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General discussion

Unable to export project from iMovie

Dec 5, 2007 10:02AM PST

New! Cannot export project to camera, quicktime or external hard drive
Posted: Dec 5, 2007 5:54 PM
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I recently completed a project of about an hour and 37 minutes. I had iMovie crash dozens of times during the editing process, but was able to limp through it anyway. I'm left with about 14 gigs on the hard drive. The project is too big to export to Quicktime (not enough space on start-up disc). I cannot export to my deck for some reason as well. I've exported projects to it in the past and I can control, import and play the deck through the f/w cable currently, so I don't think it's the cable. It goes through the initiation process, but only exports a black signal to the deck, and no audio.
I tried to transfer the file to an external hd (Maxtor 4 step, 320 gig, usb 2.0 - F/W) but it was very slow (2gig/hr), and then an error came up saying "file for clip 3 not found" and the transfer stopped.
Obviously I need more speed on my ram, but I'm still stuck with a project and no ability to export

Discussion is locked

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idvd Button in iMovie
Jan 12, 2008 11:11AM PST

none there.
I got the project off the machine, though. Here's how I did it, you guys thought I was a rookie, eh? First, I opened up the HD folder and then I deleted all the files - it was easy!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to start from scratch with s/w upgrades, but guess what? The computer won't load the download page, it just spins the pretty rainbow wheel.
So I figured out a solution. Anyone want to buy this piece of #%^^&?

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iDVD
Jan 12, 2008 9:45PM PST

If you do not have iDVD on this machine it is because your machine was not originally fitted with a DVD burner.
Even if you installed iLife from its own CD, the installer would not install iDVD unless there was an Apple recognized DVD player on the system.
If you reinstalled iLife now, you should get iDVD installed. You may be able to install just iDVD from the disk. OF course, that assumes you have an iLife installer disk.

These files you deleted, hopefully they were from the external drive?

"Start from scratch" would indicate that you trashed something other than the external

What is it that you are trying to start from scratch with?

P

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It has iDVD
Jan 14, 2008 1:27AM PST

but there is no "button" in iMovie. Under "file" it has the "export" window and then you can make the choice for iDVD, camera, QuickTime etc.
For clarification, I have two internals, the original 60g and another at 189 (200)g.
I deleted everything, the entire project. It was a bittersweet (mostly bitter) cleansing experience.
I want to start the project from scratch with the appropriate s/w updates, but am unable to open the "download" page from apple.com. Otherwise the search engine works fine.
It would appear,even to the most determined of us, that this qualifies as a "Project from Hell", which by the way is the title of my next foray into the dark morass of nether regions known as NLE. I need a bottle of Rogain, not to use on my head but to drink.
"When you wanna get down, down on the ground, Rogain.."

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It used to be a button
Jan 14, 2008 2:11AM PST

Interesting.

You would not normally Export to iDVD but rather "Send" the project there.

Take a look under "Share" and see what the options are.

I'll check on this when I get back to my Mac

P

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Upgraded OS Tiger, Express and iMovie today
Jan 14, 2008 12:29PM PST

but the highest I can go is 3.0 in iMovie and 1.01 in Express. Do I have to purchase higher versions of Express and iMovie 4.0?

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Yes,
Jan 14, 2008 8:45PM PST

iMovie is part of the iLife suite which is NOT part of the OS.

Upgrading the OS will make no difference to the version of iMovie/iDVD/iPhoto that you have on your machine.

The latest version of the iLife suite is included with each new Mac.

P

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I understand;
Jan 15, 2008 12:57AM PST

The question remains: Can I upgrade iMovie 3.0.09(?) and F/C Express 1.01.0(?)any higher without throwing down cash? At this point I'm on the verge of throwing money down a rat hole if I have to shell out another 100-200 dollars for s/w, then another 200-400 dollars for h/w.

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No, you will need to buy iLife
Jan 15, 2008 9:22AM PST

The current, shipping, version of iLife is iLife 08 and costs $79.00 (US)

Once you are the proud owner of that, you can download iMovie HD 6 which is version prior to 08 but has more of a Final Cut Express experience and feel.

Try that route, you will find that iMovie changed a lot on its way to 08 and $79 is not that bad to get reasonably up to date on editing software.

P

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What about the upgrade for F/C Express?
Jan 17, 2008 6:59AM PST

I'll check the apple site; I think I would rather upgrade F/C Express from 1.09 to 3(??)than to mess around with iMovie again. Anyone here know about express? Otherwise I can always post another question.
Thanks for everyone's help.

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The project is deleted, I have updated to
Jan 24, 2008 3:03AM PST

iMovie 3.03.Yesterday created titles, imported video and pasted on the timeline. Saved project, played it back partially, about 5 minutes and everything was fine. This morning I open up the project and I get two pop-up messages, the first says, "There are 33 clips that do not belong with the project". I selected "leave files alone". The second pop-up says, "There are 35 stray clip files in the project folder." The options are to "Leave files alone" or "Move files to clips plane". I selected the first one, and there were no clips on the project timeline, so I quit without saving changes. The second time I opened up the project I selected, "move files to clip plane". I quit without saving again. What happened to my saved project? Will I have to move and rearrange the files from the clip plane to the time line every time I open iMovie?