How do I import M4V to iMovie For Editing on Lion OSX

M4V is a file container format with MPEG-4 file extension, used and downloaded from Apple iTunes store. It is very similar to .mp4 file, however, the M4V file may be copy-protected with Apple's FairPlay DRM copyright protection. To play protected M4V file, you should firstly authorized with the account. When comes to the unprotected M4V, you can try to rename the file extension to .mp4, before editing in iMovie.

However, if you find the renamed MP4 still can't be recognized by iMovie, you may have to render to a third party software-M4V to iMovie Converter, which can help you to convert M4V to iMovie compatible MOV or DV, etc. Then you can transfer the output .mov or .dv files into iMovie for further editing. Moreover, it can convert versatile video or audio file formats, but also allows you to set video codec, bit rarte, frame rate, resolution, audio codec, sampling rate, channels, etc.

After download the M4V to iMovie Converter on your Mac, you can go on the specific steps to finish the conversion. If you are also the FCP user, you can use it edit M4V in Final Cut Pro as well.

Step 1. Add M4V video files to the application

Click 'Add files' button into the M4V to iMovie Converter.

Step 2. Directly choose 'iMovie' as the output format

Select profile drop-down list to choose '.mp4' as the output format.

Step 3. Start M4V to iMovie converting

When all settings are done, click the 'convert' button to start convert M4V video to iMovie.

Finally, when the conversion is done, you can open the iMovie application, go go to 'file > import movies' to import M4V video into iMovie directly.

Tips 1: iMovie supported file formats:

iMovie supports multiple video formats and allows you to create projects that are tailored to your specific video format. You can use the following formats in iMovie: DV, DV Widescreen, HDV 1080i (25 and 30 fps), HDV 720p (25 and 30 fps), MPEG 4 Simple Profile and iSight.

Tips 2: how to import video to iMovie from Mac:

Open iMovie on your Mac

Now we need to connect the camcorder to the computer. With the camcorder 'OFF' and plugged into a wall outlet, connect a FireWire cable to your camera. The smaller end, called a '4-pin' goes to the camera in the 'DV' port. The larger end, called the '6-pin' goes to the computer. The 6-pin end looks similar to a USB cable, but it is round, so do not try to plug it into your USB port.