How to import a video from camera into iMovie?

How do you import a video into IMovie?

• I am trying to import a video into IMovie but I can't figure out how. I have the 2008 MacBook Pro, this is the first time I've used IMovie on here so I updated it (or so I think). Anyways I have tried hitting file, then import, then camera archive. Then it says "Select a folder that is a camera archive" so I click on "desktop" under PLACES, then I try to click on the video that I want, on the desk top, but it won't import it, or let me click on it. I have also tried (under the 'Event Library') clicking the Macintosh HD, then it takes you to your IPhoto videos but only two of the ten videos that I want show up. But all ten are imported in the regular IPhoto. Help, Please??? If this makes any difference- I imported the videos from two different cameras, not just one.

• Answer:

  To bad you did not tell us the two cameras or camcorders were the source of the video. Also, you did not tell us if the video files you got into the MacBook Pro have an extension - like .MTS, .MPG, .MOD, .TOD, .3gp or something else... However, generically, since iMovie prefers to deal with certain video formats that are in video files that are in .MOV or .MP4 files types, then what you need to do is transcode - convert - the video files to MOV or MP4 files. Download and install a transcoder. I like MPEG StreamClip from www.squared5.com or HandBrake from www.handbrake.fr. Both are open-source, cross-platform, transcoders that do a good job. After the transcoder is installed, launch it and select the video frile from the cameras that you want to get into iMovie. Convert that file to a low compression MOV or MP4 format. When the conversion is done, quit the transcoder and launch iMovie. Drag the converted file to iMovie's sequence storage are, then edit as normal (drag the files in the sequence storage area to the timeline, etc.)