouTube - ‪SantapodDWYB 11/5/2011‬‏


Splice for the Ipad output
YouTube - ‪Pembrey. 28/5/11‬‏

Click to expand...

First thing I noticed is that your first Youtube video is only 360p. That would indicate that that is the size you exported to. You splice is 720p on Youtube and looks much nicer. Perhaps my iMovie Export Guide will be helpful in figuring out a consistent export.

I'm not sure what to try for the import into iMovie HD, probably MPEG-4. The thing is iMHD is old and will be limited for import formats. You do want to set up the project so that it is 720HD, maybe when creating a project, select HDV 720p and then import your files. Your splice video suggests you figured this out.

The specs on the camera say it has two bit rates for 720p. Use the higher one for a nicer picture.

I don't get why you mentioned your iPad.

xStep, your iMovie guide is a little out of date. Youtube now accepts videos upto 2Gb in size, and 15 minutes in length.

MightyGem said:

xStep, your iMovie guide is a little out of date. Youtube now accepts videos upto 2Gb in size, and 15 minutes in length.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reminder. The next time I update it, I'll have to write that kind of stuff in a more generic manner.

Thanks for the replies.
I am using the 720p 60fps setting on the gopro.

I mentioned the Ipad because Splice is an iphone app that I just downloaded and ran on my ipad. And managed to get a decent 720p video out of.

J_K said:

Thanks for the replies.
I am using the 720p 60fps setting on the gopro.

I mentioned the Ipad because Splice is an iphone app that I just downloaded and ran on my ipad. And managed to get a decent 720p video out of.

Click to expand...

For those who wan't go to the App Store to find out, what is Splice?

I don't know that any version of iMovie can take advantage of 60p.

What version of FCE do you have that you said you couldn't use it & why? I believe it will handle 60p.