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Using iMovie

iMovie along with iDVD (Apple iLife software), can help you convert your home videos to DVD format.  Use the steps below to:

• Transfer your footage
• Edit your captured footage
• Burn your DVD

Please note, these pages provide basic information. For detailed instructions on using iMovie or iDVD visit Apple's online help.

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Transferring  Footage

Important Note: Before transferring a tape to DVD, please consider the copyright laws.  For more information refer to the following:

• "When it's OK to Copy" - Inside Higher Education
• "Academics Get Exemption from DVD Copyright Law" - 3 min NPR audio segment

1. Connect your video camera or VCR to your computer.
2. Open iMovieHD (Applications > Video > iMovieHD) and select Create a New Project.
   
3. Name the project and select Desktop for the location. Click Create.
4. If it is not already selected, click the camera icon to enter capture mode.
   
5. Rewind the tape. Press play on the camera or VCR.  Your movie will play on the iMovie capture screen.
6. Click Import in the iMovie capture window to begin. A small image of the video will appear in the upper right-hand section of the iMovie capture screen, and a time counter should be rolling, indicating the capture/transfer process has started.
   
   Note: If your tape is an hour in length then, it will take an hour to capture the video.

Skip Footage

To skip footage that you don't want to transfer, follow these steps:

1. In iMovie, click Import to STOP importing the video.
2. On the video camera or VCR, fast forward to skip the footage you don't want to transfer.
3. When you want to begin transferring again, select Play on the video camera or VCR and click Import in iMovie. 

Edit your Captured Footage

1. After all tapes are captured, enter iMovie edit mode by clicking the scissors icon.
2. Drag and drop captured clips to the timeline area, placing them in the desired order.
   
3. Select any transitions and effects that you may want for your video.   For detailed steps on using transitions and effects, refer to iMovie help.
   
4. To add chapters to your movie, select the clip (in the timeline) where you would like the chapter to appear.  Click Chapters and Add Marker.  Give the chapter a title.
   
   Note: Do not add a chapter to the first clip.
5. Once clips are in the order you want, on the timeline, chapters and transitions added, click the first movie clip on the timeline. 
6. From the menu bar, click Share > iDVD.
   Note: If your footage is longer than 2 hours, iDVD will prompt you to change/select the quality to "fit on disk".

Burning your DVD

The iMovie file will load into iDVD.  The default theme will be applied.  Before burning your DVD, apply the theme you prefer and change any menu titles. 

1. To change the theme, click Themes.
   
   Select a theme and then click Advanced > Apply Theme to Submenus.
2. Click the Play button.
   
   Your DVD will play on screen with a virtual remote control for navigation.
3. If everything looks and plays correctly, click stop on the virtual remote and then Exit.
   
4. On the computer keyboard, press the Eject button.    The DVD burner will open.
5. Insert a blank DVD-R disk, this type of media works best, into the tray and gently push the tray to close it.
6. Select File > Burn DVD.  When the burn process is complete, the finished DVD will eject.
   Note: The burning process may take an hour or longer depending on the length of your movie.