The guts of iMovie!

[ac2102]

Right folks, here is my problem. I am an unhappy windows user. I am currently working on a summer school in the UK and have been approached about making a video for it (i do proffesional video editing on the side!)

Anyway, my employer is considering buying a mac for me to use to make the video. Obviously the options of purchasing fcp or even fc express are not valid. So my query is about the workings of iMovie.

I am used to working on fairly high powered hardware based systems (Media 100). So my first question is, when clips are placed on the timeline, can they be trimmed there, or do they have to be opened individually?

Secondly, with the clips on the timeline, can you simply press the play button and preview your edit (not including effects/transitions etc) or do you have to wait for rendering. If so, how quick would, for example, an average iBook be at rendering. I only ask this as i have seen some windows packages which do not allow playback straight from the timeline.

I realise that it would be really easy if i had a mac to simply sit down and check this, but i am not so lucky! Fingers crossed! Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[Schiffi]

Personally I can't work with iMovie. You get only one video track and 2 audio tracks I think. If you're used to working with high powered systems, then iMovie will be utterly useless to you. I sorta compare iMovie with Window's Movie Maker or Dazzle's MovieStar. You'd prolly get a sense of how iMovie works with either of those. But iMovie does play back from timeline, though it is slow (my guess is that it renders in the bg). I suggest working for 2 weeks at Mcdonald's and get FCE or for 4 weeks and get Premiere.

 

[crenz]

I have no experience with iMove, but before making such a decision, I'd go to a Mac reseller and look at iMovie myself. Doesn't seem wise to base the purchase of a Mac on descriptions of a software you might or might not like.

Also, did you try to ask for student/educational discounts for FCP/FC Express?

 

[ac2102]

Cheers for both your comments there. I wouldnt be getting the mac just because of iMovie, i am a big fan of macs and have been since i started editing. Il check up on the educational discounts. As for McDonalds, i dont mind eating there so much while i am oblivious to what goes into the food. I dont think i doulc cope with knowing!

Cheers again though!

 

[tjwett]

well, i hate to bring bad news but iMovie 3 is nothing short of AWFUL. it's literally barely usable. it's unfinished betaware at best. it sounds like you know your way around video editing. you should seriously look into Final Cut Express, or even Pro if you need it. iMovie can be handy for doing home movies and such but it's really useless for anything beyond that. and it's performance just makes it such a joke right now.