Can you use Superdrive to import video off homemade DVD into a editing app?

[Mr. D]

Can you use an Apple SuperDrive to import from a homemade (non commercial) DVD to a video editing program? I want to edit some home movies without losing quality by using my DVD player & passing it through of an old video camera. It seems there should be a way to put a DVD into the Superdrive & import the video on it into a video editing program. What's the easiest way to import off a DVD to an editing program? I'd like to use an old simple video editing application rather than the latest iMovie as they are too complicated for simple projects!

I wonder why Apple didn't simple keep the old standard definition style iMovie Apps that were so simple/intuitive to use & just adapt them for HD for those of us that don't want to make a Hollywood movie using a extremely complicated application? I guess I need to take a class for the new iMovie Apps because I can't figure the damned thing out! Duh!

 

[badshoehabit]

Simplistic answer so others may have better responses: insert the dvd and drag the clip/s to iMovie.

I put one of my old holiday DVDs in my superdrive, found a movie clip and dragged it down to iMovie. It was in Quicktime so I had a message saying it couldn't open but if you use a compatible format I expect it would work.

If you don't already have the Apple superdrive, members here have suggested buying a cheaper DVD drive instead. Borrow one to try.

 

[chscag]

I guess I need to take a class for the new iMovie Apps because I can't figure the damned thing out! Duh!

You're not alone. One of the easiest movie making programs that I remember was the original Windows Movie Maker. However, good advice above from Sue, give it a try.

 

[MightyGem]

What's the easiest way to import off a DVD to an editing program?

Use Handbrake.
https://handbrake.fr/downloads.php

For simple editing, you could use Quicktime if you just want to trim bits off. Otherwise use iMovie.

 

[Mr. D]

1. There are no clips. It is all just a movie on a DVD. What I want to do it to get an "entire" home movie on DVD (not in clips) to input into iMovie so I can re edit it.... preferably an old standard definition edition.

2. Also is there any application/device that will convert the output of a DVD player into an input that can be recognized by iMovie. In the past I used a "pass through" of an old Sony Video Camera that has now died.

3. Are there any "simple & free" video editing apps that will work with old standard def. home videos. I'm simply trying to get a home movie into a simple video editing program one way or the other. I can remember when Apple made things simple instead of complicated to impossible.

 

[Slydude]

Unless something has changed recently I don't think you're going to be able to just drag the video files from the DVD into a video editor. The files are stored in MPEG format which many video editors cannot handle directly. As member MightyGem has suggested HandBrake is a good solution for doing this conversion. Once this is done it is easy to edit the footage.

If the DVD player has composite video connections (typically red, white, and yellow) you can use that to connect to a video capture device. These range from about $40.00 and up. Note that this is a time consuming "real time" process. A two hour DVD will take 2 hours to capture. With a quick Mac it can be converted much faster by reading the files on the DVD.

 

[Mr. D]

Unless something has changed recently I don't think you're going to be able to just drag the video files from the DVD into a video editor. The files are stored in MPEG format which many video editors cannot handle directly. As member MightyGem has suggested HandBrake is a good solution for doing this conversion. Once this is done it is easy to edit the footage.

If the DVD player has composite video connections (typically red, white, and yellow) you can use that to connect to a video capture device. These range from about $40.00 and up. Note that this is a time consuming "real time" process. A two hour DVD will take 2 hours to capture. With a quick Mac it can be converted much faster by reading the files on the DVD.

"Reading the files on the DVD".... HOW?

I've seen VCR to DVD devices, but no DVD to DVD devices that I an use to import a DVD movie into a editing program.

Do any of you remember iMovie 4.0 or iMovie DVD? What nice, simple video editing programs that did most anything the average user want to do with vacation movies. I guess it was too easy to use to simple be upgraded to High Def. I think Apple has for gotten that ease of use & intuitive procedures is what made Apple great in the beginning. Apple should make simple/intuitive applications for those who want them as well heavy duty Hollywood film applications for those who want those! I don't want to spend hours studying applications to do simple editing tasks.

 

[Slydude]

If your computer does not have a build-in DVD reader you will need an external DVD drive to read the files on the DVD. Once you have that you need DVD ripping software to convert the DVD files into a form that can be used in a video editor such as .mp4. This article has an overview of several programs which should be able to convert the files. I use HandBrake but initially I found the interface a bit confusing.

Once the video has been converted there are several editors available. Which one you use depends upon what you are trying to do. QuickTime Player X will work fine all you are doing is simple editing.

 

[Mr. D]

Thanx for the response!